Keeneland’s 2024 fall meet, which runs 17 days from Oct. 4-26, will be the track’s most lucrative racing season, with 22 stakes worth a record $9.85 million.

For the fall meet, Keeneland boosted the purses for five stakes by a total of $800,000. The purse of the Grade 1 Turf Mile on Oct. 5 jumped by $125,000, the purse of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1)  on Oct. 12 went from $600,000 to $750,000, and the Bryan Station (G3) on closing day doubled in value to $600,000.

In addition, two stakes were upgraded and received $50,000 purse increases. The Perryville (G3) on Oct. 19 is now worth $300,000, and the value of the Valley View (G2) on Oct. 25 is $350,000.

Opening the season is fall stars weekend, three days with a total of 11 stakes worth $5.8 million. Eight stakes are part of the Breeders’ Cup qualifiers.

Racing during the fall meet will be conducted Wednesdays through Sundays. Gates open at 11 a.m. EDT. Post time for the first race is 1 p.m.

“With Keeneland just having completed a record September yearling sale, there’s so much energy and excitement on the grounds that we can’t wait to share with our fans and horsemen this fall meet,” said Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin. “We are thrilled to offer record purse money this race meet, which attracts the best horses in the country to Keeneland, many of them potential Breeders’ Cup contenders. Additionally, fans will see that construction of our new paddock building is well underway. This project represents an investment in the future of our sport and will provide unique hospitality experiences for our guests during race meets and sales, beginning this time next year.”

Begun in January and scheduled to be completed in September 2025, Keeneland’s construction project centers on the three-level paddock building, which will extend the entire length of the paddock and walking Ring. The new facility is designed to feature a variety of ticketed experiences available to the public, and the ground level will include saddling stallsm currently located on the north end of the saddling paddock, to elevate safety for equine and human participants.

A variety of wagering opportunities for handicappers will continue during the fall meet.

The daily double wager features a reduced 15 percent takeout, which Keeneland began during the spring ,eet.

The Keeneland Turf Pick 3 wager will be offered on the final three turf races each day and requires a $3 minimum.

The super high five will be available on the final race each day.

The New York Racing Association’s cross-country wager on Saturdays will return and include Keeneland races.

In addition, the opening-day Phoenix (G2), the Jessamine (G2) and the Alcibiades (G1) will be included in late Pick 4 and late Pick 5 wagers.

On Oct. 5, the all-stakes Pick 4 and all-stakes Pick 5 will conclude with the Turf Mile (G1).

That day, Keeneland will offer a new wager, the $1 future stars Pick 5, featuring five races for 2-year-olds that are Breeders’ Cup Challenge events. The races are the Frizette (G1) and the Champagne (G1) from Belmont at The Big A; the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) from Keeneland; and the Oak Leaf (G2) and the American Pharoah (G1) from Santa Anita.

On Oct. 6, the late Pick 4 and late Pick 5 will include the Indian Summer, the Spinster (G1) and the Bourbon (G2).