By Murray Evans
The Associated Press

LEXINGTON - Ah, the sights to be seen during opening day at Keeneland - the green grass, the chestnut horses, the old stone buildings and the guy in the purple outfit.

That would be Richard Brockman of Lexington, who, like many other horse racing fans in the area, took off work Friday afternoon for the start of Keeneland's spring meet, which runs through April 25.

Track patrons enjoyed temperatures in the 60s and managed to stay dry, as light morning showers gave way to mostly cloudy skies with a hint of sunshine peeking through. Thanks in good part to a steady breeze, the main track and the turf course were listed as fast.

For many fans, opening day at Keeneland is a fashion occasion. Brockman, who designs air handling units for The Trane Co., decided to wear a purple jacket, purple trousers, black shoes and a solid white T-shirt.

"This is everyday attire," Brockman said with a straight face. "It's just what I had. I'll wear it to church."

But Brockman said he was placing his bets based on the skill of the jockeys, not the color of their silks.

The wagering process wasn't quite so scientific for Frank Murphy of Chicago, one of a group of about 70 affiliated with Hanson Brick who came to Keeneland on a company outing.

Murphy said he planned to wager $10 to win on the No. 10 horse in the day's first race. The horse's name? Murph's Encore, which led early, but faltered and finished fourth, out of the money.

"I love history, and you can tell there's a lot of it here by the old buildings," said Murphy, making his first visit to Keeneland. "This is a very impressive place. This track here just has that old look to it. We came in and saw the stone stables on the hill."