Make-a-Wish Day at Keeneland
A Wish-filled day of racing and fundraising.
Today is my very favorite day at the racetrack, y’all. It’s Make-a-Wish Day at Keeneland, which celebrates a special group of Wish Kids and raises funds for an additional Wish. (Click here to donate!)
The day’s festivities are sponsored by local thoroughbred horse farms. As guests of honor, 10 wish kids and their families spend the morning touring their sponsor’s property, enjoy a VIP lunch in the Phoenix Room, meet the Keeneland jockeys in the paddock, watch their sponsor’s race from the winner’s circle, and, at the end of each race, the wish kids present the trophy for the race named after their sponsor. Y’all, this gives you such an amazing perspective to see these kids and their families enjoy a day of fun at the track. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Make-a-Wish several times now, and it’s really reinforced how important some days of normalcy and relaxation are for families impacted by life-altering childhood illness. The kids are so cute enjoying the track!
The jockeys are so sweet with the kids. Here’s my sweet friend Mindy Lynn, who’s the attorney for the Jockey Guild, joining in on the fun in the paddock.
Last year, I attended the event with a group of girlfriends!
Please follow along on HerKentucky’s Instagram and Facebook. If you’ll be at the track today, please visit the Wishing Well at the Paddock to donate toward a kid’s wish; if you can’t make it, please consider donating toward a wish.
What to Wear to Keeneland's 2018 Fall Meet
Find the perfect outfit for a day at the racetrack!
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Keeneland’s Fall Meet lasts only 17 days, but there’s certainly a lot of racing fun to be had during those Wednesday-Sunday October stretches. Over the 7 year history of HerKentucky, I find that folks really, really want to know what to wear to the track. In fact, some variant of “What to Wear to Keeneland” is consistently the search that brings the most folks to this site.
When folks ask me in person what they should wear to the track, I tend to ask two questions in response: Where will you be sitting, and what day will you be attending?
At the racetrack, as with most things, location and timing are everything. Wednesdays and Thursdays tend to be a little more casual than weekend race days. The nearer the track you sit, the more casual you should dress.
If you're going to stay near the Paddock --General Admission, Grandstand, or Equestrian Room-- there's no need to dress up very much. Guys often opt for khakis and polo shirts, and women can wear slacks. You're actually dressing for a horse race in these sections. These are the areas nearest the track itself, and people are truly there to watch (and bet on) the horses. With that said, don't be surprised to see a lot of dresses and sport coats in the lower-levels. The second floor (General Admission) Sports Bar, for example, often resembles a campus bar or fraternity semi-formal. While the dress code says "casual", there's plenty of Vineyard Vines ties and Lilly Pulitzer dresses to be seen.
If you'll be dining in the upper-level, enclosed dining rooms-- The Lexington, Kentucky, or Phoenix Rooms-- then expect to dress for a business event. The Lexington and Kentucky rooms -- dining rooms often reserved for business and social gatherings-- have a "business formal" dress code; these areas require men to don a coat and tie, and skirts/dresses/dressy slacks for ladies. The Phoenix Room-- another reserved dining room-- is "business casual", requiring collared shirts and slacks for men and dresses/pantsuits for ladies.
If you find yourself invited to the members-only Clubhouse, you’ll soon find out that it requires coat and tie for men and dressy pants/skirts for ladies. I find that a skirt suit or a dress paired with a pretty cardigan or wrap is always appropriate for the upper levels. In general, if you'd wear it to church or a business meeting, you're fine.
This fall, I have two navy dresses on repeat; both are cute Keeneland dresses, depending on your racetrack plans. This navy ponte Draper James dress could work for any section of the track — just dress it up or down with necklaces or scarves, boots or heels — while this Target denim dress is great for a low-key day in the lower levels. (Denim is a huge faux pas for the upper levels, and isn’t allowed in the Clubhouse!)
Of course, it goes without saying that dressing for the elements is just as important as dressing for your seats. Nothing looks more ridiculous than the poor girl who’s freezing in a sundress or melting in wool. You’ll be on the move a lot — sitting and standing, inside and out — so make sure your shoes fit well, your bag isn’t so large that it causes problems, and your outfit matches the temperature and conditions.
Most of all, look good and have fun!!
