LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) – You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t love Keeneland.
From the sights and sounds, there are very few places on Earth like it.
Jack Keene was a driving force behind the Keeneland we know today, and while the Keene family no longer owns the racetrack, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel like home for this generation of the Keene family.
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For Mary Keene Marrs and her brother Andrew Marrs, the track represents a connection to their ancestors.“The farmland started with our eighth-generation great grandparents,” Andrew explained. “They kind of settled here in Lexington on this farm.”As they’ve gotten older, learning more about their family’s connection to Keeneland has brought a new appreciation for their family lineage.“Some of them fought in the Revolutionary War,” Andrew detailed. “They made friends with General Marquis de Lafayette, who is the namesake of our county. And when he came back, what, 50, 60 years later, to tour what is now the United States. One of his first stops was right here at the old Keene place with family and starting their tour through the U.S. through us.”But Keeneland is also a way to remain connected with their loved ones.“Just having our family buried out here is pretty cool,” Mary said. “Our mom is buried here.”Given their family’s ties to the racetrack, both Mary and Andrew have memories and stories that could last lifetimes.“I remember one day my mom pulled us both out of school and some of our friends, and we all came here together, and it was just one of my favorite memories,” Mary said.
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It’s because of those memories, the brother-sister duo hope Keeneland remains a place where the whole family can come and enjoy the day.“I hope people continue bringing their families out here, and that’s a special place for everybody. So, I hope that continues to be the case,” Mary explained.“The horse and horse racing lover in me hopes that this place continues to be a benchmark for equine safety, the rules and regulations of horse racing,” Andrew outlined. “Then also, track and family environment, creating a place that people want to come to and experience horse racing, whether that be for the first time or the millionth time.”…