Kentucky Horse Park
From AlexBrownRacing
Affirmed exhibition to open at Kentucky Horse Park
FOB Visits
Cigar, John H, Da Hoss, Plus; My KHP pic
Bluegrass BonanzaHorse farm introduces a family to stallions, mares, birds and bees.
At once dreamy and edifying, Kentucky Horse Park (KHP) exceeded our already high expectations. My husband and I had the pleasure of seeing the champion thoroughbreds John Henry, Cigar and Da Hoss in the flesh as well as the privilege of petting the pacing Triple Crown Champion, Western Dreamer. John Henry was enjoying a quiet morning in his stall. The horses looked fit and limber. (Well, for a horse his age, John Henry looked good.)
We spent an hour or so in the International Museum of the Horse, which displays a comprehensive series of exhibits on the horse, the horse’s role in civilization, and the history of thoroughbred racing. Impressive indeed were huge glass cabinets brimming with trophies from legendary Calumet Racing Stable. (John Henry’s trophies will be on exhibit in the near future.) Set in a pleasant, well-manicured setting, KHP also includes the Parade of Breeds. During our visit, the stands were packed, mostly with enthusiastic children of all ages.
While driving through all those thousands of acres of horse country in and around Lexington—-all gentle hills and immaculate pastures, miles of fences white or black, long stretches of stone walls both “wet” and “dry”-—we also had the opportunity to visit Old Friends as well as the Keeneland Race Track. Old Friends clearly provides the horses in their care with everything they need to lead a healthy life, and staff was quite happy to answer our questions. They gave us an update on Wallenda and some other horses that would be coming over soon and shared some observations about a few personal favorites.
Keeneland Race Track is classically beautiful from paddock to rail, and while there we had a chance to talk to one of the exercise riders for Bobby Frankel and watch some of the horses working out on the new Polytrack surface. Our guide noted how quiet the track was as the horses galloped our way, and we had to agree.
Last but not least, what a pleasure it was spending our mornings drinking coffee and watching the standardbreds get their exercise and training at the Red Mile Race Track, conveniently abutting our hotel. I lost track of how many times a few of them went around the track, lost track of time--altogether a serene way to greet the day in the warm heart of horse country.
Gae Riser, 5-30-07
