The Party Begins Thursday With Prelude To The Cup

The Party Begins Thursday With Prelude To The Cup: Before the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Oct. 30 and 31 at Keeneland, there will be a “Prelude to the Cup” on Thursday, Oct. 29. Nine great races are in store, with the $100,000 Lafayette Presented by Keeneland Select acting as the main attraction. This year the Lafayette will feature three-year-old horses and up at seven furlongs on the main track.

Gates open at 11:00 a.m., while betting windows open at noon. The first race starts at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate for $5 each. Children 12 and under receive free admission when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating and dining are available in advance only.

Prelude to the Cup attendees are eligible to win an invitation to the 5th annual Taste of the World extravaganza at WinStar Farm. The host will be world-renowned chef Bobby Flay, and 17 other chefs from around the world will prepare cuisine for lucky guests. Country sensation Tim McGraw is scheduled to perform privately for the invite-only guests. How to enter? Just dress stylishly while attending Thursday’s Prelude to the Cup. The Breeders’ Cup social media team will be on the lookout and decide which two fans are awarded the once-in-a-lifetime dinner that takes place that evening.

Also, the winner of the Star Spangled Stakes singing competition will get the chance to sing the national anthem live in front of the track audience. The ongoing contest will be decided by the end of Keeneland’s regular fall meet and announced on Saturday, Oct. 24. The winner will be chosen via fan voting on Keeneland.com after the last performance, which is scheduled for this Sunday, Oct. 18. Fan voting will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23 for the Star Spangled Stakes competition so be sure to submit your pick!

Parking is available at Kentucky Horse Park for a minimal fee of $15 per vehicle if purchased online or $20 per vehicle onsite. The fee includes shuttle service from the park to Keeneland and back, plus a free program. In addition, parking is available at Rupp Arena for $15 per vehicle, and shuttle passes can be purchased at the site for $5 each.

The Breeders’ Cup Festival is an all-week event beginning Oct. 24. Various activities, contests and live music will be held around the city of Lexington to celebrate the two big days of racing at the end. Information on the Breeders’ Cup Festival is on their website atwww.breederscupfestival.com.

Come for the horses and check out the city afterwards. Plenty of excitement awaits Lexington visitors.

Original Source: BreedersCup.com