Kentucky

21^st-22^nd Sept – Kentucky Bluegrass Region



Newport Kentucky

We set of down towards Cincinnati and into Kentucky, we were heading for the Kentucky Horse Park campground near Lexington.  The campground is next to the Horse Park so we paid a visit into the grounds for the afternoon to watch show jumping in both adult and junior classes.  We wandered around the stables and chatted to a lady who had come all the way from Florida to compete.  She would fly home whilst the horses faced a 12 hour journey in their horse trailer.

Race Horses in their stables

Horses are big business in this region and there were a lot of very expensive animals grazing in the fields surrounded by white wooden fencing – no barbed wire to scratch delicate hides here.  The Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs just up the road at Louisville.  Lexington has many Racing stables and Stud Farms all beautifully presented. 

23^rd Sept – Kentucky Horse Park



Arabian

The Kentucky Horse Park was chosen to host the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships and it has developed from then into a tribute to all things horsey.  This was the most amazing complex;  stabling for around 800 horses; indoor and outdoor arenas; several dressage and show jumping rings; at least 2 cross-country courses; steeplechase course; 3 polo fields.

They host around 70 events each year. 
 

Andalusian

There were 2 museums about the horse; one specifically about the Kentucky Saddlebred. They had presentations of ex-racing horses, horse trolley tours and two ridden displays featuring horse breeds from around the world, which was particularly enjoyable. Alison was in her element and could have spent all week here. The best part was we didn’t pay the $20 entrance fee as we could just walk in from the camp ground.

24^th Sept – Buffalo Trace Distillery

We drove to Frankfort, passing the horse farms with their white-wooden fencing looking very picturesque in the sunshine, where we enjoyed a tour of the Buffalo Trace Distillery.  This is one of the few continuously-operating distillers of Kentucky Bourbon as many distilleries were closed down during the years of prohibition.  In those days the only legal acquisition of alcohol was for medicinal purposes (or church communion).  A prescription from a doctor would allow one pint per person every 10 days.  During Prohibition over 6 million prescriptions were written in Kentucky. 

At the end of the tour we were ‘treated’ to some free samples of their produce – and this confirmed why Paul only drinks Irish Whiskey! Must be the only time that Paul has left alcohol in the glass.
Needless to say we didn’t buy any Bourbon.

Back at the Horse Park that evening there was a practise polo match going on.

25^th Sept – Thoroughbred Centre

Alison got up extra early in the morning to visit the Thoroughbred Centre to watch Race horses practising on the gallops. ( When she means extra early that would be before 9am) The 1½ hour tour included a talk by one of the Trainers.  This training centre had stabling for 1200 horses, 36 paddocks, and two practise race tracks.  Riders were putting the horses through their paces on the tracks; earning around $10, or more, per horse for around 15 minute practise.  At the rail was a woman on her horse watching in case a rider fell (or other problem) and she would then ride after the race horse to catch it. The track is open from 5.30 to 11am each morning with some horse then being put out in the paddock for an hour as well. 

Friesians ridden in tandem

We then set off travelling south east, heading for Mammoth Cave National Park for the weekend.