We have been to Keeneland numerous times but today was different. We purchased tickets for 4 to…read moreenjoy a day at the 1936 Room. It was fantastic and I wish we would have gotten here at 11am instead of 1pm. Admission price includes a ticket, heavy appetizers and selected drinks from 11am-4pm. It was well worth it. You also have access to the outdoor area at one end of the Paddock and there is an outside bar and betting machines steps away. We didn't have to wait on drinks at the bar and the apps were well stocked and servers were walking around with apps that were not on the stocked area. The atmosphere and service were outstanding. As a plus to the experience you get to see the jockeys walk into and out of the Paddock after each race within a few steps of you. My suggestion is to grab a high top where the jockeys walk by. It was a great day.

Took the official Keeneland Tour with tour guide Liane. Amazing. Such a nice facility, she was…read moresuper knowledgeable and saw some great amenities on the property

Attended a film shoot at Spendthrift Farm. Have had many visits there, but enjoyed seeing it as…read morepart of the action. Will look forward to seeing how it turns out. 74

Did a 11am tour of the farm this morning. It was so beautiful! The tour starts at the stunning new…read morewelcome center where you watch two fantastic videos about the farms history. Then you set out on a shuttle to tour the farm grounds. The tour we did let us meet the mares and foals. I loved getting to pet the horses and their babies, they were adorable! Love that it was a hands on tour. Our tour guide was super knowledgeable and kind. After the tour we did a little shopping at the gift shop which had a great selection. Then we took some family pictures by the statue of the one and only Malibu Moon. It was a great way to start the day.

I can't say enough about Old Friends. It's just wonder how the Founder, Michael Blowen, President,…read moreJohn Nicholson, and their entire staff have dedicated their lives to taking care of these fabulous Thoroughbred's. The staff is very informative and friendly. They take their time providing detailed history of each horse you see. We were able to pet a couple and feed all of them. Remember, put the carrot on an open/flat palm. We met Silver Charm, the oldest Living Kentucky Derby winner. We met Preakness Stakes Winners, I'll Have Another and Big Brown. We also met Hall of Fame, Lava Man. Over $150 equine athletes in the facility. I will return someday soon to do the Founders Tour!! Thank you for a memorable day with one of my favorite animals that God created.

This place made for a great time seeing all the horses, feeding them, hearing stories about their…read moreprofessional lives. A really enjoyable tour - even for a guy that is t really into horses. I would HIGHLY recommend. This group is doing some great things for these retired horses!!

Gainesborough Farm is the nursery division of Godolphin. A stunning expanse of over 1500 acres is…read morehome to mares and foals of the international breeding operation. It was a great opportunity to visit with Lou, a most accomplished guide. 75

Have to say we were very disappointed of our experience with our first Breeders Cup event this Nov…read more 2022. I have been to Keeneland many times and have always had a wonderful experience so not sure who dropped the ball here. There was 6 of us that purchased tickets for Sat race in the Silk Lawn Chalet, tickets were $450 / person which included food and table services, TV screen, betting windows, bar and bathroom. Our thoughts were with only occupancy for 2500 people it would be a better experience then the crowds, potential service in general admission for $75. we were wrong..... The TV's didn't work majority of the time, we never saw table service, the bars rain out of water, soda water and many alcoholic beverages. The food was terrible, and the choice of food seemed questionable, pork is the most widely not eaten food, by religious and ethnic groups, and then salmon? which again is a fish 50% like and the rest don't. To add to that considering flu, covid and just the cost of the tickets, you would think they could afford to have people serving at the buffet line. We had two vegetarians in our party and most things were gone, not to mention concerns of health and sanitation. After getting over the fact most wouldn't be eating that day, then the TV's and betting machine went down. Most people I spoke to were very disappointed and were placing bets on their phone. I also spoke to people that had been to this chalet in 2015 and 2018 and said they had a much better experience. Other friends that were in different chalet and general admission, stated a better menu choice, no issues with TV or betting machine. In fact our friends in general admission stated there were some outside food vendors and lines were only about 10 min waits. In summary, based on my conversations, what ever changes you made in 2022 over previous years with the Silk Lawn Chalet were an Epic Fail! What was suppose to be marking one more thing of the bucket list was a complete disappointment! Disappointed from Florida.

Anytime I have an opportunity to visit Ashford, I'm there. The farm continues to enthrall. But for…read moreall it's beauty, it is Triple Crown winner American Pharoah that brings me back over and over. 54

The tour we had was awesome! Our tour guide was very informative and answered many of our questions…read morewith enthusiasm. As a uninformed tourist, I learned a lot about the studs and their lineage, the breeding process, and about the Coolmore farms. They showed us the barns and told us interesting facts about the horses that stayed there. They also showed American Pharaoh and Epicenter out of their stalls, which was a great photo opportunity.

I can't say enough good things about the second annual Horses & Hospitality event, sponsored by…read moreHorse Country. Last year all the participants gathered at Keeneland for fantastic food, networking, and learning opportunities, before venturing out to a variety of thoroughbred farms. Audra and I experienced the wonder that is Taylor Made, and although it wasn't my first farm tour, it was one I'll never forget. This year, COVID did away with the large group gathering, but the farm tours were able to take place as scheduled. The majority of farms are stud-centric, but - ironically - at Denali Stud you won't find any stallions or breeding sheds. More on that to come. Founded in 1990 by former New Jersey jockey Craig Bandoroff and his wife, Holly, Denali Stud is a 300-acre mare and foal property - i.e. a nursery - situated in picturesque Paris, KY. So what's with the name? I wondered the same. 'Denali' is a mountain range and Eskimo word meaning 'to aspire to greater heights,' and the word 'stud' is synonymous with 'farm' in Europe. Voila! The four barns, office, and other buildings on the property run almost completely on solar energy. Although the farm has produced many successful athletes, some of their most beloved clients date back to the humble beginnings of the farm. Craig, a passionate outdoorsman, has taken great care to curate a variety of trees around the property, carefully labeling many with their type and year planted. As he and his wife prepare for retirement in Lexington, their son and his wife have begun building their own residence on property. Our tour started at a large, centrally-located field full of mamas-to-be. And let me tell you, swollen bellies won't stop those ladies from stampeding toward you in pursuit of a peppermint and a good cheek scratching! From there we got to visit with mares and foals in an adjacent field, before venturing on to the foal bar - where the magic happens. Each stall was occupied by either a mare very close to (or past!) her due date, or a mother and new foal, and I mean NEW - a couple of the foals were only two days old! Pay close attention when you're walking through the barn, as you may recognize some high profile sires; I counted at least three babies by Tapit and one by Real Quiet. Another nearby barn houses some older foals with their mamas, and pregnant mares with less imminent due dates. While Denali Stud is the most recognizable farm in the family's portfolio, there are two others, both of which take their names from mountain ranges: K2, which is dedicated to maiden and barren mares, and Lotse, a 5-barn yearling division. Our guide was primarily Alexis - with additional input from Aly - and her knowledge of the industry, farm, animals, and many other business facets was really impressive. Passion and enthusiasm likes hers is what gets people excited about tourism, and I'm so glad Denali Stud participated in the event this year!

Horse Country provides access to thoroughbred farms and other related businesses to locals and…read moretourists alike who would not otherwise have the ability to experience them. This tour company has a variety of experiences to choose from at various prices and durations which can be booked online. Appointments are scheduled for you, but you must provide your own transportation. You will join other visitors while an individual from the farm walks you through the property, giving its history and showing some of the stallions that stand for breeding.