Keeneland Recognizes Phoenix Rising Lex

Today’s eighth race is the 170^th running of the $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2), which is particularly notable because it is the oldest stakes race in the U.S. Originally named for the famous Phoenix Hotel that once stood in downtown Lexington, the race dates back to 1831 at the Kentucky Association track.

The Phoenix also is the namesake of a unique group in Lexington called Phoenix Rising Lex, a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving, promoting and honoring the vast contributions of African American horsemen in establishing the Bluegrass as the Horse Capital of the World through its educational, public and social activities.

Becky Ryder, Director of the Keeneland Library, is a founding member of Phoenix Rising Lex and serves as Board Secretary.

The winner of today’s Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix earns a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland. Phoenix Rising Lex President Bruce Mundy along with Sarah Reeves and Chapman Hopkins from Stoll Keenon Ogden will present the trophy to the winning connections.

Their collaboration commemorates the historic connection between Keeneland and the Kentucky Association track as well as the support by Stoll Keenon Ogden and Keeneland for the East End neighborhood where the Kentucky Association track thrived for more than 100 years.

For more about Phoenix Rising, visit https://www.phoenixrisinglex.org/