McLean’s Selections for Keeneland — Friday, Oct 2 — And a Few Opinions, Too

Editor’s Note:

Keeneland is an interesting place, these days. No longer can a person park at the track kitchen;  just walk up to the turnstiles, plunk down some hard-earned cash; buy a program; and walk out to the apron to catch a few races when their friends.

That’s when a man could just grab a chilly one, a cup of the Wolken’s best burgoo and the absolute best corn-beef sandwich ever created. And, that’s when a man could watch some of the best horse races to ever run. That’s when a man could just enjoy the constant breeze from my home of Woodford County…and, most of all, just enjoy the hell out of life in Central Kentucky.

Some days, that’s where you could find Seth Hancock, the man who led the great Claiborne Farm until he turned it over to his son, Walker. Some days, that’s where you could run into Joe Bolero, a trainer with master skills and an old stogie that smoked his fedora. Some days, that’s where you could stand in the midst of greatness — with the likes of legendary trainers Nick Zito, and Woody Stephens and the likes of some of the sport’s greatest story-tellers like Herb Stevens, Joe Hirsch, Tom Hammond, and Dan Liebman.

It was heaven to a horse lover. Or the closest thing I’ve ever come.

Those were the days. Those are now just memories.

Today…

All tickets pre-sold.

People frown on the wearing of jeans and boots.

The apron is patrolled and the green benches are now quartered-off for those who think they are rich and the ones that will never be famous.

The burgoo ain’t nearly as good, and try like hell to find a working sandwich vendor who even knows what corned beef is.

Can’t even enjoy watching the college kids. For the most part, they are now relegated to “The Hill” for just tailgating parties.

Sad commentary, really.

Used to be the place where people liked to say:

“Racing as it was meant to be.”

Now?

“Racing as only the rich want it to become.”

That’s what you get when The Jockey Club and HSA make the rules, these days.

They could suck the life right out of anything fun, enjoyable and sacred. They are on a mission. And, that is to make horse racing in this country the “Sport of Only Kings” again.

Paupers — like me — need not apply.

Sad commentary, really.

But for this Midway boy, I still hold out hope that someday Keeneland will once again be a place where the likes of former Keeneland leaders — like James “Ted” Bassett and Bill Greely — made these sacred grounds welcome to everyone — even the old hard boots, which some how, some way I have now become one.

Hope does spring eternal. I guess.

Here’s to hope.

And, speaking of hopes…

Now, my picks.

Which is another story or another day. But, let’s just admit, Keeneland doesn’t even like me producing and publishing, either.

LOL.

2026 Statistics:

(Stats to be updated)

Friday’s Picks at Keeneland:

Friday’s Betting Strategies at Keeneland:

Friday’s Comments at Keeneland:

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene