Keeneland jockeys in the spotlight: Julien Leparoux

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Keeneland Horse Racing
  • Through April 25. Gates open at 11 a.m.; first post at 1:05 p.m. No racing Mondays and Tuesdays or Easter Sunday, April 20.

    $5 general admission

    (859) 254-3412, 1-800-456-3412, Keeneland.com

    SPECIAL EVENTS

    Highlights during the meet include:

    April 18: Friday Pick 4 Presented by TVG. A $200,000 guaranteed pool will be offered on races 6-9.

    18, 19: Craft Beer Tent featuring craft beers including Country Boy, Kentucky Ale Kolsch, Land Shark, Shock Top, Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater. North Terrace patio.

    18, 19, 25: Tailgating at The Hill, adjacent to Keene Barn and Entertainment Center. Food trucks, jumbo TV, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, a Keeneland Gift Shop kiosk and free shuttles to the track. Live bluegrass music on Saturdays.

    movie tour celebrating Mine That Bird's victory in the 2009 Derby. Appearance by Mine That Bird and a fan meet-and-greet with actors from the movie.

    It's My Derby fundraiser. Includes panel discussion and VIP reception with Stuart Janney, 2013 Derby winner Orb's co-owner and breeder, and Orb trainer Shug McGaughey; trainer Barclay Tagg, winner of the 2003 Derby and Preakness with Funny Cide; and two-time Derby-winning jockey Chris McCarron. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will moderate the panel. Proceeds benefit Kentucky Derby Museum. In Keeneland Sales Pavilion.

    April 19: Sunrise Trackside. Family friendly activities beginning at 7 a.m. with Breakfast With the Works, featuring Southern-style breakfast and trackside commentary on Thoroughbreds as they train (until 8:30 a.m.); children's activities (7-9 a.m.); equine-related demonstration in paddock (9 a.m.); walking tours of Keeneland (8-10 a.m.); trackside handicapping seminar (11:30 a.m.); Q&A session with Keeneland jockey in paddock (12:05 p.m.). Photos with bugler Steve Buttleman.

    Kids Club Easter Egg Hunt. Plus baby chicks, bunnies and other animals from Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. 9 a.m. North Terrace Lawn.

    April 23: "Wins-day" Challenge handicapping contest. Register at Wagering Central. $10 entry fee. Guaranteed $2,500 pool. First 200 to register will receive a Daily Racing Form and a card for an appetizer at Malone's.

    TVG Hat Giveaway. First 1,000 patrons with paid admission get voucher for a free TVG hat.

    Herald-Leader Subscriber Appreciation Day. Free general admission for all Herald-Leader subscribers with the coupon from the front page of the April 24 edition. Meet Herald-Leader personalities.

    Concert on the Lawn featuring Laura Bell Bundy and Sundy Best. Benefits Markey Cancer Center. Immediately after races on Clubhouse Lawn.

The Keeneland race meet, one of Lexington's signature events, continues through April 25, with Throroughbred racing and all the hoopla that surrounds it.

Each Saturday, the track will feature top-notch jockeys signing autographs and taking fans' questions.

This week, the featured jockey is Julien Leparoux. He will appear in the paddock for a Q&A session with fans at 12:05 p.m. Saturday.

BIO

Julien Leparoux

Born: July 15, 1983, in Senlis, France

Keeneland wins: 338

Keeneland Stakes wins: 39

First Grade 1 win: 2006 Beverly D at Arlington Park on Gorella (FR)

First graded stakes win: 2006 Aegon Turf Sprint (G3) at Churchill Downs on Man of Illusion

First stakes win: 2006 Likely Exchange at Turfway Park on Cat Quatorze

Triple Crown highlights: Second in 2008 Preakness on Macho Again. Third in 2012 Belmont on Atigun.

CAREER STATISTICS

All figures current as of Wednesday.

Starts: 10,179

First-place finishes: 1,927

$105,101,440

Average earnings per start: $10,325

SOURCES: Keeneland, Equibase.com

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