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Keeneland Race Course’s board of directors on Wednesday approved a racetrack development project to overhaul the main track with a Polytrack surface that is wider than the current dirt surface.

While the change to Polytrack had been scheduled to take place after the current spring meeting, the plan still required the board’s final approval.

The new track still will be 1 1/16 miles around, but it will be widened in some areas, reaching 80-feet in width in the far turn. Keeneland plans to have the track ready in time for its October meet, which would make the Lexington facility the third in North America to race on Polytrack. Turfway Park installed the surface in September 2005 and Woodbine plans to race on Polytrack beginning in September ‘06.

The track plans to install a new tote board and a high-definition infield video screen. Also planned is a new modern safety rail.

"With these renovations and improvements, we hope to have one of the safest and most modern racetracks in the world," said Keeneland President Nick Nicholson. "Our track has not changed much since it was laid out and constructed using mules prior to our first race meeting in 1936. We believe that by taking advantage of the latest cutting-edge advancements, and creating the safest racing possible, we further the mission outlined by our founders to build a model racetrack."

Keeneland is a half owner in Turfway along with Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., and part of its reason for installing Polytrack at the Florence, Kentucky, track, was to determine if such a surface would be feasible for Lexington. Keeneland installed Polytrack on its five-furlong training track in September 2004.
Keeneland is the North American partner of the English-based Martin Collins Enterprises to distribute the surface to racetracks and training centers on its side of the Atlantic. Collins developed the surface in England.–Ed DeRosa