Lexington, KY - Horse Capital of the World

BREEZE THE BLUEGRASS 5/3/12

Get into the spirit of the 138th Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby races this weekend by placing a bet on your favorite horse in each race.   This year there are four locations in Lexington to do just that.  The Kentucky Horse Park, Red Mile Race Harness Racing Track, Thoroughbred Training Center and Keeneland Race Course all have drive-through lanes set up to whisk you through and on your way.  At the all four locations, drive-through betting hours for the Kentucky Oaks are Friday, May 4 from 8am until Oaks post time, roughly 5:45pm.  Drive-through hours to place a bet on the Kentucky Derby horses run from Friday, 8am, through Saturday, May 5 until Derby post time, approximately 5:20pm.   Keeneland has its twelve drive-through lanes open now, and also has many windows open inside the grandstand, if you’d like to park and walk in to place your bet.    

Keeneland Race Course, located at the intersection of Versailles Road and Man O’ War Boulevard, outlines the best way to place your bet, whether drive-through or at the grandstand.  

Check out Keeneland information here

Check out the Thoroughbred Center, located at 3380 Paris Pike, here

Learn more about the Red Mile, located at 1200 Red Mile Road, here

Check out betting information at the Kentucky Horse Park, located at 4089 Iron Works Parkway, here

What, exactly, is a Graded Stakes Race?  Merriam-Webster defines a stakes race as “a horse race in which the prize offered is made up, at least in part, of money (as in entry fees) put up by the owners of the horses entered.”   But a ‘graded stakes race’ needs a little more clarification. 

Check out the Graded Stakes Race wiki here

Learn more about Friday’s Kentucky Oaks, the Grade I stakes race for 3-year-old thoroughbred fillies here

Brush up on your Kentucky Derby knowledge here

Beyond this first weekend in May, there are a couple of other horse-related events on the horizon.  The 22st annual Sayre School Combined Test and Dressage Horse Show is slated for Saturday, May 12 out at Masterson Station Park, 3051 Leestown Road, in Lexington.  Come out for a fun morning of dressage and an exciting afternoon of stadium jumping.  After watching the Rolex last weekend, see how it’s done on a local level.  This show is not just for youth competitors.  Kentucky’s First Lady Jane Beshear is a competitor again this year.  She won the competition several years ago!  Her Horses and Hope program continues to increase breast cancer awareness and detection to not only the equine industry in Kentucky, but those who support the horse industry by attending horse races, horse shows, rodeos and fairs. 

Learn more about Horses and Hope here 

Imagine riding your own horse on the world-renowned cross country course out at the Kentucky Horse Park. Wednesday, May 9, is the first of five Cross Country Schooling Days.  All riding levels are welcome.   The $35 fee benefits the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation in their efforts to maintain the Kentucky Horse Park as a world-class destination.

Check out the Cross Country Schooling Days schedule here

Learn more about the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation here

Enjoy your time in the Bluegrass!

-Julie