Derby Week Itinerary: The World of Equine Athletes

While Kentucky is best known for our Thoroughbred racing, the Bluegrass is home to equine athletes of many disciplines and competitive levels. Follow this itinerary to learn more about the daily lives of equine athletes, from Olympians and Derby winners to lesson ponies and trail horses.

This itinerary is recommended for guests visiting on May 5 or 6.

Please note: this itinerary is a suggestion only and is based on a availability at the time of publishing. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and are available for purchase at www.visithorsecountry.com or by calling 859-963-1004. Tour availability is subject to change.

Keeneland Morning Works Tour

8:30am – 9:30am | Lexington, KY

Experience morning training at this historic racecourse and learn more about Keeneland and Thoroughbred horse racing. This one hour tour provides an immersive looking into the history of Keeneland and the daily life of racehorses. Plus, you will get to see horses training on the main track!

Keeneland Racecourse offers a variety of public tours throughout the year, including during Kentucky Derby week! If you are in town during the first week of May, be sure to check out their Morning Works and Backstretch tours.

May we recommend… grabbing breakfast at the Keeneland Track Kitchen before or after your tour? Be sure to leave about 30 minutes for travel time between Keeneland and Spy Coast Farm.

Spy Coast Farm

10:30am – 12:30pm | Lexington, KY

Spy Coast farm is an industry leader in the sport horse world, with divisions that specialize in breeding, training and rehabilitation. Guests will get an inside look at some of the top show jumping stallions in the world, meet mares and foals, and may even see horses in training under saddle!

Spy Coast Farm is offering Derby Week tours on May 5 and 6 at 10:30am. To visit during Derby Week, please click here, or click here to book a tour outside of Derby Week.

Be sure to leave about 35 minutes for travel time between Spy Coast Farm and the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center.

Kentucky Equine Adoption Center

1:30pm – 3pm | Nicholasville, KY

Get up close and personal with the residents of Kentucky’s only all-breed equine rescue on this immersive tour! Guests will learn about the equine care, rehabilitation and retraining that takes places to give horses a fresh start on a new chapter of their lives. Plus, you’ll get to meet a few of the adoptable equines!

The Kentucky Equine Adoption Center offers public tours seven days a week at 1:30pm, including Kentucky Derby week! Book your Derby Week tour by clicking here, or your tour outside of Derby Week here.