Kentucky Holiday tips?
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Kentucky Holiday tips?
We are planning on a Holiday to kentucky in 2008. And ofcourse I would like to visit as many horsey places as possible. Are there any tips what is a must see? We have never been to the States so it will all be very new to us.
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nythoroughbredvz
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nythoroughbredvz
- Allowance Winner
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- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:11 pm
- Location: upstate ny
Texas is a very large state, so if driving from KY to TX and depending if you have to return to KY for your return flight count on 2-3 days total travel time. just a thought but you could visit the homes of the tripple crown, Pimlico, Belmont and though Saratoga is closed the Racing Museum may be open? when are you planning on your trip Saratoga and its farms are worth the visit especially when the track is open. and travel time would be similar.
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nythoroughbredvz
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depends on what you would like to see, Tripple Crown time frame is May as you know is decent weather, Saratoga is open late summer. you may want to e-mail farms you wish to visit to see if they take visitors when you are coming. another option is renting a RV so you can stay as you go, not stick to travel schedules so tightly or wory about not finding accomodations. You and your family would be welcome to lay-over here, its not a huge horse area but could be en-route if you plan on visiting NY at all we have a 4000sf home and you can make room! I'm in the finger lakes region of NY bordered by thousands of acres of state land. You may be able to fine others on pedigreequery to offer a place to park a RV for a few nights if thats what you decide to do.
KY Visit
What is your destination city?
If you are flying into Louisville:
You could opt to stay downtown. There are inexpensive brand hotels, like Courtyard by Marriott, within walking distance of the new dining/entertainment complex, Fourth Street Live!
Churchill Downs is a must see -- even if the track is closed for racing. It is open for training March through December, and you can go early in the morning to see horses working on the track. On the grounds, another must see is the Derby Museum. It has a fabulous 360 theater with a show, and a cool sort of a big booth where you can select to replay the Derby race of any of its winners. They usually have a horse or two that was in the Derby. It is a very short hop from downtown (maybe 10-15 minutes). Depending on the time of year/weather, Waterfront Park is great, and sometimes has concerts at night. If you like to rollerblade, Extreme Park is quite something. There is a lot of history in Louisville, and gorgeous 200 year old architecture around St James Court in Old Louisville. Cherokee Triangle is also quite fabulous, but 100 years younger. The parks are wonderful.
On to Lexington. The Horse Park is a must visit. You can schedule a trail ride around the park. There is a wealth of absolutely gorgeous stud farms you can make appointments to visit. Keeneland also is a must see. You could also stop in at The Red Mile, which is a Standardbred training/racing facility, which also has a few days per year of Quarter Horse racing. There are some lovely Bed & Breakfast type accommodations in the Lexington area which would break the monotony of your standard "brand" hotel.
Now you could think about renting an RV and heading down toward Mammoth Caves for camping.. and if it was the right time in the summer, to one of America's most unusual racetracks, KY Downs (formerly known as The Dueling Grounds). In Colonial times, this was where gentlemen met to settle their scores at dawn. It now offers turf only racing, with a undulating course. It straddles the KY/Tenn border, so it has a casino (on the Tenn side!)
If you are a QH lover, AQHA Congress is probably the world's largest Quarter Horse Show, held annually in Columbus, Ohio, in October, which is a two-three hour drive from KY.
Here's the rub. There is an incredible schedule of equine events to attend in this area, so it might be best to plan your trip to overlap your particular interests:
April - Spring Racing Meet at Keeneland and the Rolex Three Day Event
May/June - Spring Racing Meet at Churchill Downs
August - Race Meet at KY Downs
September - Keeneland Fall Meet
October/November - Churchill Fall Meet and QH Congress
There are probably more events, but these are the ones that stand out to me.
In my opinion, Texas is too far to drive.
If you are flying into Louisville:
You could opt to stay downtown. There are inexpensive brand hotels, like Courtyard by Marriott, within walking distance of the new dining/entertainment complex, Fourth Street Live!
