Statement of Significance (as of designation - September 24, 1986):
Completed in 1936, this is the most conspicuous manifestation of horse raising and racing in Lexington, the heart of Kentucky "bluegrass" country. It is the site of the Phoenix Handicap, the oldest stakes race in the United States, and the Blue Grass Stakes; it is also preeminent for its annual horse sales. The track was originally begun in 1916 by Jack Keene, an extraordinary figure in American racing.
|