Breeders’ Cup 2015: Room at the Inn?

By Lucas Marquardt

Editor’s note: Leading up to the 2015 Breeders’ Cup, our Lexington-based reporter, Lucas Marquardt, is filing a series of stories on how Keeneland and its home city will go to extraordinary means to stage an extraordinary event. Last month, he covered on-track accommodations. Today, he looks at hotel space.

Later this year, the people of Lexington, Kentucky, in concert with Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup, will aim to showcase the Bluegrass region as a world-class destination as the city hosts the World Thoroughbred Championships Oct. 30-31. A big part of that effort will take place away from Keeneland, and will focus on guest accommodations for those human connections, including fans, owners and horsemen, shipping in for the 32nd Breeders’ Cup. 

“Lexington actually has a history of hosting these world-class events, whether it’s the Final Four, the World Equestrian Games or the Breeders’ Cup, and we felt that was one of the drawing points, that we do have a strong region to be able to support the Breeders’ Cup,” said Keeneland’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Vince Gabbert. 

Lexington has hosted NCAA Tournament games a total of 12 times since 1977, most recently when it staged second- and third-round games in 2013. The city hosted the World Equestrian Games in 2010. 

The Bluegrass region has approximately 10,000 hotel rooms (7,500 directly in Lexington), according to VisitLex.com, and with the event capacity capped around 35,000 for each of the Breeders’ Cup days, officials are confident there will be plenty of available space for those visiting. That said, there are several other big attractions in Lexington that weekend. They include an important football game on the University of Kentucky’s schedule on Breeders’ Cup Saturday, when the Tennessee Volunteers visit Commonwealth Stadium. The five-day CP National Horse Show is being held at the Kentucky Horse Park Oct. 27-Nov. 1. And the Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton November bloodstock sales will immediately follow the Breeders’ Cup. 

So Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup are coordinating with VisitLex, a local tourism board, and with hotels and inns in nearby towns and cities, to make sure everyone who wants to visit has accommodations that live up to expectations. 

“We’re encouraging our fans to go on to Breederscup.com, and to click on the ‘Plan Your Visit’ icon,” said Jim Gluckson, head of the Breeders’ Cup Public Relations and Communications department. “From there, you can plan your stay, and through VisitLex.com, you can book hotels based on availability.”

Gabbert said that Versailles, Midway and Georgetown, all within a short drive of Lexington, offer a variety of options for travelers, too. “And we’ll have auxiliary cities that support the event as well,” he said. “Cincinnati and Louisville are both within a 90-minute drive and will be big supporters, not just with their airports, but with hotel space and whatever amenities people are looking for.”

For those who have searched for rooms already and found hotels mostly booked, not to worry. Mark Ravenscraft, general manager of the Griffin Gate Marriott in Lexington, said that more and more hotel rooms will be opened to the general public in the coming months. “We’ve negotiated a rather large block of rooms with the Breeders’ Cup, so our first priority is to make sure we get all of those rooms sorted out, and we’re working with the Breeders’ Cup right now to do just that,” Ravenscraft explained. “Then, through the year, we’ll open up groups of rooms for individual travelers. We haven’t determined when we’ll do that yet, but we’ll watch the demand and then open it up at the right moment.”

The Griffin Gate has long been a popular hotel with horsemen visiting Lexington for sales at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland, and is one of five official host hotels for the Breeders’ Cup. Others include the Downtown Lexington Hilton, Embassy Suites, Campbell House, and Hilton Lexington Green. 

“In terms of overall volume for the hotel, it’s not the largest event we’ve ever hosted,” said Ravenscraft. “But in terms of the magnitude of the event itself, and the overall reach throughout the U.S. and overseas to Europe and elsewhere, it’s right up there at the top. We’re very excited about it. The hotel will be draped in purple—the color of the Breeders’ Cup color—and there are a number of receptions being planned. We’re also working to put together a signature drink for our lounges that will be totally focused on the Breeders’ Cup.”
Part of the allure of Lexington is its small-city charm, and smaller hotels, such as the boutique Gratz Park Inn near downtown, are also busy preparing for the Breeders’ Cup.

“We are very excited to see the Breeders’ Cup come to Lexington, Horse Capital of the World, and we are getting ready to make sure each guest that stays with us has a Lexington experience,” said Gratz Park General Manager Zedtta Wellman. “From storytelling to wonderful food and the best hospitality, we are brushing up on our culture, and on things to do in Lexington, so we can be great ambassadors. All our employees are on board to welcome this event, and we will be rolling out the red carpet with our signature drink—of course with bourbon—and bourbon balls. Plus we have a new restaurant called Distilled At Gratz Park Inn that we’re excited to share with Breeders’ Cup fans. We even have bees on the rooftop making honey that the restaurant cooks with, and our mixologists make drinks with. Lexington is such a beautiful city and has the best hospitality in the South.”

Lexington’s appeal, of course, has a lot to do with the fact that some of the world’s most stately Thoroughbred breeding farms are located here. Officials say that opens to the door to a fan experience not available anywhere else, and even provides further accommodation options for some horsemen. 

“Lexington is the breeding capital of the world, and is home to all these wonderful farms,” said Gabbert. “It gives people the opportunity to experience the Breeders’ Cup and the racing industry in a way they couldn’t at other venues. We have seen a tremendous amount of interest and farms large and small that want to host events, and are working with the Breeders’ Cup directly. Some farms want to host tours, others are opening their homes to clients coming in from overseas. The interest on the farm side has been phenomenal.” 

Eight years ago, the Breeders’ Cup moved to a two-day format, and fans have slowly adjusted the way the plan for Breeders’ Cup week, official say. Before, many fans might come in on the Friday before the event. Now, more and more are coming earlier in the week. 

“It took a little time, but I think yes, people started to extend their trips,” said Gluckson. “I know in California over the last two years, there was definitely an uptick on hotel rooms on Wednesday of Breeders’ Cup week. And since we start with the draw on Monday, some horsemen are definitely coming in earlier.”
The Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland are intent on making sure there are plenty of entertainment options for visitors the entire week. KentuckyOne Health, the largest health system in the Commonwealth, has signed on as the title sponsor of Breeders’ Cup Festival Week, which “will present a broad offering of entertainment and hospitality events,” said officials. In the coming weeks, we’ll take a look at what’s being planned.