KENTUCKY, USA — Kentucky's bluegrass region is breathtaking with its rolling hills filled with the legacy of not just horse breeding but of horse racing for generations.
Central Kentucky is the horse capital of the world. The sport is headquartered here, and the champions are bred here.
It's the majesty and beauty of these animals that brings millions to the Kentucky Horse Park north of Lexington. This state-run facility celebrates the wonder of the horse and allows guests to get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures.
Lee Carter is the executive director of the park.
"Some of our million+ guests that come through our gates, we're their first experience with equine community. So, what we try to do is create a special experience for them that might develop into a lifelong love of the horse," Carter said. "You know, we believe that there's a connection between the head, the heart and the horse, so we try to find those connection points for folks to create memories with.”
The park is part history lesson, part petting zoo and part equine competition — but remains a place where the love between man and horse thrives.
"If you feed a horse a treat, or you have the opportunity to pet, they're just going to love that, and you're going to enjoy that. I had the opportunity this morning, I was out here with one of our events," Carter said. "Just stand there and feed, feed horse treats for five minutes and you can just tell how excited they are to be affectionate and loved on. And so again, creating those experience are memories to last a lifetime."
For the staff at the Horse Park, Carter said, it is a juggling act between tourism and competition.
"There are four main components to our park. Where we're at right now is the tourism side where the guests come in. We have a competition side of the park, where we run competitions practically year-round, but heavily from about March through Thanksgiving," Carter said. "Then, we have an office park. We have over 500 people that come here every day to work in their organizations. And then, we have a campground, so folks can come and enjoy our campground. We have the largest campground in the state with 260 paved RV parking spots. And so, you know, we've got something for everybody. Just kind of depends on what your interest is."
Then, there are the yearly highlight events.
"Our signature event, BreyerFest, brings in over 30,000 guests from all over the country. I've seen folks from Canada, from California, from Georgia, Florida, all over for BreyerFest," Carter said. "We have the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event that brings 80,000 spectators to the park. We have the National Horse Show that's here in November, which is the longest running horse show in the country. It started in 1883 in Madison Square Garden in New York and came to Kentucky in early 2011."
Chuck's Big Adventure: Kentucky Horse Park
Hilary Bauer hails from Hamilton County and is an HSE graduate. She found her calling in the equine business and is now a big part of what makes the Horse Park run. She is especially close to Roy H, the former two-time Breeders Cup sprint champion who spends his days greeting guests and relaxing in the pasture. For Bauer, this is a bucket-list dream.
"I moved down here after I graduated college. I got a degree in equine training and instruction, and then I galloped racehorses for about 10 years after that," Bauer said. "The day I graduated, I moved down here to Lexington. I absolutely love it. It's just fantastic. We have a lot of fun. You get to meet a lot of people. Every day is different. And then, we have the best horses. You know, they're so sweet. Lot of character."
Horse Park employees are also state employees, so they get state benefits and a retirement and medical plan. That makes these jobs in the equine industry so sought after.
You can spend all day at the park visiting the horses, watching demonstrations and experiencing up close the majesty of the Bluegrass, an area so intrinsically tied to the horse...with its unmistakable charm and its never-ending draw to nearly a million visitors every year.
Plan to spend a full day here, have lunch, buy some gifts and don't forget to take lots of pictures. You will want to remember this trip forever.
Old Friends
Kentucky prides itself as the Horse Capital of the World. Churchill Downs, Keeneland, the Kentucky Derby and horse farms around the Commonwealth give testimony to the fact that the sport of kings is king here.
But, when the racing is over, the victories are forgotten and a new crop of horses come in to shine, what happens to the old champions or even those horses that have lived a life of work but now are old?
Enter into the picture Old Friends, a farm that provides a dignified retirement to thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding careers have ended. Guests visit the horses and not only get to pet some Kentucky Derby or Preakness champs up close but are also made aware of the real issue of equine aftercare.
For years, John Nicolson ran the world-renowned Kentucky Horse Park. Now, these old champs are in his care. In fact, these horses are royalty.
"For the most part, pretty unpretentious, given the fact they are all a bunch of millionaires," Nicolson said.
He isn't kidding. Horses like I'll Have Another are housed here. That horse won the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Silver Charm is here, too. This old fella won the 1997 Kentucky Derby and 1998 Dubai World Cup. He is the oldest surviving winner of that race.
Touch Gold makes Old Friends his home, too. He ended Silver Charm’s Triple Crown chances by winning the 1997 Belmont Stakes.
There are other horses here, too. They spend their days relaxing, eating and getting to meet fans who just want to pet them and take pictures.
The farm is the work of former Boston Globe film critic and horse lover Michael Blowen. Wanting a place for horses to retire in dignity, he began the idea with a golf cart and horse feed. Now, Old Friends is a multi-million dollar operation with a gift shop, tours, employees and volunteers and the potential to expand even more. Michael even has a backyard with the graves of famous horses buried in a respectful and honorable way.
For Blowen, a horse racing fan for decades, this life is the absolute best.
"It's unbelievable. It's like having Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in your yard. It's just sensational. I'm thrilled. I mean, I'm starstruck by these horses every day. I'm starstruck. At the end of the day, these horses were in jeopardy," Blowen said. "You know what I started to do, what everybody tells you not to do, which is fall in love with the horses. And I'm glad I did. And that was the beginning of it."
Today, hundreds of horses from all walks of life spend their days being waited on head to hoof.
Nicolson says that's the goal of the farm and makes a core change in the way the horse racing and breeding operates, giving loving, compassionate care to these horses, making their last days peaceful.
"At this stage, it's whatever they want to do. That's part of the whole philosophy is that these guys have done, being trained, they've done what they've been told since they were babies," Nicolson said. "But once they get here, we do what they say to do. If they want to crib a little bit, that's their thing. So, our job is to really spoil them because they've earned it."
We should all be so lucky.
Chuck's Big Adventure: Old Friends horse farm
A trip to Old Friends is really a visit of appreciation for the work, the effort and the sacrifice of these beautiful animals.
By the way, ask Blowen if you visit to tell you stories. For our Chuck's Big Adventure team, the best story was that of former resident Sarava, who died at Old Friends last year at the age of 24. He was the longest shot to win the Belmont Stakes in history at 70-1. One day, a man came to visit and shared that he walked into the track with $200 , bet on the horse and walked out with $30,000!
More of Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: Finding giants at Bernheim Forest
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: Rail Explorers
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: Cabins on the cliffs and in the trees
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: Red River Gorge underground kayaking
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: Visiting the Woodsongs Radio Hour broadcast
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: Touring the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: Rocking with Rick Faris
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: Western Kentucky BBQ Trail
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: Berea College
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: Lake Cumberland — Houseboats
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: National Corvette Museum, NCM Motorsports Park