Saturday, October 26, 2019
The Early Years of Keeneland History Essay -- essays research papers
The Early Years of Keeneland History Kentucky’s open grasslands had attracted the type of settler who loved horses because of its great beauty. Also, Kentucky imposed richness of soil minerals, abundance of water, and suitable climate, terrain, and vegetation that attracted these people. People that lived in Kentucky possessed a great love and pride for sporting horses. Their love and passion of horses would shape the Thoroughbred world of today.      The horse industry in Kentucky expanded rapidly with the great passion of breeding and sporting horses. Horse breeding became well established in the Bluegrass before the end of the eighteenth century. One of the reason why the great industry of the Thoroughbred business flourished is that a law was passed concerning the preservation and improvement of breeds of horses. Another dominant reason that all the inhabitants of Kentucky took great care in breeding and improving the breeds of horses.      Lexington had been without a racetrack since the deteriorating Kentucky Association plant operated its last meeting in the spring of 1933. Racing was needed in central Kentucky, and something had to be done. Horsemen and Owners knew that something desperately needed to be done to keep the tradition of Kentucky racing alive. If something was not done then the great industry of Thoroughbred racing would definitely decline.           On a Wednesday afternoon March 20, 1935, Major Louie A. Beard addressed a mass meeting of breeders and others interested in the future of racing in Lexington. Beard outlined the plans for the purchase and development of Keeneland at the Lafayette Hotel. â€Å"This may seem like a dream, but I believe it is a dream that can be realized.†, Beard concluded. This statement was a truer prophet than most of those present realized.      These men seemed to know something that nobody else knew when it came to forming a racing and sales complex. They established policies that have existed for the past 50 years, they made predictions that have come true, and they built a horse facility that has lived up to every expectation. But, of course Keeneland was never intended to be just another racetrack. Twenty different sites were looked upon, but Hal Price Headley and company kept com... ...signed to be something special. It would cultivate an loved appreciation and respect for the noble sport of horse racing. The idea of Keeneland was to have an impression that would cater to established horse lovers and to develop new fans for the sport. Keeneland as a dream that could be realized became a dream that is now a great reality.           Bibliography Faulconer, J.B. The Keeneland Story: a quarter century of racing in the finest tradition.      Lexington, Kentucky: Thoroughbred Press, 1960. Keeneland: opening 1936. Lexington, Kentucky: C.T. Dearing Print. Co. 1936. Wharton, Mary E., and Edward L. Bowen. The Horse World of the Bluegrass. New      York: The John Bradford Press, 1980. â€Å"Keeneland: the golden years, 1936-1986.†Keeneland Association, Inc., c1986. Strode, William. Keeneland: a half century of racing. New York: Harmony House,      1986. Nicholson, Nick, â€Å"Keeneland Thoroughbred Racing and Sales.†Designed by Digi Know:      Available from http://www.keeneland.com     Â
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