Lexington, KY — The Red Mile will officially kick off its 2026 Grand Circuit meet Tuesday (Sept. 29) with the return of Breakfast on the Backside, sponsored by Hunterton Farm, beginning at 7 a.m. on the track’s viewing deck.
Racing fans, horsemen and participants are invited to enjoy complimentary coffee, donuts and pastries while watching horses train and jog over The Red Mile’s historic red clay oval. Breakfast on the Backside will continue each morning throughout the Grand Circuit schedule, giving guests an opportunity to experience morning training during one of the most anticipated stretches of the Lexington racing season.
“From Breakfast on the Backside to the tradition and excitement of Kentucky Futurity Day, Grand Circuit season represents so much of what makes The Red Mile special,” said Emily Ratcliff, Director of Sponsorships at The Red Mile. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate the very best of harness racing, welcome fans and horsemen from across the country to Lexington and showcase this historic racetrack on one of the sport’s biggest stages. We’re proud of the racing ahead and look forward to an outstanding two weeks at The Red Mile.”
Grand Circuit festivities continue Wednesday (Sept. 30) with the Kentucky Futurity Post Draw at noon in The Red Mile Clubhouse. Bob Heyden will host the draw, which will be conducted by The Red Mile racing officials and streamed live by the United States Trotting Association and across The Red Mile’s social media channels.
Grand Circuit racing officially gets underway Thursday, Oct. 1, with divisions of the Bluegrass Stakes for 2-year-old male trotters and 2-year-old filly pacers. Live racing begins at 1 p.m. each day, with the opening week continuing Friday (Oct. 2) and Saturday (Oct. 3).
The first week culminates Saturday with one of the signature afternoons of the season at The Red Mile. The 2026 Kentucky Futurity, sponsored by Hunterton Farms, will headline the Grand Circuit program as top 3-year-old trotters compete over the historic Lexington oval. The Kentucky Filly Futurity, sponsored by Crawford Farms, will also be contested as part of Saturday’s stakes-filled program.
The Kentucky Futurity will receive national television coverage on FOX Sports 2, with Jessica Otten hosting the racing from The Red Mile and bringing the tradition and excitement of Futurity Day to a national audience.
Following the opening weekend, Grand Circuit racing returns Thursday, Oct. 8, and continues Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10, with first post at 1 p.m. each day. The second week of Grand Circuit competition will bring The Red Mile’s 2026 live racing season to a close.
From Breakfast on the Backside and the Kentucky Futurity Post Draw to six days of Grand Circuit stakes racing, the next two weeks will bring together many of the sport’s leading horses, horsemen and fans in Lexington for one of the most celebrated stretches on the harness racing calendar. For complete racing schedules, stakes information and additional event details, visit redmileracing.com.