Classic Cars and Classic Hospitality at the Annual Keeneland Concours d’Elegance
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 18, 2018) — Over 160 cars from brass era steamers to exotic future classics will compete at one of Kentucky’s iconic horse racing venues, Keeneland Race Course July 19 - 22 during the annual Keeneland Concours d’Elegance. The concours and all the associated events and activities are charitable fundraisers in support of the Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
The weekend’s festivities will begin with the Bourbon Tour on Thursday, July 19. The tour begins with breakfast at Heirloom Restaurant in Midway. From there, the group will make its way through picturesque horse country to the Old Friends Farm, a thoroughbred retirement farm. Lunch will take place at Wallace Station in Versailles, part of the family of restaurants from Chef Ouita Michel. The trip will conclude with a VIP tour of the Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., led by Mark Coffman, Master Distiller, and Ken Lee, Master Brewer. To find out more, visit http://keenelandconcours.com/events/bourbon-tour/.
On Friday, July 20 from 7 to 11 p.m., FIRE & ICE is the theme for this year’s Keeneland Concours Bash - Hot Cars - Cool Music - Sizzling Hors d 'Oeuvres – Chilled Cocktails at the Grand Reserve. This event is sponsored by Blue Grass Motorsport and the University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union. Guests are encouraged to show off their most stylish and creative cocktail attire. For information, visit http://keenelandconcours.com/events/concours-bash/.
The weekend’s main event, the Keeneland Concours d’Elegance, will be held at Keeneland on July 21 beginning at 9 a.m. This year’s Concours showcases 160 collector cars and motorcycles competing in 20 judged classes. The featured marque this year is BMW, with classes devoted to BMW motorsports, sports cars, and motorcycles. The Concours will also showcase a class of well-preserved carriages; in keeping with its equestrian surroundings. The awards ceremony will start at 3 p.m. when the winning cars from each class will roll across the awards platform.
On July 22, drivers will converge on the Keene Library to take part in the 15th annual Tour d’Elegance. This year’s tour will be a 90-mile ride through some of the best driving roads in the Bluegrass, with a stop along the way at Taylor Made Farm – home to racehorse California Chrome. Drivers will then work their way back to Lexington and Red Mile, a harness track that has been a part of the cultural fabric of the community since 1875. For more information on the Sunday tour, visit http://keenelandconcours.com/events/sunday-tour-delegance/.
The Keeneland Concours d’Elegance has been proud to support the Kentucky Children’s Hospital since 2004. Over the last 15 years, the Concours has raised close to $750,000 to help bring better health care to the children of Kentucky. To learn more about our work with KCH, call (859) 422-3329 or visit http://keenelandconcours.com/about/our-beneficiary/.