Kentucky Thoroughbred Farms
Moderators: Roguelet, hpkingjr, WaveMaster
Kentucky Thoroughbred Farms
I was wondering what’s the best time to visit Kentucky and the thoroughbred farms? Also which Farms have tours or can be visited?
-
nferro9925
- Grade III Winner
- Posts: 1244
- Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:59 am
Spring is a nice time to see Kentucky. Everything is in bloom or just starting. Many foals have already arrived and will be out in the fields.
Most of the major commercial farms have tours. If you go to a stallion directory, they have all the farms info and you can then email or call the ones you are interested in visiting and get a schedule.
Good luck!
Most of the major commercial farms have tours. If you go to a stallion directory, they have all the farms info and you can then email or call the ones you are interested in visiting and get a schedule.
Good luck!
Though the weather is nice in the fall, it's hit and miss on seeing the stallions you want to see. Many these days shuttle to Southern Hemisphere from July to January. Also fog is pretty heavy in the Lexington area in the fall at times. Of course, going to the sales is a reason to travel, and there are always plenty of stallion farms available all year long.
Rocking H
hi Slew83
"Must see" in a sense of style, design, layout and sprawling beauty...with many park-like settings...Consider:
1 - Ashford
2 - Overbrook
A very beautiful setting and some wonderful and unique structures (some with a historic-feel)...but arguably less formidable-feeling than the above two...Consider:
1 - Three Chimneys
Very nice conservative-style structures (some quite massive) surrounded by expansive, beautiful pastures...Consider:
1 - Hill n Dale
2 - Lanes End
A nice older farm that has been expanded to include additional sprawling and beautifully manicured acreage on a lightly traveled country road. The addition of some wonderful (and significant) new structures on this now vast property makes for quite an equine facility...Consider:
1 - WinStar
Neat and quite appealing but a smaller feel...Consider:
1 - Walmac
The stallion-barns were originally heralded as modern and safe when designed and built over 2 decades ago...and are unique and airy and the materials are special. They seem to beautifully frame each stallion in his stall (not unlike a classic painting)...but these mini stallion-barn exteriors don't seem to have a produced a new-classic look that the original designers and builders may have hoped for...Consider:
1 - Gainesway
Many old structures, and pretty much the way it's been for decades and decades...with sprawling and rolling pasture-land......and plenty of history:
1 - Claiborne
A thoroughbred property with a traditional-look and some wonderful history...Consider:
1 - Mill Ridge
Workmanlike...and maybe worth a look...Consider:
1 - Taylor Made
2 - Airdrie
Obviously there are many more facilities (examples: Adena is sprawling...the old-Jonabell (now Darley) has some history...Hopewell has a traditional feel about it and is on a a property with some spectacular rolls and elevations...and Juddmonte and Gainsborough are special etc etc etc)...
You might consider some of those listed above...at least for starters...I suggest that each offers something unique.
Best to you.
Respectfully
"Must see" in a sense of style, design, layout and sprawling beauty...with many park-like settings...Consider:
1 - Ashford
2 - Overbrook
A very beautiful setting and some wonderful and unique structures (some with a historic-feel)...but arguably less formidable-feeling than the above two...Consider:
1 - Three Chimneys
Very nice conservative-style structures (some quite massive) surrounded by expansive, beautiful pastures...Consider:
1 - Hill n Dale
2 - Lanes End
A nice older farm that has been expanded to include additional sprawling and beautifully manicured acreage on a lightly traveled country road. The addition of some wonderful (and significant) new structures on this now vast property makes for quite an equine facility...Consider:
1 - WinStar
Neat and quite appealing but a smaller feel...Consider:
1 - Walmac
The stallion-barns were originally heralded as modern and safe when designed and built over 2 decades ago...and are unique and airy and the materials are special. They seem to beautifully frame each stallion in his stall (not unlike a classic painting)...but these mini stallion-barn exteriors don't seem to have a produced a new-classic look that the original designers and builders may have hoped for...Consider:
1 - Gainesway
Many old structures, and pretty much the way it's been for decades and decades...with sprawling and rolling pasture-land......and plenty of history:
1 - Claiborne
A thoroughbred property with a traditional-look and some wonderful history...Consider:
1 - Mill Ridge
Workmanlike...and maybe worth a look...Consider:
1 - Taylor Made
2 - Airdrie
Obviously there are many more facilities (examples: Adena is sprawling...the old-Jonabell (now Darley) has some history...Hopewell has a traditional feel about it and is on a a property with some spectacular rolls and elevations...and Juddmonte and Gainsborough are special etc etc etc)...
You might consider some of those listed above...at least for starters...I suggest that each offers something unique.
Best to you.
Respectfully
The only downside with a spring visit is that the farms are very busy with breeding -- I am hoping to get to Lane's End sometime and noted that they only offer tours on Fridays during breeding season.
I was at Claiborne last May and that is worth a visit if only to see the final resting place of many legends including Secretariat.
I was at Claiborne last May and that is worth a visit if only to see the final resting place of many legends including Secretariat.
Claiborne first.....the rest nowhere 
That is an incredible farm to visit. There is so much history, and it still has a "feel" that many of the other large, commercial farms have lost. It's almost like stepping back in time (in a good way).
Personally, I would recommend visiting after breeding season. Of course, many stallions at some of the big farms will have shuttled south, but you are likely to get a much more complete tour, and more time and interaction with the staff. IMO, it's worth the trade-off.
Other farms to see are Ashford (have a very open visitor policy), Three Chimneys and Winstar.
That is an incredible farm to visit. There is so much history, and it still has a "feel" that many of the other large, commercial farms have lost. It's almost like stepping back in time (in a good way).
Personally, I would recommend visiting after breeding season. Of course, many stallions at some of the big farms will have shuttled south, but you are likely to get a much more complete tour, and more time and interaction with the staff. IMO, it's worth the trade-off.
Other farms to see are Ashford (have a very open visitor policy), Three Chimneys and Winstar.