IT'S OFFICIAL!
  • Kentucky Downs' 2018 meet best ever
  • $36.4 million wagered over five days
  • Field sizes average 11 horses per race
  • Ramseys, Maker, Jose Ortiz meet champs
  • Watch, bet Breeders' Cup preps with us
  • Q&A: Triple Crown winner Mike Smith
  • Postponement can't dampen College Day
  • Looking back at our 14 stakes
  • Owner donates $5K to Carmouche
  • Contest winners can't wait to come back
Coming soon: our 2019 live race dates 
Was our photographer Grace Clark amazed at the finish of the $500,000 Ladies Turf in which Insta Erma nipped Valadorna? Or was it the betting records that fell at Kentucky Downs?(Davis Innovation photo)

Kentucky Downs smashed its handle record for the sixth straight year, with a total of $36,421,722 wagered on the five-date meet. All-sources betting of $7,021,553 on Thursday was a record for the closing card.

The total tops by 20 percent last year’s $30,246,888. Consider that Kentucky Downs set a betting record in 2013 of $12,814,891. That number has almost tripled in the intervening five years.

"Hats off to Kentucky Downs,” said Mike Maker, who won his fourth straight track trainer’s title. “They’ve done a fabulous job.”

Kentucky Downs registered its highest betting day ever when $10,039,008 was wagered on Saturday, Sept. 8. It also recorded its third-highest ever when $7,313,857 was bet Wednesday, Sept. 6, on the card postponed from that Sunday after significant rain hit the region.

Kentucky Downs doesn’t charge admission, but the eyeball test suggested crowds were the highest ever. For the first time, the Finish Line Pavilion — expanded and upgraded from when it was the Finish Line Tent — sold out all five days, including two Thursdays.

“The meet was fabulous on just about all fronts,” said Ted Nicholson, senior vice president and general manager of Kentucky Downs. “Even the negative from having to cancel this past Sunday because of the downpour soaking the area turned into a great day of racing on Wednesday. Every year we go back to the drawing board and try to figure out how we can do better, how can we accommodate even more of our guests, especially from out of town. This year it was the Finish Line Pavilion. Who knows what it will be next year?" 

Owner Ken Ramsey
Trainer Mike Maker
Jockey Jose Ortiz
Congrats to our 2018 meet champions:
Ken & Sarah Ramsey, Mike Maker, Jose Ortiz
Jose Ortiz, the reigning Eclipse Award jockey, rode at Kentucky Downs the final four days for the second year and came away with his first riding title at the track, his nine victories two more than 2017 champion Julien Leparoux.

Mike Maker, Kentucky Downs' all-time winningest trainer, won his fourth straight meet crown by a 9-4 margin in wins over Mark Casse. Ken and Sarah Ramsey, one of his major clients, earned their seventh straight owner’s title and ninth overall with three wins, besting the two apiece for Three Diamonds Farm, Calumet Farm, DARRS Inc. and Woodford Racing Inc. Maker also trains for Three Diamonds.

Ortiz, who frequently rode for Maker at the meet, said he hopes to keep the track as part of his circuit after Saratoga and before the big stakes resume at Belmont. 

“The track is pretty unique,” he said. “If you’re on a nice horse, you’ve got a huge shot. You can’t beat the purses. I really like it. As long as the rain stays away, we’re good. But days like today, I love it. I’m going to keep coming here as long as I can. The atmosphere is great. People are here having fun. There are riders from every part of the United States shipping in. It’s a nice festival.” 

Ortiz won four races last year and said he learned a lot.

“It’s great,” he said of the riding title. “I couldn’t do it by myself. I have to thank all the trainers and owners for giving me the opportunity. I won for Mike Maker, Bill Mott, Mark Casse - I had a lot of good horsemen giving me good opportunities and I was trying to do the best out of it.

“I had success last year, but this year I came with a plan. I knew what I was doing clearly, and the support of the horsemen to give me good opportunities. I knew what I was doing out there. I knew the timing to move.”

Maker fattened his record as Kentucky Downs’ all-time winningest trainer with 51 wins. Wesley Ward, a three-time meet winner, is second all-time at 28 wins.

