The rescheduling of the 101^st running of the $1.25 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) from Saturday, April 5 to Tuesday because of severe weather and flooding in Central Kentucky is the latest example of how Keeneland’s most famous race has adapted over the years – from a change in race tracks to a change in dates – while maintaining its status as an important target for talented 3-year-old Thoroughbreds.

The Blue Grass was named for the famous Bluegrass region and held in 1911-1914 and 1919-1926 at the old Kentucky Association track near downtown Lexington. Second-place finishers Meridian (1911), Donerail (1913) and Behave Yourself (1921) went on to win the Kentucky Derby. The 1926 winner, Bubbling Over, became the first horse to win the Blue Grass and the Kentucky Derby.

In the early 1930s with the Kentucky Association track falling on hard times, a group of prominent area Thoroughbred horseman were working on establishing a new facility in Lexington. In 1935, they founded the Keeneland Association, purchased land from horseman J.O. “Jack” Keene and set out to open a model race track. Keeneland opened Oct. 15, 1936 – nearly 90 years ago – for nine days of racing.

In April 1937, Keeneland held its inaugural Spring Meet of 11 days and ran the Blue Grass for the first time. The winner was Maxwell Howard’s Fencing, who defeated Col. E.R. Bradley’s favored duo of Billionaire and Brooklyn. Nine days later at Churchill Downs, Fencing and Billionaire raced back in the Kentucky Derby, inaugurating a pattern that future Derby hopefuls would follow.

World War II necessitated a change in venue and scheduling of the Blue Grass.

In 1943, Keeneland was deemed a “suburban” plant and placed in the classification of tracks asked not to operate because of shortages in rubber. The Keeneland Association leased the Churchill facilities and held three Spring Meets there from 1943-1945. No Fall Meets were held.

In 1943 and 1944, the Blue Grass was part of the Keeneland-at-Churchill Downs meets.

On April 21, 1943, Calumet Farm’s Ocean Wave won the Blue Grass. On April 26, 1944,  M.B. Goff’s Skytracer captured the race.

In 1945, the Blue Grass was run as part of the Churchill meet and was held June 2. The winner was Mrs. W.G. Lewis’ Darby Dieppe, who next was third in the Kentucky Derby on June 9.

In 1946, Keeneland’s Spring Meet (then 11 days) resumed in April. The Blue Grass was won by Maine Chance Farm’s Lord Boswell.

The Blue Grass is widely remembered for being run on a weekday, nine days before the Kentucky Derby, but the timing has shifted to suit the changing preference of trainers. The final time the Blue Grass was held on a weekday was April 28, 1988, when the winner was Steve Stavro’s Granacus.

For 1989, the Blue Grass was moved to three weeks before the Kentucky Derby and run April 15. The winner was Nancy Vanier and Raymond Roncari’s Western Playboy.

The timing between the Blue Grass and the Kentucky Derby again changed a few years later.

In 2015, the Blue Grass moved to its current position four weeks before the Derby, to fall on opening Saturday of the Spring Meet. The winner was WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stables’ Carpe Diem.