The Now section of this book is exclusively the work of TeamCoyle. A photography collective founded by David Coyle, with over 40 years of professional experience, Coyle has assembled teams with some of Kentucky’s best photographers, working on a wide variety of projects and commissions. Partnering with Keeneland since 2010, TeamCoyle strives to produce photographs that capture the essence of a place and its people. Team contributors for this project are: Joseph Rey Au • David Coyle • Lewis Gardner • Helena Hau Tristan Ostby • Jonathan Palmer • Mark Pearson • Ellie Rutan John Snell • Ken Weaver • Mike Weaver
© 2022 Keeneland Association, Inc. Lexington, KY 40588-1690 www.keeneland.com All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any means, including photocopying, audio recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the copyright holder. Design by Jessica Hughes
Keeneland continues to be guided by our founding mission established with the track’s opening in 1936: always take care of the horse, promote and perpetuate the sport of racing and work for the betterment of the Thoroughbred industry and the local community. Today, Keeneland honors the best of our traditions while embracing and adapting new opportunities for the future. Keeneland is unique in the world in that it conducts both Thoroughbred racing and sales. World-class race meets every April and October showcase the sport’s equine stars and most successful owners, trainers and jockeys. As the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland is a globally important source of champions and stakes winners. Located in the heart of Central Kentucky’s famed Bluegrass Region, Keeneland is a National Historic Landmark open for visitors year round. Whether you come out on a race day or for the sales, browse the Keeneland Library, take one of our popular guided tours, have breakfast at the Track Kitchen, or just walk around the grounds on a summer afternoon, we invite you to enjoy all that Keeneland has to offer.
— Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin
Breaking from the Gate
APPROACHING FIRST TURN / M. Anderson
Signature Gateposts
Call to the Post
Cheering On a Thrilling Finish
After the Race
Saddling Horses In the Paddock
Jockey Awaiting His Mount
And They’re Off!
Fall Colors in the Paddock
Parasols On a Sunny Day
Rounding the Turn
Spring Beauty
Congratulations!
Iconic Sycamore Graces the Paddock
Petting a Pony at Sunrise Trackside
Jockey Garden
Welcome to Keeneland
Famous Hedges
Bird’s Eye View of the Paddock
Trophy Presentation Excitement
Cheering on the Race
The Next Generation of Racing Fans
Racing to the Finish On a Fall Day
Dramatic Sky Over the Sales Pavilion
Sold!
Yearlings Under Inspection
Sales Arena Action
November Sale Breeding Stock Sale
Comparing Notes
Picturesque Sales Barns
Spirited Bidding
Final Touches for Sale Day
Shined and Polished
Ready for Their Moment
Sharing a Moment
In the Ring
Sale Hustle and Bustle
November Meet and Greet
Making an Entrance
Evening Glory
Selling In the Snow
One Last Look
Golden Hour
Keeneland Library
Keeneland Association Laurel Wreath
Rolex Clock
Early Risers
1970s Sales Pavilion
Mid 1970’s L. Combs, J. Trapp, H. Broun
1968 Yearling Sale
1969 Sales Pavilion
1969 Sales Pavilion
1950 Sales Pavilion
1943 First Sale
1943 Night Sales
1943 Sales
Early 1960’s Sales
1943 Sales
1950 Auctioneers
1950 Sales
1978 Alydar
1978 Keeneland Hedges
Early Track Kitchen
1962 Angus
1970 Dog Show
1962 Car Show
1960’s Pony Club
1965 Parking Lot
Bucky Sallee circa 1960s
1953 Clubhouse View
1966 Paddock
1959 Jockeys
1962 Gatepost
1941 Clubhouse Lobby
1948 Parking and Gate Entry
1948 Olympia Flies
1948 Final Turn
1949 Paddock Scene
1936 Combs and Headley
1942 Outrider
1950 Starting Gate
1957 H.P. Headley, Duval Headley, L. L. Haggin II
1958 Keeneland Hedges
c. 1935–1940 Jockeys
1950 Paddock View
1938 Leaving the Track
1938 Club Lawn Crowd
1938 Railbirds
1949 Crowd
1941 Starting Gate
1936 Trophies
1942 Ashland Stakes
1940 Post Parade
1940 Crowd Scene
1936 Opening Day
1938–1941 Final Stretch
1946 Racing Judges
1936 Panoramic
1935 Grandstand stonework
1935 framing
1935 Breaking Ground
I take this means of expressing my sincere appreciation to President Hal Price Headley and his associates in Keeneland Association for their perpetuating the name Keeneland in the organization of their Association and the race course they have built. It is a distinct honor to have the name of my family carried on in this manner. In planning and starting a race course at Keeneland Stud it was my earnest hope to give to the Blue Grass and Kentucky, my native state, a place where sportsmen and sportswomen might some day gather and enjoy Thoroughbred racing in its finest form. Changing conditions make it impossible to fulfill that desire. Keeneland Association, I am sure, will carry out those ideals of perpetuating Thoroughbred racing as a means of improving the Thoroughbred and of establishing a place where racing is conducted for sport. To Keeneland Association I offer my sincerest congratulations and fervent hope for a successful future.
— John Oliver “Jack” Keene, 1936 Keeneland Race Meet Program
The Then section of this book features photos provided by the Keeneland Library. The Keeneland Library, founded in 1939, is a public research institution and one of the world’s largest repositories of information related to the Thoroughbred. Located in a 10,000-square-foot building at Keeneland, the Library houses nearly 30,000 books, more than one million photographic negatives and prints and thousands of newspaper and magazine articles about all aspects of the equine industry. Thousands of journalists, writers, college professors, historians, racing fans and others have performed research at the Library or requested information from its staff. The Library hosts a lecture series, maintains physical and virtual exhibits, engages in outreach and education initiatives and provides services to community, state and national organizations.
© 2022 Keeneland Association, Inc. Lexington, KY 40588-1690 www.keeneland.com All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any means, including photocopying, audio recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the copyright holder. Design by Jessica Hughes