“The titles are nice, but to me it’s second,” Maker said. “It’s a chance for the owners to try to turn a profit for the year. It’s been huge.”

Ramsey extended his career win total at the track to a record 45 races. Kentucky Downs president Corey Johnsen presented Ramsey with a bourbon barrel lid painted in the Ramsey silks.

Ramsey had to sweat out Calumet Farm potentially trying or passing him. Ramsey scratched Daring Duchess out of Thursday’s featured $400,000 Ramsey Farm Stakes, which he sponsors, because his grandson, Nolan Ramsey, wanted to run her in a stakes at Woodbine, where he is Mike Maker’s assistant. (Related story)

“I didn’t have a horse running in the big race today, and I began to regret it,” Ken Ramsey said. “Because they were sniffing right at my heels. And we didn’t win one today, just barely hung on. So next year, I’ll have more numbers down here. I know it can be tough to get in races down here. But I won’t leave any at Woodbine that we think can win down here. Promise. But I had my cake and was able to eat it, too. The sacrifice was not in vain, because we pulled it off anyway.”
Country Chick's $248.60 win payoff on the Sept. 12 card was the highest in North America this year
Join us for simulcasting of Breeders' Cup preps
from Keeneland, Belmont Park and Santa Anita
Follow our #KyDownsGrads and racing's biggest stars on the road to the Nov. 2-3 Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs as well as all your favorite tracks right here.
Don't miss a down: We have all the big college and NFL football games on in Kentucky Downs' lounge and bar area, along with horse racing.
Q&A with Triple Crown winner Mike Smith:
'I crossed the wire and literally was floating'
Mike Smith came to Kentucky Downs for the first time on Thursday, Sept. 6, but it wasn’t to ride races. Rather he was on hand to sign Coady Photography-designed prints commemorating Justify’s 2018 Triple Crown to raise money for three charities: : Old Friends equine retirement facility, which has a satellite operation at Kentucky Downs; the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund , and The Giving Circle , an all-volunteer non-profit organization founded in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that seeks out communities in need to connect them with the resources to help.

Smith met with the media before he started the signing session. Here are excerpts:
“Every now and then it will hit me. I’ll just be walking around the house and just get up from the chair and realize that we won the Triple Crown. Man, I’ve got to sit down again after I think about it. Trying to put it into words what it means and feels like is just impossible to do. It’s just life-changing. It’s the most complete, humble feeling you could possibly feel."

“I haven’t watched (the Belmont replay) one time. It’s so vivid in my imagination that I don’t need to watch it. From the time I got on him in the paddock, I truly remember every step like it was just happening. (At the finish) it was just amazing. I just wanted to hug everything and everyone. I truly did. It’s just incredible. I was high-fiving and telling everybody they were the greatest. Here I just won the Triple Crown and I’m telling everybody else how great they were.”

"The Derby is a dream come true. You have flashbacks being a child, all the work you put in to get there. But the Triple Crown is just overwhelming. It’s life-changing. I can’t put it into words. I wish I could. I honestly wish and hope everybody gets to feel that feeling, because it’s amazing… You feel all those things winning the Derby: out-of-body experiences, flashbacks. When you win the Triple Crown, I crossed the wire and I literally was floating. I didn’t even feel the weight on the horse. I didn’t have no weight. I was a butterfly.”

And on Kentucky Downs: "I just absolutely love it. The purses I just amazing. The quality of racing is incredible. I’m going to make it a point next year, you can bet, to ride here next year. If I’m healthy enough, I’ll be here.”  Read more here
Mike Smith, rider of 2018 Triple Crown winner Mike Smith was a hit with fans. Davis Innovation photos
Hall of Famer Mike Smith spoke with ESPN 680 Louisville's sports talk host Bob Valvano.
KY Downs teams with horsemen for College Day
(Kayla Parker, a Vol State student transferring to WKU, received a Microsoft Surface tablet from Kentucky HBPA board member Mike Bruder and executive director Marty Maline.)

Kentucky Downs once again partnered with its horsemen's organization, the Kentucky HBPA, to stage College Day, where full-time post-secondary students registered to win via drawings one of 10 Microsoft Surface tablets and one of two $1,500 scholarships.

