Turfway opens to big fields, casual experience

That Turfway Park was once named Greater Cincinnati's Best Cheap Date is a point of pride for its general manager.

Chip Bach said this week ahead of Thursday's opening night in northern Kentucky that Turfway's aiming for "a very high-energy, fun and casual experience here at the track." And an inexpensive one, too.

"That's kind of where we're going," Bach said. "We want to make our place conducive to people without a lot of discretionary income - make sure they have a great time, bet on the horses and enjoy free concerts on Friday and Saturday nights in a casual spot."

Post times in December are 6:15 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The track, at 7500 Turfway Road in Florence, Ky., closes on Christmas Eve and Day but is open on New Year's Eve with free admission and parking.

After what's known as the Holiday Meet in December, Turfway's winter/spring meet runs until April.

The same sort of lofty field counts that were staples this fall at Keeneland and Churchill Downs appear on the docket at Turfway. For nine races on the all-weather track, 112 were entered for Thursday's card.

Bach said there's a long waiting list to reserve space in the Turfway barn area. A year ago, the track averaged 10 starters per race in December.

"It's early. I'm knocking on wood right now," he said. "But we're seeing the same response from our horsemen with bountiful entries. We're excited to get going."

What could ultimately knock down numbers, as always, is the weather. Snow and rain are fine, but officials consider bitter cold most when deciding whether to run.

"Racing in the wintertime is always fun and interesting," Bach said.

Saturday's Holiday Inaugural Stakes and the Dec. 19 Prairie Bayou Stakes, both worth $50,000, highlight December's racing. Ahead in the spring is the Grade II Spiral, a key stop on the road to the 2016 Kentucky Derby.