LEXINGTON, Ky. — Students across central Kentucky walked, watched and wagered on horses at Keeneland for College Student Day.
Christa Marrillia, chief marketing officer with Keeneland, says students are invited to the track twice a year for seasonal meets.
“It’s just really important for while they’re here. We want to get them close to the horses, close to the action. While they’re also enjoying all the festivities here. It’s just part of creating new fans,” Marilla said.
These events are also a chance for those in school to earn a portion of $30,000 in scholarships.
Ashton Lee is a college ambassador with Keeneland and connects with others like herself. She says it’s been her introduction to the industry.
“They can sign up and register to win a bunch of prizes and scholarship money. Our biggest one is currently $10,000 for one of the races,” Lee said. “It helps and you can shadow different departments and kind of see what you’re interested in the workforce after college.”
Marrillia says over 7,000 students signed up for a full Keeneland experience.
In the coming week, they expect a crowd of all visitors for Keeneland’s annual Kentucky Derby party. The track touts itself as the second largest Derby party outside of Churchill Downs on Derby weekend.
“So many of the horses that are going to be competing at the Kentucky Derby were born and bred just miles away from where we stand,” Marrillia explained. “A lot of them also were sold in the Keeneland sales pavilion. All of those events are things that get people out here to experience world-class racing in a setting unlike any other.”
Visitors like Mike Voyers say he and his friends have been annual attendees of these events for almost 15 years.
“It’s like being at the Derby, where, you know, the ladies dress up pretty nicely, the men while the men wear suits. and everybody is, the ladies got the hats and everything is going on today. There will be a lot of women wearing rain boots.” Voyers said.
He says he and his friends will be at Keeneland on Derby Day.