Keeneland Fall Meet Concludes with Record in All-Sources Wagering

[Wandering Eyes]

The 2025 Fall Meet wrapped Saturday with a season-record of $217-million in all-sources wagering, Keeneland announced via press release.

Propelled by record purse money and overall good weather for the duration of the meeting, the 17 days of racing totaled $217,266,759 on the season–surpassing the previous record of $210,165,945 set last year for the 2024 Fall Meet. It was a 3.38% increase. Average daily purses of $1,341,107 also set a Keeneland record and races averaged 9.2 starters per card.

Opening Fall Stars Weekend (excluding whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) generated $48.9-million in wagering which was just shy of the $49.9-million benchmark handled during the 2022 Fall Stars Weekend. Opening Saturday's 11-race card, which featured five graded races, handled $21,456,829 in wagering and was slightly below the $22,256,692 record set during the 2024 Fall Meet. On-track wagering increased 3.87% to $17,239,420 from $16,597,162 last year.

“This Fall Meet was remarkable, but that is entirely thanks to the people who make it possible,” said Keeneland vice president of racing Gatewood Bell. “From our horsemen bringing outstanding horses to the track, to the owners, trainers and jockeys who compete here each day, the quality of racing speaks for itself. We are fortunate to be able to share it with our fans and horseplayers, and we are deeply grateful to everyone–both on the track and behind the scenes–whose dedication made this season so special.”

The fall meet leaders were also crowned at the conclusion of Saturday's card with Irad Ortiz Jr., trainer Brad Cox, and owner Spendthrift Farm topping their respective categories by victories. Ortiz (25 wins) earned his second consecutive title as Keeneland's leading rider at the Fall Meet, and had eight more wins than Tyler Gaffalione in second. Jose Ortiz followed them in third with 16 wins and Luis Saez came fourth with 15. John Velazquez equaled a 27-year-old riding mark when he captured seven stakes during the season to tie fellow Hall of Famer Pat Day, who won seven stakes during the 1998 Fall Meet.

Cox claimed top standing on closing day when edging Brendan Walsh by one victory in the final tally. With 12 wins to Walsh's 11, the title marks Cox's eighth as leading trainer–though the pair shared the top spot at this year's Spring Meet. Steve Asmussen also came in with 11 victories. Rusty Arnold extended his record as Keeneland's all-time winningest trainer over Bill Mott to 309 over the latter's 308.

Spendthrift Farm (six wins) beat C R K Stable and Shortleaf Stable (three a piece) in the owner's standings and claimed both top-level juvenile races with Ted Noffey and Tommy Jo, both by Into Mischief.

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