2011 Grand Circuit At The Red Mile

For many fans of harness racing, the most wonderful time of the year begins on Thursday, September 29th with the start of Grand Circuit racing at the Historic Red Mile racetrack in Lexington, KY. This season will bring with it change, as the races will be contested under the lights with a 7:00 PM post time employed for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday cards each week. Sunday afternoon racing is another new addition in 2011, with the meet’s marquee races carded as Sunday matinees at 1 PM.This schedule will serve for both weeks of the Grand Circuit for 2011.

Opening day of the Grand Circuit meet will feature the $326,000 Norman Woolworth Memorial / Bluegrass Stakes 2YO Filly Trot which required three divisions to accommodate the 29 fillies declared to the race. A solid slate of Late Closing events featuring 2YO colt trotters and 2YO filly pacers fills out a very attractive 12 race program.

Friday’s 13 race extravaganza is headlined by two divisions of the $270,000 Bluegrass Stakes for 2YO Pacing Fillies (Sponsored by: Walnut Hall Stock Farm) and a four way split of the $340,000 Walnut Hall, LTD Cup / Bluegrass Stakes 2YO Colt Trot.

The action heats up seriously on Saturday when the Free For Allers invade Lexington in the Allerage Farms Series. The very finest older pacing and trotting horses are scheduled to race over the famed red clay for purses estimated at $200,000 for each division. The Western Ideal / Bluegrass Stakes for 2YO Pacing Colts required four divisions, each for a purse of nearly $100,000. The ten best 3YO Pacing Fillies currently racing will assemble for a single division of the $153,000 Bluegrass Stakes named for the great pacing mare Darlin’s Delight.

The 119th Kentucky Futurity 3YO Colt Trot will be raced on the Sunday, October 2nd card for an estimated purse of $700,000, offering another glimpse into the puzzle that is a division still waiting for a clear leader to emerge. The $400,000e Kentucky Filly Futurity, $200,000e Bluegrass Stakes 3YO Colt Pace and $85,000e Allerage FFA Mare races support the jewel of the meet on what promises to be a remarkable day of racing.

The daily wagering menu will include Exacta, $.50 Trifecta and dime Superfecta on all races, along with a $10,000 Guaranteed Pool Pick 4 offered each day as part of the USTA Strategic Wagering Initiative.

The 2011 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale begins at 7 PM Monday, October 3rd with evening sessions on Tuesday & Wednesday and an 11:30 AM start on Thursday & Friday.

The Red Mile recently launched a brand new “state-of-the-art” website which will supply further important information on all details pertinent to the Grand Circuit race meet.

Contact the Red Mile General Offices at (859) 255-0752.


Columbus, OH --- A check of the status of 2011 Hambletonian winner Broad Bahn on the eve of the 120th anniversary Kentucky Futurity is the lead on this week’s edition of “Eye on Harness Racing,” the U.S. Trotting Association’s weekly online video magazine.

Also, the program will feature stakes highlights and a brief look back at the color and excitement of the 66th Little Brown Jug.

Eye on Harness Racing may be seen by clicking on the above link or by visiting youtube.com/ustrotting. At the latter website, the USTA's YouTube channel, you can also see past editions of the program -- and dozens of other harness racing videos.

The USTA also has a "Media" page at its website, at www.ustrotting.com/media/media.cfm, where all USTA-produced videos and audio podcasts may also be seen or heard.