Ted Bassett III, the man who led Keeneland through historic expansion and established its position internationally as a premier race track and auction house has died.
Bassett was 103 years old when he passed away late last week. He served a 38-year tenure as President, Chairman and Trustee.
He started his 16-year tenure as President of Keeneland Association in 1970. Bassett became Chairman of the Keeneland Board of Directors in 1986, a Trustee in 2001 and a Trustee Emeritus in 2006.
Bassett undertook a series of multimillion-dollar construction and capital projects at Keeneland that spanned a decade between the mid-1970s-1980s. These include the renovation and expansion of the Clubhouse and Grandstand, new admission gates and dining rooms.
Bassett also served in state government as Kentucky's deputy director of public safety and then director of state police in the 1960s. He also started what would become Eastern Kentucky University’s College of Justice and Safety.
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