I’m going to Ky for RRP/ TIP championships in Oct. I haven’t been since Winsome Andante won Rolex !
I’ll have some “free days” so what are fun things to do and places to visit ?
1 Like
I highly recommend the thoroughbred farm tours. You can book them easily through Horse Country. They also have tours of non-TB farms, places like Rood & Riddle, Hagyards, etc. Claiborne and Taylor Made are two of my personal favorites because they really pull out the red carpet for guests. Places like Ashford are amazing, but are more “look but don’t touch.”
Old Friends is also a good time— it’s so rare to get to interact with so many great racehorses up close and personal.
The distilleries on the Bourbon Trail are fun. I can’t say I have a favorite because I enjoy them all.
2 Likes
^^^^second vote for farm tours. They’re really affordable and a lot of fun. I’ve done Lane’s End, Ashford, and Spendthrift. Spendthrift hands down is my favorite so far. I’d love to sneak my horse in and just live there 
The Keeneland fall meet is in October. Keeneland is stunning, but you will probably enjoy going in the mornings for workouts more than the races unless it’s a really light/slow day. When it’s busy, it’s an absolute zoo of non-horse people, a lot of trust fund broski types.
The museum in KHP is also really nice. You could spend a lot of time in there, and it’s quiet/relaxing.
The Hall of Champions, also in the park, is fun too. They do sit down demos with the horses regularly, I don’t think they cost anything.
2 Likes
No one should ever pass up an opportunity to go to Keeneland! Best racing experience in the country!
4 Likes
Eat at red state BBQ.
7 Likes
Even if you don’t like bourbon, a distillery tour is a must since bourbon is so ingrained in our local culture. I love Buffalo Trace-it’s free and the distillery is beautiful and not far from Lex. We’ve got great breweries and restaurants too.
Keeneland will be running, so the races are an option wens-Sunday, which again is a huge part of the local culture.
2 Likes
All of the above, and the Churchill Downs Museum. Loads of old photos, videos, memorabilia.
2 Likes
Don’t miss walking through the Big Barn at KHP. It’s the barn with the draft horses; they are in their stalls during the day.
1 Like
There used to be a gas station map w all the horse farm locations marked so you could self guide some scenic drives. Probably something same via internet.
Any rds w Mill in the name down by the river are fun to explore.
If you just get on Circle four and stay in the right lane so you don’t have to go too fast you can see all kinds of gorgeous farms. The first time I went down to Lexington I took the car and just pulled off the road and drooled at the farms.
Recommend everything else that’s been mentioned. Remember that Louisville is about an hour away if you’re planning on visiting over there.
1 Like
If you like art, the Crossgate Sporting Art gallery is amazing. I love going there even though I couldn’t afford anything. Also, I haven’t been since 2004, but at that time, I went to Midway to Airdrie Stud to see Deputy Commander, who was the sire of one of my horses. I love the little town and the antique store there was great. Not sure what’s there all these years later! Double-down vote on Keeneland and stud farm tours too.
1 Like
I’ll second everyone who said Keeneland, Old Friends farm, and stud farm tours! Coolmore/Ashford Stud is particularly stunning, and both recent Triple Crown winners will be in the house as they aren’t shuttling to Australia this year.
The Arabian horse museum at the park is super interesting!
1 Like
Take a tour of Spy Coast Farm right next to KHP. State of the art breeding, young horse training, rehabilitation and jumping competition.
1 Like
This is more “in” the KHP but if you have some time on a random weekday in the park and are at all into hunter/jumper stuff and horsey history, check out the USHJA Wheeler Museum inside the USHJA building. They actually do switch the exhibits out every few years (unlike the international museum of the horse which I swear is the exact same as it was when I first visited it in 2011.)
Old Friends and a bus tour of the TB farms is usually good, though I’ve not been on a bus tour since about 2011. The one I went on we saw Shadwell and WinStar.
There’s a tiny horse cemetery near this mall for the old Hamburg Place stud farm if I’m not totally mistaken, Kind of neat to see. The Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs especially if you’ve never been.
I’ve been to Keeneland once on a day they had a Grade III stakes race going and someday I’d like to go again when it’s not so busy (hard to take photos when everyone and their brother is packed in)
The International Museum of the Horse is okay but, in my experience/opinion very much a “you’ve seen it once and you’ve seen it enough,” they don’t change exhibits out ever, that I’ve noticed (I’ve maybe optimistically popped in a time or two over the years since I first visited the KHP) and it’s all the same ol’ same ol’. It’s not bad, I just feel it’s overhyped/overrated.
EDIT: ACK just realized this is a really old thread sorry. Point still stands for anyone else who wanders over here wanting to know what to do in/around the KHP.
1 Like
We never have enough free time to hit up the above recommendations (but they are so on my list for next time! Esp Spy Coast), but every time we go we hit up Goodfellows pizza and last time we went to the ice cream shop next door/ in the same plaza area and DH brings up both the pizza and ice cream regularly as a highlight. If you make it to the ice cream Place, the S’mores sundae (includes a toasted in front of you marshmallow!) is worth the indulge!
@kaya842 Lexington distillery district. Great call! Crank & Boom Ice Cream + Ethereal Brewing + Goodfellas Pizza = a great time.
2 Likes
Castle & Key is a great place for a drink. Beautiful gardens, and they make yummy Bourbon and Gin.
