Red Mile approved for later Grand Circuit start in 2010

With Lexington's Kentucky Horse Park the site of the 2010 World Equestrian Games from Sept. 25 through Oct. 10, expected to bring in hundreds of thousands of visitors, The Red Mile has received permission from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to begin its meet two weeks later than in the past and offer a schedule that has the two-week Grand Circuit meet being held Wednesday, Oct. 13 through Saturday, Oct. 23. The Red Mile will open its 2010 racing season on Aug. 15 and continue to race through the World Games, hoping to capitalize on the influx of visitors into the Bluegrass.

 

The Grand Circuit stand in 2010 will be held over eight days, eliminating the two Tuesdays and racing on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The exact race schedule won't be determined until the meeting of the race secretaries in Florida after Thanksgiving, including if the Kentucky Futurity will be held the first or the second Saturday. The Lexington Selected Yearling Sale previously announced a 2010 schedule of Wednesday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 17.

 

With the shift in schedule, that means the Grand Circuit meet will be held after the Breeders Crown finals on Oct. 9 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, a 12-race extravaganza that comes two weeks after the Little Brown Jug at Delaware, Ohio.