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j I ! TRACK ON HISTORIC GROUND Keerieland Plant on Property Owned by Keen Family 150 Years. Kentucky History Closely Interwoven With Site of Course Feature Race Called Keen Stakes. . LEXINGTON, Kyt, :Oct. 12. The property on which the new Keeneland race course here, which jvill open itsinaugural nine-day meeting Thursday, October 15, was in the possession of only one family until it was acquired by Keeneland Association in 1935 when the "model race track of America" was started. For approximately 150 years the property had been owned by the same family. In 1790 Patrick Henry, then Governor of Virginia, which included what is now Kentucky, made a land grant of 6,000 acres of Blue .Grass land to John Keen of Fauquier County, Virginia. Part of that grant was what is now the Keeneland race course. John Keen moved his family to the Blue Grass and erected the family home that still stands within a stones throw of the race track. Six generations of John Keens family have lived, and still live in the residence. Those who have died are buried in a private cemetery immediately behind the home. John Oliver "Jack" Keene, great-great grandson of John Keen, began construction of the race track two decades ago, but Was unable tojcomplete his work and in 1935 sold the property and improvements he had made to Keeneland Association. It marked the I first time the tract had been owned outside the Keene or Keen family. Kentucky history is closely, interwoven with Keeneland. It was at the family home that Marquis;de Lafayette stopped when the noted French general visited Kentucky. His escort camped for the night on what is now the race track.. John Keen was one of the early breeders of thoroughbreds in the Blue Grass, and at the turn of the nineteenth century, when the section began to establish itself as outstanding for the breeding and raising of stock he was among the leaders in that work. It was to, perpetuate what the pioneer, and his descendants had done for thoroughbred breeding and the sport of racing that the 1 new track was named Keeneland Race I Course. The inaugural meeting will continue through Saturday, October 24. Four stakes ! j races will be run during that time, and one 1 of the features, to be run on opening day, has been called the Keen Stakes. The others are the Ashland Stakes, Breeders Stakes. and the Lexington Stakes.