Shop these great Keeneland styles!
Draper James Dress for Keeneland
The Perfect Dress for fall horse racing!
(This post contains affiliate links; I will receive a very small commission per click at no cost to the reader. All photos are © Sarah Caton of Space, Place & Southern Grace unless otherwise noted.)
Finding the perfect dress for Keeneland is pretty high on most Kentucky women’s to-do list. In fact, over the seven years that HerKentucky has been running, “What to wear to Keeneland” is the search that brings the most people to this site. Getting the Keeneland dress code right is a big deal. Now, I’ll do another post a little closer to the beginning of Fall Meet to remind everyone of the dress codes for each of the various areas of the racetrack, but I wanted to share this dress with y’all today because I think it absolutely nails Keeneland style.
Dress: Draper James | Boots: Frye | Necklace: Elva Fields | Bracelet: Bourbon & Boweties
I love the idea of a basic, solid dress that can be paired with pumps or boots, statement jewelry or scarves, to create different looks. You could wear this dress to the track, the office, dinner, or just about anywhere you want to look nice. Just switch up the accessories and you’re good to go.
I went with my Elva Fields necklace and a Bourbon & Boweties Bourbon Barrel bangle, but I think an equestrian-themed scarf is always a lovely touch for a day at the races, too. Here are some great ones at every price point.
Since my brand is, quite literally, Kentucky, I like to wear subtle little nods to our Commonwealth’s heritage! This Bourbon & Boweties bangle is an exclusive to Sweet Mash Goods in Lawrenceburg. The Key Fob is from an exclusive partnership between Draper James and Keeneland.
Bourbon Barrel Bracelet: Bourbon & Boweties for Sweet Mash Goods | Key Fob: Draper James for Keeneland
I had so much fun shooting these photos in Gratz Park. It got me so excited to hopefully visit Lexington many, many times during Keeneland’s Fall Meet. Lexington in October is truly one of those sights that everyone should experience!!
If you’re looking for your own favorite Keeneland Dress, please join me Tuesday, October 2nd from 6-8 p,m. at the Lexington Draper James store for a Shop & Sip benefiting Dress for Success Lexington! Let me know in the comments, what are y’all wearing to Keeneland this season?
What to Wear to Keeneland's October Meet
The number one question that HerKentucky readers have for us is "What should I wear to Keeneland?" Here in Kentucky, a trip to Lexington's storied Keeneland Race Course isn't just a trip to bet on the ponies. It's a full-scale experience of racing, food, fun, and, of course, fashion. Trust me when I say that 70% of all the people you've ever met in your life will be at the track any day you go.
Keeneland Crowd
Well, that may be a slight exaggeration, but with weekend crowds reaching over 25,000 people, you sure will see a lot of Kentuckians at Keeneland. To help you look your best, we've put together a few dress code tips that will help you look great at the track!
If you're going to stay near the Paddock --General Admission, Grandstand, or Equestrian Room-- there's no need to dress up very much. Guys often opt for khakis and polo shirts, and women can wear slacks. You're actually dressing for a horse race in these sections. These are the areas nearest the track itself, and people are truly there to watch (and bet on) the horses. With that said, don't be surprised to see a lot of dresses and sport coats in the lower-levels. In recent years, a culture of dressy tailgating (think Steeplechase) has popped up among college students and twenty-somethings, and the second floor (General Admission) Sports Bar often resembles a campus bar or fraternity semi-formal. While the dress code says "casual", there's plenty of Vineyard Vines ties and Lilly Pulitzer dresses to be seen.
Lexington and Kentucky Dining Rooms Dress Code, via Keeneland.
Phoenix Dining Room Dress Code, image via Keeneland
If you'll be dining in the upper-level, enclosed dining rooms-- The Lexington, Kentucky, or Phoenix Rooms-- then expect to dress for a business event. The Lexington and Kentucky rooms -- dining rooms often reserved for business and social gatherings-- have a "business formal" dress code; these areas require men to don a coat and tie, and skirts/dresses/dressy slacks for ladies. The Phoenix Room-- another reserved dining room-- is "business casual", requiring collared shirts and slacks for men and dresses/pantsuits for ladies.
Most of all, dress nicely, look good, and have a great day at the races!