LEXINGTON, Ky. — Keeneland’s 16-day Spring Meet came to a close Friday.

Held from April 5-26, this year’s Spring Meet included a historic 100th edition of the meet’s signature race, the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, as well as 19 stakes races in total that offered a combined, season-record purse of $8.6 million.

The meet also took place while an ongoing $93 million renovation project to the Lexington track occurred. The expansion project, which won’t be finished until the 2025 Fall Meet, includes a new paddock building, new permanent seating and dining areas, as well as a visitors center.

Over the course of the 16 days of racing at Keeneland, leading jockeys, trainers and owners emerged from the pack. Keeneland even played a prominent role in new Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope securing a commitment from a player in the NCAA transfer portal.

Here’s a look at the big winners from this year’s Spring Meet, along with wagering totals from the meet.

Irad Ortiz Jr. wins first Keeneland jockey title

Irad Ortiz Jr. won his first Keeneland title as the leading jockey for a meet at the track. Powered by three victories Friday, the final day of the meet, Ortiz finished the 2024 Spring Meet with 20 race wins.

This was five more than each of Tyler Gaffalione and Jose Ortiz, who tied for second place in the jockey standings with 15 wins. Irad and Jose are brothers.

Irad Ortiz claimed a trio of stakes wins en route to his meet title: The Grade 1 Central Bank Ashland (Leslie’s Rose), the Grade 2 Shakertown (Arzak) and the Grade 3 Giant’s Causeway (Roses for Debra).

The Ashland was the only Kentucky Oaks points qualifier run during the Spring Meet.

...continued

©2024 Lexington Herald-Leader. Visit kentucky.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.