Shared a plate BBQ from Logans

Barbaro won 2006 Derby broke down in Preakness put down in 2007 after a year of trying to save him

Take the virtual tour 

Seating prices on track skyrockets on Derby Day

Dad had Green with White? Colours

The track, they run Melbourne way of going

The saddling paddock. The horses are saddled in the stalls after they are walked over from barn before the race

Walking through the betting area

Grindstone’s saddle 1996 winner

Such history they have never missed holding the race since 1875. Through two world wars, the civil war and the battle of Little Big Horn the race has been run.

After Churchill Downs, we headed downtown to check out the Steamboat Belle of St Louisville on the river.

It was another hot day so we headed back to the hotel around three to rest up and cool off.

Day three we headed to Lexington via Versailles to explore the Keeneland track and drive past some of the many stud farms in the area.

Some pictures from our morning spent at Keeneland race track

Keeneland is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Operated by the Keeneland Association, Inc., it is also known for its reference library on the sport, which contains more than 10,000 volumes, an extensive videocassette collection, and a substantial assemblage of photo negatives and newspaper clippings.

Keeneland was founded in 1935 as a nonprofit racing–auction entity on 147 acres (0.59 km2) of farmland west of Lexington, which had been owned by Jack Keene, a driving force behind the building of the facility.

It has used proceeds from races and its auctions to further the thoroughbred industry as well as to contribute to the surrounding community. The racing side of Keeneland, Keeneland Race Course, has conducted live race meets in April and October since 1936.

It added a grass course in 1985. The spring meet contains several preps for the Kentucky Derby (held the first Saturday in May), the most notable of which is the Blue Grass Stakes. The fall meet features several Breeders’ Cup preps.

All the stud farms are well fences often with two lines of fencing forming lanes around the property.

Downtown Lexington

Downtown Lexington

Yes, Kentucky is the home of KFC and no we didn’t eat any while we were here. KFC was founded and is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States.

The Colonel was born and raised in Henryville, Indiana, Sanders passed through several professions in his lifetime. Sanders first served his fried chicken in 1930 in the midst of the Great Depression at a gas station he owned in North Corbin, Kentucky. The dining area was named Sanders Court & Café and was so successful that in 1935 Kentucky Governor Ruby Laffoon granted Sanders the title of honorary Kentucky Colonel in recognition of his contribution to the state’s cuisine.