Keeneland opened for the end of their 2025 Spring Meet, welcoming guests to the Lexington area showing the horse racing culture.

On Friday, April 25, the final day of the Spring Meet started with a 15-minute weather delay before horse racing began, allowing guests to experience what Keeneland offers to Lexington’s history.

Keeneland cannot run without its workers helping to create a foundational aspect of Kentucky’s culture, according to Patrick Armstrong, a “green coat,” or worker at Keeneland.

Armstrong said he first came to Keeneland as a teenager with his father, who showed him the track to experience a race day for the first time and learn about the betting culture and its faults.

“He anticipated us losing (the bet),” Armstrong said. “It kind of backfired on him because we won four out of seven of the races that day.”

Armstrong said his experiences working at Keeneland have always been worthwhile, especially meeting new people who have never been around the Lexington area.

One of the parts of his job he said he enjoyed was being able to show more aspects of the track to attendees.

“You really get a good sense of reward for being able to do that (provide answers) for people when we can,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong, who has worked at Keeneland for 12 years, said the pageantry was one of his favorite traditions he looks forward to seeing every year.

“When the horses come in from the north gate and they come into the saddling paddock, they are really majestic,” Armstrong said. “We have seen that many times, but it’s still majestic to us when they (racehorses) come in.”

Even with the long hours, Armstrong said being able to experience traditions such as Heroes Day, a day commemorating members of the military, first responders, healthcare workers and their families, according to Keeneland’s website, is “truly enjoyable.”

Armstrong said his enjoyment working as a green coat doesn’t stop at his duties, but he also enjoys the friendships and showing people Keeneland with his coworkers.

“Many of us now have over 10 years of experience,” Armstrong said. “The efforts of our crew is very audible and admirable because they know a lot.”

First-time attendee, Aian Brownfiemd, said she came up from South Carolina to experience the “treasures” of Keeneland, especially its horse racing.

“The excitement about everyone being here and the different ways people dress, men and women,” Brownfiemd said. “It’s unique to Kentucky, it seems like something the people are proud of.”

Returning attendee and stay-at-home mom, Rebekah Smyther, said she won Keeneland tickets at her gym so she wanted to come “rain or shine.”

According to Smyther, her first experience of Keeneland was driving past the race track in 1995 when she moved to Kentucky.

Smyther then visited Keeneland for the first time in 2006 where she said she got to experience the “homage of Kentucky’s culture.”

“There’s a serious level of pride and joy for my community. Our tradition and getting to share that with family and with friends,” Smyther said. “This is our thing, we have horse racing.”

First-time Keeneland attendee and Columbus, Ohio, native, Scott Travis, said the weather delay was expected, but he was excited to attend and experience Keeneland.

Even with the delay, Travis said he was excited to bet for the first time at Keeneland for his first race.

“I just won the first race, so I’m very pleased. I’m going to continue to do it (making bets),” Travis said.

According to Travis, he expects to come back during the next fall meet and hopes to create lasting memories at Keeneland in the future.

“I think they’re (Keeneland and Kentucky) synonymous,” Travis said. “To me, I think it’s really beautiful like the people and the state itself.”

Elizabeth Collins, a guest and customer service employee at Keeneland who has worked there for three years, said she grew up coming to Keeneland while she went to Georgetown College.

After retiring from teaching, Collins said she wanted to be around people, and Keeneland was the place to be if she wanted to experience that.

According to Collins, she keeps coming back because of the people and how they interact with Keeneland’s history.

“Keeneland is seeping in tradition and history, and those are the two things that I most value,” Collins said.

Keeneland continues to grow while keeping its traditions alive, according to Collins, the history behind Keeneland remains strong.

“It’s just a different feel, there’s no place like Keeneland,” Collins said. “It’s a happy place.”