The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide - The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide 2025
Horse Culture
2024-12-14 11:06:04
Horses grazing in pastures, cantering through forested backcountry, racing to the finish line. Horses high-stepping ‛round the ring, leading the parade, enjoying retired life after competing. Horses preening for photos, eating carrots from visitors’ outstretched hands, memorialized in murals, sculptures and other artworks across the state.
Historic racetracks and horse farms, riding stables and trails, equine retirement and retraining centers, museums and monuments — everything horsey is found, nurtured, celebrated and honored in the Bluegrass.
From the equine epicenter of Lexington to the home of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky is all about the majesty of the horse.
Louisville
HOME OF CHURCHILL DOWNS AND THE KENTUCKY DERBY:
Thousands of hats, 20 thoroughbreds, two minutes, 1.25 miles and one iconic racetrack that can make legends by a nose.
Lexington
TWO WORDS:
EQUINE
EPICENTER
THERE IS 1 HORSE TO EVERY 12 PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY.
Must-see EQUINE ATTRACTIONS
KENTUCKY HORSE PARK
Live horse shows, the International Museum of the Horse, daily programming, horseback and pony rides, tours, camping — Lexington’s equine theme park is unlike any other in the world.
CHURCHILL DOWNS AND THE KENTUCKY DERBY MUSEUM
Louisville’s total Derby immersion: Churchill Downs, the site of the “greatest two minutes in sports” — the Kentucky Derby — paired with museum exhibits and a historic walking tour.
KEENELAND
Visit Lexington’s National Historic Landmark for world-class horse racing, timeless beauty, behind-the-scenes tours, breakfast with horse world royalty at the Track Kitchen and souvenirs from the exclusive Keeneland Shop.
HORSE COUNTRY FARM TOURS
From nursery to retirement and everything in between — go behind the scenes in central Kentucky to experience a day in the life of a racehorse, what it takes to make an equine athlete or how racehorses are retrained as riding horses.
SHELBYVILLE HORSE SHOW
Meet the “peacock of the horse world” during this four-day celebration of the Saddlebred horse, a premier horse show starring these high-stepping beauties known for their grace and athleticism.
JESSE JAMES RIDING STABLES & OUTLAW CAVE
Jesse James was here. Canter along the same Cave City trails the legendary marauder galloped over during his stagecoach and bank-robbing sprees.
450 HORSE FARMS in and around Lexington & central Kentucky.
70 HORSES 40 BREEDS ... live, work and play in f ive different barns at the Kentucky Horse Park.
9 RACE TRACKS
Churchill Downs, Louisville
Cumberland Run Racetrack, Corbin
Ellis Park, Henderson
Keeneland, Lexington
Kentucky Downs Race Track, Franklin
Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, Oak Grove
Red Mile Racing and Gaming, Lexington
Sandy’s Racing & Gaming, Ashland
Turfway Park Racing and Gaming, Florence
MILES OF RIDING ADVENTURES ACROSS THE STATE
One of the best ways to see Mother Nature in a state known for its natural beauty is on the back of a horse, riding miles of wildland trails — especially amidst spring wildflowers or autumn’s colorful canopy.
REHABILITATION, RETIREMENT AND AFTERCARE FACILITIES
Visit an equine hospital delivering world-class veterinary care. See how former racehorses are prepared for their second chapter at a retirement horse farm. Snap photos of former champs reveling in their golden years when you tour an aftercare facility.
#OF FORMER CHAMPIONS
YOU CAN VISIT:
7 AT KENTUCKY HORSE PARK
5 AT OLD FRIENDS
2 TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS AT COOLMORE FARM
#OF KENTUCKY CRAFTED ARTISTS
WORKING ON EQUINE ART? DOZENS!
You’ll find paintings, photographs, illustrations, carvings and more incredible equine artworks from dozens of talented artists across the state.
DOZENS OF HORSE CAMPS ACROSS THE STATE
Horse campers love Kentucky for its well-equipped horse campgrounds that are accessible to bathhouses and laundry facilities. Find them across the state, from Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, Daniel Boone National Forest and Mammoth Cave National Park to Pennyrile Forest and select Kentucky State Parks.
HISTORICAL HORSE RACING – THAT IS, GAMING KENTUCKY-STYLE:
Spin and win at state-of-the-art gaming machines in small towns and big cities stretching from northern Kentucky through the central, western and southeastern parts of the state, accompanied by a choice of restaurants and bars, live entertainment and seasonal horse racing.
Scan the QR code to explore Kentucky horse culture.
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Horse Culture
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