Lexington: The Horse Capital of the World
Quick, think of a famous horse!
No matter what name you pick, it probably has ties to Lexington, Kentucky. Seabiscuit? Much of the movie about this champ was filmed in Lexington. Man o' War? He was born and bred here. And if the only horse you know is Mr. Ed, well, you'll leave Lexington knowing more. The city is home to more than 400 horse farms, and 80 percent of Kentucky Derby winners come from here. Book your Lexington hotel and get a thorough education about thoroughbreds. Soon, you’ll be rooting on for your favorite horse—or two.
Get Educated at Kentucky Horse Park
From pony-obsessed toddlers to professional riders, the Kentucky Horse Park'' has something for everyone. Watch horses being groomed, take a horse-drawn trolley ride, let your little ones ride ponies and admire the memorials to famous race horses including Man o' War and War Admiral. You can also visit two museums on the park grounds, the International Museum of the Horse and the American Saddlebred Museum. Visit on a dry day, because much of the park is outdoors. Summer is peak time to come, when the most events and shows are scheduled.
Place a Bet at Keeneland
Don a fabulous hat or chomp on a cigar to get in the mood for a day at Keeneland Race Course. Races run here during April and October, but Keeneland is also a thoroughbred auction house. If you visit during racing season, you can bet on your favorite horse before cheering him on from the stands. Don't worry if you don't know what you're doing; Keeneland has a free smartphone app that helps you figure out the basics of betting. Outside of race season, you can visit the track between 6 and 10 a.m. to watch morning training sessions for free.
Explore a Working Horse Farm
Get up close and personal with Lexington's big beauties on a horse farm tour. With hundreds of farms in the area, the hardest part about booking a tour is deciding which one to take. A number of companies operate regularly scheduled tours. You can expect to spend about three hours making stops at several farms. Some companies offer more specialized packages—for instance, you can see horses and visit a bourbon distillery with Unique Horse Farm Tours. Wild stallions who prefer to go their own way can arrange individual tours by contacting farms directly.
The Perfect Time to Ride
You can't truly appreciate the beauty of Lexington's rolling hills and farmland until you've done it from the back of a horse. Though you can do this throughout the year, autumn is a particularly beautiful time to view the leaves changing—October in particular. A good place to start is at the Kentucky Horse Park, where beginners can take a 35-minute guided ride. Many area stables also offer guided rides on wooded trails. Older kids can ride horses on their own, but plenty of stables also offer pony rides for little ones.
More to Explore
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Visit nearby Louisville to experience the best of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region.