The event was postponed until Wednesday, Sept. 12, because of the cancelation of the Sunday, Sept. 9, card because of torrential rain. But the students were still were able to make it were enthusiastic participants.

“To create a new generation of horse-racing fans, you first have to get them to the racetrack,” said Marty Maline, executive director of the Kentucky HBPA, which represents owners and trainers at all five Kentucky thoroughbred tracks. “And the best way to get them to come back is to have a fun, festive experience. Kentucky Downs, with its outdoor fair-like atmosphere serving as the backdrop for world-class racing, is an ideal setting. 

“Racing appeals to people in a variety of ways, from the beauty of the horse, to the excitement of a race, to the brain challenge of deciphering which horse will be first at the finish. And Kentucky Downs, with its unique flavor, is just a cool place to hang out. We believe once people come out here, they’ll want to come back.”

Long-range planning note to college students and their parents: Look for Kentucky HBPA College Day to be back at Kentucky Downs next year.
Christian Kaposy, a mass communications major at Belmont was presented a Microsoft Surface tablets, by Kentucky HBPA board member Mike Bruder and executive director Marty Maline. The HBPA sponsored the tablet giveaway.
Volunteers Avoe Fraser (right) and Hailey Wallace helped register students for the College Day giveaways of 10 Microsoft Surface tablets and two $1,500 scholarships. Ale-8-One helped sponsor the event. Jennie Rees photos
Stakes recaps: Click on picture or caption
Photos by Reed Palmer Photography & Grace Clark
Anonymous owner donates $5K to Carmouche
Kendrick Carmouche back home in Delaware. "I'm blessed," he says. Photo courtesy Whitney Carmouche

FRANKLIN, Ky. (Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018) — A stakes-winning owner during Kentucky Downs recent meet is donating $5,000 for assistance to Kendrick Carmouche, the jockey who sustained a severely fractured leg when his mount fell after being forced to clip heels.

“Our group was fortunate enough to win a large purse at Kentucky Downs,” said the owner, who did not want to be identified. “Sadly, Kendrick Carmouche did not fare as well as we did. 

“Jockeys are as integral a part of our sport as are owners and the horses themselves. Kendrick is expected to be sidelined four to six months. Even with insurance, that’s a very long time to be unable to work, and expenses mount quickly. We are pleased to share some of our good fortune with Kendrick and his family for their use during his recovery. We hope other owners who benefited from the racing at Kentucky Downs will do the same.”

Those wishing to contribute can send checks (or similar) made out to Kendrick Carmouche and mailed to the Jockeys’ Guild, 448 Lewis Hargett Circle, Suite 220, Lexington, KY 40503. The Guild will ensure all contributions go directly to the jockey and his family.

“This is my first time ever getting hurt in my career, and I’ve been riding for 20 years,” Carmouche said by phone. “You never know how many people you touch throughout the years and respect you give everybody, and the respect you get from everybody. The 20 years I’ve been riding, I must have touched a lot of people.

“I’m always a happy guy, a happy-go-lucky guy. You never see me sad. I try to push that on people. That being said, for all the people who love me and my family, who are reaching out for me, trying to work through this with me and pray for me, I just want to tell them ‘thank you so much.’ It makes me happy. I’ve done my part in life, and it’s not done yet, so we just have to keep looking forward for better days. I’m blessed.”

Fast friends: #LiveAtKyDowns Post Time winners
We had a fantastic time meeting our #LiveAtKyDowns Post Time social media contest winners and having them at the track: Regional grand prize winner Tom Pinkowski of Mount Sterling, Ky.; National grand prize winner Dennis Poppe of Seattle, and honorable mentions Kim Mosier of Muncie, Ind., Jim Reams of Somerset, Ky., and Gregory Holloway of Louisville. Here's their feedback:

Kim Mosier, who came to Kentucky Downs for the first time on Sept. 1 with husband Jay as they celebrated his birthday: "I'M HOOKED! KY Downs opening day is one of the best experiences I've ever had! Full fields means high yields! The Jockey7 wager is pure genius! It was such a pleasure to meet some of best in the business, such as Megan Devine, Caton Bredar, Gary West, Dick Downey and jockey Channing Hill. Also met Corey Johnsen and Ted Nicholson, but now I'm just bragging!