Churchill Downs is a must see -- even if the track is closed for racing. It is open for training March through December, and you can go early in the morning to see horses working on the track. On the grounds, another must see is the Derby Museum. It has a fabulous 360 theater with a show, and a cool sort of a big booth where you can select to replay the Derby race of any of its winners. They usually have a horse or two that was in the Derby. It is a very short hop from downtown (maybe 10-15 minutes). Depending on the time of year/weather, Waterfront Park is great, and sometimes has concerts at night. If you like to rollerblade, Extreme Park is quite something. There is a lot of history in Louisville, and gorgeous 200 year old architecture around St James Court in Old Louisville. Cherokee Triangle is also quite fabulous, but 100 years younger. The parks are wonderful.
On to Lexington. The Horse Park is a must visit. You can schedule a trail ride around the park. There is a wealth of absolutely gorgeous stud farms you can make appointments to visit. Keeneland also is a must see. You could also stop in at The Red Mile, which is a Standardbred training/racing facility, which also has a few days per year of Quarter Horse racing. There are some lovely Bed & Breakfast type accommodations in the Lexington area which would break the monotony of your standard "brand" hotel.
Now you could think about renting an RV and heading down toward Mammoth Caves for camping.. and if it was the right time in the summer, to one of America's most unusual racetracks, KY Downs (formerly known as The Dueling Grounds). In Colonial times, this was where gentlemen met to settle their scores at dawn. It now offers turf only racing, with a undulating course. It straddles the KY/Tenn border, so it has a casino (on the Tenn side!)
If you are a QH lover, AQHA Congress is probably the world's largest Quarter Horse Show, held annually in Columbus, Ohio, in October, which is a two-three hour drive from KY.
Here's the rub. There is an incredible schedule of equine events to attend in this area, so it might be best to plan your trip to overlap your particular interests:
April - Spring Racing Meet at Keeneland and the Rolex Three Day Event
May/June - Spring Racing Meet at Churchill Downs
August - Race Meet at KY Downs
September - Keeneland Fall Meet
October/November - Churchill Fall Meet and QH Congress
There are probably more events, but these are the ones that stand out to me.
In my opinion, Texas is too far to drive.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
Also, most of the big farms give tours and show stallions, but you usually have to have an appointment, so you'd have to contact them individually. My friends went to Claiborne, and they had a wonderful tour from the man who was Mr. Prospector's groom for many years. Mr. P was still living but was fading, and the gentleman teared up just talking about him being in the cemetary one day soon. Three Chimneys has a special person just to handle requests since Smarty Jones went there, so you will not be the only one calling for tours!
"When I am on my deathbed, I imagine I will say, 'Thank God I did that'" - Arthur Hancock, on buying back Gato del Sol from Europe after Exceller was killed in a slaughterhouse in Sweden.
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vineyridge
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If you're in the Netherlands, you'll probably be flying KLM to either Detroit or Memphis, then on to Cincinnati. Rent a car. Do Lexington, and be sure not to forget the Saddlebreds which are a world in themselves.
Louisville is not only the home of the KY Derby but also of the Saddlebred World Championships. Lexington has the Junior League show in May, I think.
What's really great is to go for the last weekend of Keeneland, which overlaps with the Rolex **** event, do farm tours for a week and head for the KY Derby, the riverboats, and all that hoopla. I'm talking about the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May.
One non horsey place you might enjoy is Shaker Village about 30 miles south of Lexington. It's a bit of paradise on Earth.
Louisville is not only the home of the KY Derby but also of the Saddlebred World Championships. Lexington has the Junior League show in May, I think.
What's really great is to go for the last weekend of Keeneland, which overlaps with the Rolex **** event, do farm tours for a week and head for the KY Derby, the riverboats, and all that hoopla. I'm talking about the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May.
One non horsey place you might enjoy is Shaker Village about 30 miles south of Lexington. It's a bit of paradise on Earth.
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Tucumcari
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While in Lexington go to a lovely little Martini bar by the name of Nadine's
Proverbs 31:8
"...stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all those who are destitute.."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QawYXs2e ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIASWv9GYC8
"...stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all those who are destitute.."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QawYXs2e ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIASWv9GYC8
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