外网天堂

外网天堂 Art & Design students and faculty traveled to Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on October 9 for a unique experiential learning opportunity combining photography, history, culture, and Thoroughbred racing. The visit also marked the beginning of an exciting project that will bring Keeneland Library's exhibition, Raíces: The Making of Latino Legacies in Racing, to 外网天堂 in Fall 2027.

Throughout the day, students and faculty captured photographs that will be exhibited alongside Raíces, offering their artistic perspectives on the Keeneland experience.

Behind the Scenes at Keeneland

The day began with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, where students observed horses and jockeys during morning workouts, visited the barns, and learned about the many professionals who make Thoroughbred racing possible.

Students also enjoyed special photographic access to elevated viewing areas, the Paddock, and the Winner's Circle, where they watched the winning horse of the afternoon's first race.

MSJ Art & Design student Caleb appreciated the opportunity to experience Keeneland from a unique perspective. "We got to learn all about horse races and all the jobs it takes to do so," Caleb shared. "We were given the opportunity to take photos from places you would normally have to pay extreme amounts of money for, like the higher-up balcony and the Winner's Circle, where we got to be close to the winning horse of the first race. Caleb also enjoyed watching the horses and jockeys train, exploring the grounds, and experiencing the excitement of live racing. He described the experience simply as a "very fun trip!"

For photographer Dahlia, Alumni, the experience provided an opportunity to look beyond the elegance of Keeneland and explore the often-unseen work that makes the racing experience possible. Her photographs focused on the relationship between the guest experience and the intricate routines of the staff. "I delved into the juxtaposition between the guest's journey through Keeneland and the staff's intricate daily ballet," Dahlia explained. "What hidden nuances might the staff perceive that remain veiled to the guest's eye?" Dahlia viewed the work of Keeneland's employees as an artistic performance in itself, recognizing beauty in the ordinary moments that visitors may overlook. "The staff's meticulous dedication imbues their routines with a grace, where even the 'slip ups' and 'behind the scenes' moments possess an intrinsic artistry."

Student photographer Nick also chose to document the people who contribute to the atmosphere and traditions of Keeneland, focusing his camera on patrons and workers rather than exclusively on the horses. "I chose these images to focus on the untold side of Keeneland and horse racing with the patrons and workers that are at the races," Nick shared. "There is more to a race day than just the horses." Nick's photographs explore how Keeneland's legacy is reflected in the individuals who return year after year, the workers who sustain its traditions, and the visitors who come to experience its history. "Having the chance to photograph patrons and workers to document the legacy of Keeneland shines light on how Keeneland is more than just horse racing," he explained. Nick intentionally selected black-and-white photography to give his images a timeless quality and emphasize the individuals being photographed. "The reason I chose to have every image in black and white was to keep the images timeless and simple to let the person photographed do most of the talking," Nick said. He also noted that the black-and-white approach reflects the traditions of street and documentary photography.

Together, these perspectives demonstrate how photography can reveal the stories, routines, and individuals that are often overlooked within a larger event, encouraging viewers to see Keeneland as more than a racetrack.

A Full Day of Learning and Photography

Keeneland provided students and faculty with a full itinerary designed to introduce them to the history, operations, and excitement of Thoroughbred racing while offering unique opportunities for photography.

• 8:30 a.m. – Keeneland Sales Pavilion: Students and faculty gathered for a guided tour of Keeneland, including morning workouts, a visit to the barns, and opportunities to photograph horses and jockeys preparing for the day.
• 10:00 a.m. – Keeneland Library: The group traveled by shuttle to explore Raíces: The Making of Latino Legacies in Racing, learning about the history and contributions of Latino professionals throughout the Thoroughbred industry.
• 11:30 a.m. – Lunch and Racing: Students returned trackside for lunch, photography, and an introduction to the afternoon's racing activities.
• 12:40 p.m. – Paddock and Winner's Circle: The group gathered near the iconic Rolex clock to observe the horses and jockeys in the Paddock, follow their procession to the racetrack, and watch the first race from the Winner's Circle.
• 1:10 p.m. – Afternoon Racing: Students enjoyed the excitement of live Thoroughbred racing, explored the grounds, and continued photographing the people, horses, architecture, and traditions of Keeneland.

The itinerary provided students with access to areas and experiences not typically available to general visitors, allowing them to develop a deeper understanding of the racing industry while gathering photographs for their upcoming exhibition.

Discovering Latino Legacies in Racing

A highlight of the visit was exploring Keeneland Library's exhibition, Raíces: The Making of Latino Legacies in Racing.

The exhibition celebrates the contributions of 100 Latino men and women who have shaped the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries from the late 1800s to today. Through photographs, personal stories, memorabilia, awards, and trophies, Raíces highlights jockeys, trainers, veterinarians, breeders, stable workers, and other professionals whose dedication has helped define the sport.

Developed in English and Spanish by contributors from six countries, the exhibition emphasizes the cultural heritage, accomplishments, and lasting legacies of Latino individuals throughout the Americas.

For MSJ students, the exhibition demonstrated how photography and visual storytelling can preserve history, celebrate cultural identity, and bring recognition to individuals whose contributions are often overlooked.

From Keeneland to MSJ: Preparing for the Fall 2027 Exhibition

The October 9, 2026, field trip to Keeneland marked the beginning of a yearlong artistic and educational project that will culminate in an exhibition at 外网天堂 in Fall 2027.

The exhibition, which will travel to 外网天堂, highlights the often-overlooked stories of jockeys, trainers, breeders, veterinarians, stable workers, and other professionals whose dedication and expertise have helped shape the sport.

The purpose of the Keeneland field trip was to introduce students to the history and cultural significance of Thoroughbred racing and to provide an opportunity for students and faculty to create original photographs for display alongside Raíces when it comes to MSJ.

Throughout the day, students photographed horses during morning workouts, the barns, racing facilities, architectural details, and the excitement of live racing. These images will become artistic responses to the Keeneland experience, connecting contemporary photography with the historical narratives presented in Raíces.

The artistic approaches taken by Dahlia and Nick offer examples of how students are interpreting the experience through their own creative perspectives. Dahlia's attention to the choreography of everyday labor and Nick's documentary approach to the people and traditions of Keeneland demonstrate how photography can uncover meaningful stories beyond the racetrack. Their work reinforces the importance of recognizing the individuals whose contributions help sustain Keeneland's legacy.

Over the coming year, students and faculty will have the opportunity to review and select photographs for inclusion in the Fall 2027 exhibition. By presenting their photographs alongside Raíces, MSJ artists will help create a dialogue between past and present, highlighting the relationships among art, cultural heritage, history, and the people who contribute to the Thoroughbred industry.

The Fall 2027 exhibition will serve two important purposes to bring greater awareness to the lasting contributions of Latino individuals in Thoroughbred racing and to showcase how MSJ students and faculty use photography to document, interpret, and respond to their experiences.

The project reflects the Department of Creative Arts' commitment to experiential learning, cultural awareness, and community partnerships while providing students with the opportunity to participate in the development of a professional exhibition.

What began as a day of exploration and photography at Keeneland will become a shared artistic and educational experience for the 外网天堂 community in Fall 2027.