Lexington Offers History, Distilleries, and Horse Farms
Lexington is known for having the best horse farms in Kentucky, but the city is more than a one-trick pony.
It’s a modern city steeped in history and practically bubbling over with bourbon. And, yeah, there are a lot of thoroughbreds running across world-famous fields of Kentucky bluegrass.
The City of Lexington’s founding traces back to the earliest days of the American Revolution. Word reached settlers about the “shot heard round the world” during the first battle for independence in Lexington, Massachusetts. The town was named in honor of that historic event.
In the days before Kentucky statehood, Lexington was a frontier settlement and a territory within the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1782, Lexington’s inhabitants petitioned the Commonwealth to become a town.
Over the years, Lexington earned the title, “Athens of the West.” It was the largest and wealthiest town in Kentucky with a main street that had “all the appearance of Market Street in Philadelphia on a busy day,” according to an account written by Josiah Espy in 1806.
Beyond the town center, Espy said the surrounding countryside was “equal in beauty and fertility to anything the imagination can paint and is already in a high state of cultivation.”
Horse Farms in Kentucky
For more than two centuries, Lexington breeders and trainers have been raising and racing horses. Keeneland Racetrack opened in 1936. It was named after Jack Keene, a towering figure in the sport who helped revive horse racing in the 1930s.
In addition to the track, Keeneland includes Keene’s mansion and training center. The racetrack is a National Historic Landmark. Races are held Wednesday to Sunday during the months of April and October. The Keeneland Fall Meet is one of the most prestigious racing series in the sport.
No visit to Lexington would be complete without visiting the finest horse farms in Kentucky. Lexington has more than 500 horse farms, making it The Horse Capital of the World.
Experience Mill Ridge Farm
It would be impossible to visit all of the horse farms in Kentucky during one visit or one dozen visits. You’ll have to prioritize. Located near Keeneland Racetrack, Mill Ridge Farm is recognized for breeding and raising first-class thoroughbreds.
Mill Ridge Farm has a storied history. A team of loyal employees followed Alice Headley Chandler from her father’s farm to Mill Ridge in 1962.
The Mill Ridge team has accumulated an impressive list of accolades. Alice was the first woman to breed an Epsom Derby winner sold at auction. Her champion was SIR IVOR. Since 2000, Mill Ridge has raised and/or sold 36 Grade 1 winners including
seven Breeders’ Cup winners
two Horse of the Year titleholders
one Kentucky Derby winner
Over the years, the farm’s winning reputation has traveled far and wide. It garnered international attention which led to an amazing friendship that spanned the Atlantic Ocean and 57 years.
Queen Elizabeth II, an avid racing fan and horse breeder, attended the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 1984. Two years later, she sent five of her mares to Mill Ridge for breeding. She made a return visit in 1989.
In addition to the Queen’s visits to the U.S., Alice and her husband, Dr. John Chandler, traveled to the Royal Ascot race and met with Her Majesty for tea.
Alice’s son, Headley Bell, her grandson, Price Bell, and their team continue to make Mill Ridge one of the most successful horse farms in Kentucky. Last year, the farm added an additional 288 acres of new pasture land that had once belonged to Alice’s father, Hal Price Headley.
Mill Ridge Farm is still building a winning legacy and turning heads in the racing world. Recently, it was featured in America’s Best Racing and The New York Times.
When planning a trip to Lexington, there’s plenty to see. It’s a modern city filled with amenities along with historic buildings and bourbon distilleries.
It’s also home to some of the best horse farms in Kentucky. Mill Ridge is a prime example and a must-see. The website Trip Advisor uncovered 101 Things to Do in Lexington and listed Mill Ridge as No. 2 on that list.
Studying and Praying
In addition to horse farms, in the early days, Lexington established itself as an intellectual and religious center. Transylvania University was established in 1789 and became known as the “Tutor of the West." Old Morrison, Transylvania College, is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public year-round.
Lexington’s first library was established in 1795 with 400 books, and it’s now the oldest library in Kentucky. The Carnegie Library, also known as the Lexington Public Library, was built in 1906 with help from a $60,000 gift from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation.
Lexington’s religious history goes back for generations:
First African Baptist Church was founded in Lexington in 1790, and it’s the third oldest African-American Baptist congregation in the U.S.
Christ Church Episcopal was the first Episcopal congregation west of the Allegheny Mountains. It was founded in 1796.
Walnut Hill Presbyterian Church was built in 1801, and it’s the oldest Presbyterian Church building in Kentucky.
Historic Locations
When hemp was the top cash crop in the region, John Wesley Hunt, became the first millionaire west of the Allegheny Mountains. His mansion, Hopemont, is a museum and interpretive center showcasing the affluence of 19th-century life in Lexington.
In the 20th century, money made from Eastern Kentucky coal mines helped shape Lexington’s development. Downtown and the North Limestone commercial districts still reflect the wealth that passed through the city.
If you’re looking for American history with a Kentucky twist, the childhood home of Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of President Abraham Lincoln, is located on West Main Street. It’s open Monday to Saturday from March 15 to Nov. 30.
Ashland, the home of Kentucky Sen. Henry Clay, is a National Historic Landmark. It’s a museum that’s open for tours from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday.
Clay’s mansion is next to the Ashland Park Historic District, which features a collection of single-family homes built in the early 20th century. You’ll find a variety of architectural styles represented:
Colonial Revival
Craftsman
Bungalow
Tudor Revival
Dutch Colonial Revival
Prairie
Georgian Revival
Spanish Eclectic
French Eclectic
Italian Renaissance
Distilled for Your Enjoyment
If you’re looking for the taste of Lexington, there are numerous fine restaurants, but that’s probably not the taste you have in mind.
Most of the world’s bourbon comes from Kentucky’s distilleries. When European settlers came to the area, they recognized that its natural environment and weather were perfect for making America’s finest whiskey.
Hundreds of years later, families continue to craft world-class spirits. You’ll find plenty of high-quality distilleries to visit during your trip to Lexington:
Barrel House Distilling Co.
Bluegrass Distillers
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Bulleit Distilling Co.
Castle & Key Distillery
Glenns Creek Distilling
Hartfield & Co.
James E. Pepper Distillery
Three Boys Farm Distillery
Wilderness Trail Distillery
Wild Turkey Distillery
When planning a trip to Lexington, there’s plenty to see. It’s a modern city filled with amenities along with historic buildings and bourbon distilleries.
It’s also home to some of the best horse farms in Kentucky. Mill Ridge is a prime example and a must-see. The website Trip Advisor uncovered 101 Things to Do in Lexington and listed Mill Ridge as No. 2 on that list.
Interested in learning more about broodmares, foals, weanlings, and two-year-olds? Want to see how they are raised for yourself? Schedule a tour of Mill Ridge Farm today through Visit Horse Country.