Lexington Horse Capital of the World

The U.S. state of Kentucky is a southeastern state bordered by the Ohio River in the north and in the east the Appalachian Mountains. It is surrounded by seven states with West Virginia to the east, Virginia to the southeast, Tennessee to the south, Missouri to the west, Indiana to the northwest, and Ohio to the north and northeast. Lexington is a city known for its horse farms and thoroughbred racetracks.

Kentucky Horse Park is a world-famous horse park located 10 miles north of Lexington. This working horse farm is open to the public and you can get information on the horses. It is a fine Bluegrass county. At the Visitor’s Center, you can see films about the horse park.

The International Museum of the Horse offers the Calumet Trophy Collection, gives a comprehensive history of horses and all the great racehorses are honored in the Hall of Champions. Walking through the park you can see demonstrations of the crafts of blacksmiths, wagoners, harness makers, and a parade of thoroughbreds. Visitors enjoy horse trekking and horse-drawn carriage rides.

The Kentucky Horse Center is a training center for thoroughbreds.

Mary Todd Lincoln House was originally built as an inn and was purchased by her father in 1832. She would later become the wife of Abraham Lincoln. This is her girlhood home. It is a Georgian-style brick house furnished with period furniture and displaying family portraits. You can take a tour of the 14-room house and find out about the First Lady who grew up here.

Keeneland a professional racecourse was founded in 1936. It is a lovely place to visit and get the feel of these beautiful thoroughbreds. The racecourse hosts some of the largest thoroughbred auctions in the country. Take a look at the retail shop with equestrian gifts and the Keeneland Kids Club for children 12 and under.

The Aviation Museum of Kentucky is located at the Bluegrass Airport. I was created to inform people about the aviation industry. On display, you can see aircraft both inside and out. The Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame highlights the accomplishments of Kentuckians. During the summer there are special aviation camps for children.

The University of Kentucky offers guided tours of the Lexington campus. One of the highlights is the University of Kentucky Art Museum which offers changing exhibits and permanent collections. You can see paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photos, and decorative arts.

Raven Run Nature Sanctuary is a 734-acre nature sanctuary with over 10 miles of hiking trails, a nature center, and a bird blind for nature observation and education. Within the sanctuary, you’ll find the Joe Pulliam Memorial Garden which is a Monarch butterfly way station that attracts and supports butterflies as they make their way across North America.

The Waveland State Historic Site or Joseph Bryan Estate offers visitors a look at plantation life in the 19th century. The highlight here is the Greek Revival mansion built in 1847. On the grounds are an icehouse, a smokehouse, and servants’ quarters. Visitors can take a guided tour and take a stroll around the gardens. Some of the special events hosted here are Tea Tuesdays, Derby Day Breakfasts, and vintage baseball games with costumed characters in the summertime.

The Red Mile is a one-mile oval track for trotters and pacers. It is the second-oldest harness racetrack in the world. Live races are held from July through September. You can see horses taking daily workouts from dawn until late morning. There are dining options available. When races aren’t held the facility simulcasts races from around the world on over 175 HD TVs.

The Hunt-Morgan House was the home of John Wesley Hunt, the first millionaire west of the Alleghenies. This Federal Period townhouse was built in 1814. Some of the highlights include a three-story, cantilevered staircase, the garden and walled courtyard, a collection of Kentucky furniture, early 19th-century portraits, and porcelain.

It is part of the larger Gratz Park Historic District in downtown Lexington which consists of a city park and many 19th-century homes and mansions.

The Henry Clay Estate, Ashland is a dual-winged Italianate home. You can see Greek Revivalist decorations and touches of European grandeur. The home is surrounded by green ash and fir forests. You can tour the interior rooms and there are Civil War monuments on the grounds.

Frontiersman William McConnell set up camp in the summer of 1775 between the brooks and swaying ash trees of McConnell Springs. Here the group learned about the start of the American Revolution and chose to name their settlement in the honor of a town in Massachusetts. The town of Lexington was born. Visitors enjoy coming to this historic spot. You can hike on the trails.