LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18)– Keeneland officials are mourning the death of a well-known staff member.
Officials posted a tribute video of Robert Lee “Spec” Alexander on social media.
Keeneland remembers lifelong horseman Robert Lee "Spec" Alexander. Spec became an assistant starter at Keeneland in the 1970s and was named Keeneland's head starter in the 1980s. Thank you, Spec, for your decades of horsemanship and service to Keeneland. pic.twitter.com/cHXsMvb8hw
— Keeneland (@keeneland) June 4, 2019
He died at the age of 80.
Alexander began his career at the historic racetrack as an assistant starter in the 1970s.
He was named head starter in the 1980s.
As head starter, Alexander was in charge of loading horses into the starting gate and opening the gates when the horses were ready.
