1930s

Keeneland Library Collection-Construction of Track 1935 v1p11.jpg

Construction of the track at Keeneland, 1935

Keeneland Library Collection-Water Tower 1935 v1p11.jpg

Original water tower at Keeneland, 1935

Keeneland Library Collection-Construction of Grandstand 1935 v1p13.jpg

Construction of the Grandstand and Paddock at Keeneland, 1935

Keeneland Library Collection-Construction of Clubhouse 1936 v1p17.jpg

Clubhouse at Keeneland during construction, 1936

Keeneland Library Collection-Clubhouse 1936 v1p19.jpg

Clubhouse at Keeneland, 1936

Keeneland Library Collection-Construction of Grandstand 1936 v1p17.jpg

Construction of the Grandstand at Keeneland, 1936

Keeneland Library Collection-Aerial View 1936 v1p25.jpg

Aerial view of Keeneland, 1936

Keeneland Library Collection-Clubhouse, apron, grandstand opening day 1936.jpg

Opening Day at Keeneland, October 1936

Keeneland Library Collection-Grandstand with Crowd 1937 v1p35.jpg

Crowds at Keeneland in 1937

Keeneland Library Collection-Saddling Ring 1937 v1p33.jpg

Horses in post parade at Keeneland leaving the Paddock, 1937

1937Kee paddock_ yearling judging.jpg

Yearling judging contest in the Keeneland Paddock, 1937

Keeneland Library Collection-Crowd at the Rail 1938 v1p45.jpg

Crowd along the rail at Keeneland, 1938

Keeneland Library Collection-Crowd with Grandstand 1939 v1p61.jpg

Crowd along the lawn with Grandstand at Keeneland, 1939

Keeneland Library Collection-Track Kitchen 1939 v1p71.jpg

The first Track Kitchen at Keeneland, 1939

Keeneland Library Collection-View of Grandstand from the Clubhouse 1939 v1p71.jpg

View of the Grandstand from the Clubhouse at Keeneland, 1939

Keeneland's first meet was held in October 1936, and the first sale was in the Paddock in April 1938. Keeneland Library was founded in 1939 with the donation of 2,300 volumes of rare books on the history of horse racing.

At the inaugural race meet at Keeneland in 1936, crowds were able to place bets through the first electronic totalizator wagering system in the state of Kentucky, with odds displayed on the tote board in the infield near the finish line.

1930s