| #ffffff;" /> | | | | country. This is the place where horse-drawn two |
| Lexington is the second largest city located in the | | | | wheels cart racing was organized in the olden times. |
| Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. It was founded in | | | | These were called harness races. |
| June 1775 in the then Virginia (17 years prior to | | | | Along with these two historic horse facilities, the |
| Kentucky becoming a state in 1792). The town of | | | | Kentucky Horse Park is a relatively new entrant in |
| Lexington was formally formed on May 6, 1782 by an | | | | Lexington. It was opened in 1978 and is the only one |
| act of the Virginia General Assembly. | | | | of its kind in the world. KHP is both a working horse |
| The city has a rich historical and cultural background. | | | | farm and an educational theme park. It is set on |
| There are numerous historic structures and museums. | | | | more than 1200 acres in the heart of Blue Grass |
| Some of the more famous historic landmarks in the | | | | Region of Kentucky. |
| area are: | | | | The park features almost 50 different breeds of |
| • Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate | | | | horses and has daily equine presentations. There are |
| • Lexington Public Library | | | | also two wonderful museums, twin theaters and also |
| • Lexington History Center | | | | a lot of exciting horse shows. It also acts as a |
| • Hunt-Morgan House | | | | retirement home for some of the world's greatest |
| • Mary Todd Lincoln House | | | | competition horses. The play is all set to host the |
| • Lexington Cemetery | | | | 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games. |
| But Lexington is most famous for its horse farms | | | | Another way of enjoying the Horse Park is to tour |
| and the community attached with it. It is so often | | | | the scenic park grounds in a trolley pulled by draft |
| called the “Horse Capital of the | | | | horses which are raised in the Draft Horses Barn on |
| World” or the “Thoroughbred | | | | the Park itself. It is a 10-12 minute narrated trolley |
| City”. It is home to two historic horse racing | | | | tour of the area and the various ongoing activities. |
| tracks. One of them is called the Keene land and it is | | | | The Park also provides opportunities to tour the |
| a National Historic Landmark. This is one of the most | | | | other well known Blue grass region horse farms. The |
| beautiful racing tracks in the country and it is been | | | | guests are taken to some of the world's famous |
| sporting live races in April and October since 1936. | | | | Thoroughbred Farms and equine related activities. |
| People travel from all over the world to visit this | | | | However Kentucky is not only famous for horses. It |
| picturesque thoroughbred race course. | | | | is also a Bourbon country and Bourbon is the only |
| It is also the world's most prestigious Thoroughbred | | | | American native spirit and it is most widely produced |
| auction company which attracts a varied clientele | | | | in Kentucky.The Lexington area is home to three |
| base. The organization has state-of-the art facilities | | | | distilleries which also offer free tours. One of the |
| and is one of the most sought after place for | | | | oldest distilleries which produce Woodford Reserve, a |
| thoroughbreds. | | | | premium whisky, is the Labrot and Graham Distillery in |
| The Red Mile Harness Track is the oldest racing track | | | | Woodford County. It is the only distillery in the |
| in Lexington and the second oldest in the entire | | | | country which still uses the pot-still method. |