Campus News

Celebrate Big Blue Day at Keeneland

Horse racing toward the finish in the home stretch at Keeneland
Enjoy Big Blue Day at Keeneland, Oct. 9. Photo by Mark Pearson.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 9, 2024) — UK faculty, staff, student, alumni and fans are invited to join the University of Kentucky Alumni Association for Keeneland’s Big Blue Day, Oct. 11. The event begins at 11 a.m. and offers a day of racing excitement and Wildcat spirit.

Special activities include:

  • A kickoff celebration with the UK Alumni Band at 11:30 a.m.
  • A performance of the national anthem by UK alumna and country music artist Hannah Ellis at noon.
  • Special appearances throughout the day by UK icons such as Jack “Goose” Givens, Nate Northington, the Kentucky Wildcat mascot and more surprises to be announced!
  • Performances by the UK Cheerleaders and Dance Team.
  • Winner’s Circle events featuring Golden Wildcats, DanceBlue, and former UK athletes.
  • Unique activities at the North Gate entrance.
  • Keeneland’s official bugler, Steve Buttleman, performing the UK fight song.

Exclusive offers for UK alumni, faculty, staff and students

The alumni association is offering two complimentary general admission tickets to Keeneland for this event:

Additionally, enjoy a 20% discount at the Keeneland Shop on the day of the event by presenting your UK ID.

Come dressed in your best UK blue and white attire and join fellow Wildcats for a day of fun, racing and celebrating the University of Kentucky! Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your Wildcat pride.

The UK Alumni Association is committed to fostering lifelong engagement among alumni, friends, the association and the university. For more information about the UK Alumni Association, visit www.ukalumni.net or call 800-269-2586.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.