Lexington Kentucky - The Horse Capital Of The World

Lexington is the second largest city located in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky

. It was founded in June 1775 in the then Virginia (17 years prior to Kentucky becoming a state in 1792). The town of Lexington was formally formed on May 6, 1782 by an act of the Virginia General Assembly.

The city has a rich historical and cultural background. There are numerous historic structures and museums. Some of the more famous historic landmarks in the area are:

* Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate

* Lexington Public Library

* Lexington History Center

* Hunt-Morgan House

* Mary Todd Lincoln House

* Lexington Cemetery

But Lexington is most famous for its horse farms and the community attached with it. It is so often called the "Horse Capital of the World" or the "Thoroughbred City". It is home to two historic horse racing tracks. One of them is called the Keene land and it is a National Historic Landmark. This is one of the most beautiful racing tracks in the country and it is been sporting live races in April and October since 1936. People travel from all over the world to visit this picturesque thoroughbred race course.

It is also the world's most prestigious Thoroughbred auction company which attracts a varied clientele base. The organization has state-of-the art facilities and is one of the most sought after place for thoroughbreds.

The Red Mile Harness Track is the oldest racing track in Lexington and the second oldest in the entire country. This is the place where horse-drawn two wheels cart racing was organized in the olden times. These were called harness races.

Along with these two historic horse facilities, the Kentucky Horse Park is a relatively new entrant in Lexington. It was opened in 1978 and is the only one of its kind in the world. KHP is both a working horse farm and an educational theme park. It is set on more than 1200 acres in the heart of Blue Grass Region of Kentucky.

The park features almost 50 different breeds of horses and has daily equine presentations. There are also two wonderful museums, twin theaters and also a lot of exciting horse shows. It also acts as a retirement home for some of the world's greatest competition horses. The play is all set to host the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games.

Another way of enjoying the Horse Park is to tour the scenic park grounds in a trolley pulled by draft horses which are raised in the Draft Horses Barn on the Park itself. It is a 10-12 minute narrated trolley tour of the area and the various ongoing activities.

The Park also provides opportunities to tour the other well known Blue grass region horse farms. The guests are taken to some of the world's famous Thoroughbred Farms and equine related activities.

However Kentucky is not only famous for horses. It is also a Bourbon country and Bourbon is the only American native spirit and it is most widely produced in Kentucky.The Lexington area is home to three distilleries which also offer free tours. One of the oldest distilleries which produce Woodford Reserve, a premium whisky, is the Labrot and Graham Distillery in Woodford County. It is the only distillery in the country which still uses the pot-still method.

Thus, the presence of such facilities has given a boost to the tourism industry in Lexington and it is one of the most visited places in Kentucky.

by: David Urmann

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