"The staff was absolutely amazing and worked like a well-oiled machine. There are to many to mention but a GREAT big thank you to Jennie and Amber, who are two of the most hard-working and charming women I've met! Loved meeting two of my new Twitter friends, Greg H and Jim R, who brought his lovely daughter, Emory Kate, who stole the show with her enthusiasm! Thank you so much KY DOWNS! I'm counting down the days to next years meet and planning my vacation to attend more days for sure!"

Tom Pinkowski, who came with wife Deb on Sept. 6 and 8: "It was a great time! From the very moment we arrived everyone went out of their way to make our trip a wonderful event. We ate great food, our hotel accommodations were awesome, we watched and bet on stellar races and we met some of the nicest people who were there that we hope to see again. I cannot express how special my wife and I were treated. It was an amazing time and we sincerely loved every minute we spent there."

Dennis Poppe, who came with wife Lucinda and brought friends from Nashville to the races Sept. 8: " What a great experience, from the fans we met during our stay, including the Ky Downs staff, to the racing celebs such as Jennie Rees, and Caton Bredar, to the star horses and the nation's best jockeys in person. Once you visit Ky Downs for the first time, it will become an annual part of your travel plans - We look forward to attending again and again. What fun!!!"

Jim Reams, who came Sept. 1 with his soon-to-be 10-year-old daughter, Emery Kate: "My daughter (Emery Kate) and I had a wonderful time at Kentucky Downs. Kentucky Downs provides the most unique horse-racing experience in America and our visit did not disappoint. The proximity of betting windows, finish line, paddock and seating 'areas' is second to none. Being close to the action is another perk that sets Kentucky Downs apart. I would compare it to going to a baseball game and the teams allowing you to sit in the dugout. September 2019 can't get here soon enough!"

Editor's note: Jim mentioned separately how the trip allowed him to meet another Twitter friend, horse owner Scott Leeds, in person. Here's what he wrote us: "Earlier in the year I connected with Scott Leeds (Walking L Thoroughbreds) on Twitter. When he saw that I was going to be at KYD on Opening Day, we exchanged numbers and met Scott and his wife on our visit. We joined them in the paddock prior to Race 10 when Walking L's, Lightscameraaction, placed in a nice effort (in the Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies). Robby Albarado was gracious enough to provide us with another great memory of KYD! As you know, Walking L's most recent excitement was provided when Cairo Cat won the Iroquois and a spot in the BC Juvenile."   

This is among the things that makes horse racing so great: The ability to interact with the racing participants and the camaraderie among fans. Emory Kate told her dad before they left, "When can we go back?"

See you all in 2019!
From left: Lucinda and Dennis Poppe, Tom and Deb Pinkowski
Kim Mosier and Gregory Holloway. Our winners had a blast meeting each other.
Jim Reams and Emory Kate, who celebrated an early birthday at the track.
Back of Kim's amazing chapeau created just for her visit to Kentucky Downs.
Tom and Deb quickly became friends with Jeff and Patricia Ramsey
Dennis was interviewed by TVG's Scott Hazelton about winning the contest.
Snippets of America's most unique race meet
All that preparation ...
... is worth it when you're right!
Our Frank Smothers, veteran of WWII and the Korean War, with Mike Smith.
Jockey James Graham entertains a young fan.
The thrill of (almost) victory ...
... hey, it's not as easy as it looks!
Photos by Grace Clark, Gwen Davis and Jennie Rees
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KENTUCKY DOWNS
kentuckydowns.com/racing
270.586.7778
5629 Nashville Road, Franklin, Ky. 42134
Kentucky Downs' five-date meet is the most unique in America, offering record purses, the largest fields and low takeout to be ranked the No. 1 betting product by Horseplayers Association of North America. We are open year-round, seven days a week for simulcasting and historical horse racing, which we are proud to use as a means for bettering the entire Kentucky racing circuit.
Newsletter edited by publicity director Jennie Rees.