Lexington Kentucky Attractions
Horses, Bourbon and Bluegrass

Lexington Kentucky Attractions are like no others. It's just a couple of weeks before this past Derby Day, and we're standing outside one of the barns on Ashford Stud, in Versailles, KY, admiring Giant's Causeway, who is resting up after just making love to a mare from a "good family". He will most likely do his thing four times this day—and every other day for the rest of his lovemaking life—at $125,000 a pop (no pun intended). If someone wanted to buy him, they'd probably wind up shelling out around $300-million. Just an average day on one of the world-class horse farms that spread out around Lexington, Kentucky, where a carpet of Bluegrass grows as far as the eye can see and where a happy trail of Bourbon distilleries complete this unique American tableau. Bourbon, as you may have heard, is America's only native spirit.

Our guide is Scott Goodlett, a very charming local man who has built up quite a nice business creating spectacular special events and providing glimpses into this rarified world of Lexington Kentucky attractions --from royalty to just plain folks like this writer--in and around Lexington. His parties are legendary, his connections are unmatched and he is happy to show you and your group around the horse farms and just about anything else you might want to see in the area. For Tours of Tradition, call 859-879-0319 or 800-450-6444. Scott's passion for horses is maybe just a notch above other local residents, if that's possible to imagine. Around Lexington, the horse is King (and Queen). Images of horses appear on nearly everything one can imagine; causing one to wonder how a picture of a dog or even an elephant might go over—just for a change. Kidding, kidding!

Nowhere in the area is the love affair with the horse more prominent than at Keeneland race track. It is perhaps without parallel among an array of some pretty snazzy racetracks around the world. To sit in a box here and watch the races is one of those life experiences that ranks up there with attending a Super Bowl or a final game of the World Series. But don't let anyone in neighboring Louisville know this. They still lay claim to the most exciting 2-minutes in sports—The Kentucky Derby. Keeneland race track is an oasis of civility, where manners and a deep love of racing go hand in hand. Its gift shop is probably the best of its kind—in the world. Travel Tip: A few little sips of Bourbon during your day at the races can make it even more pleasant. It's good for your heart! The sauce on the bread pudding is also fabulous. Let's call it a heart-healthy vegetable…

Which brings us to the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail itself. In and around Lexington, and its neighbor, Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky, you can tour a number of distilleries, which produce this uniquely American potable. These distilleries that make up the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which produce, among others: Wild Turkey, Four Roses, Buffalo Trace and Woodford Reserve whiskeys welcome visitors year-round—each presenting their own unique stories and tours.

Woodford Reserve, a National Historic Landmark, is in a particularly beautiful setting and is the only distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail that still uses the copper pot method of distillation to make Bourbon. It also has an ace up its sleeve in the form of Chef in Residence David Larson, who serves some of the best meals you'll ever enjoy. Ask him for his classic fried chicken recipe! Go to www.woodfordreserve.com to find out when he's cooking.

But Lexington Kentucky attractions don't totally begin and end with horses and whiskey. Lexington also offers two wonderful "home museums" that are open to the public: "Ashland" the home of the great American statesman, Henry Clay and the home where Mary Todd Lincoln grew up. Both homes will give you unique insight into how the "West" began to be won. During the early 1800's, this area was at the outermost western reaches of our growing country. On one of the walls of a room at Ashland visitors can view five silk purses in a framed box, dating back to the 1800's when the winner of a race would snatch a purse from the branch of a tree just after galloping past the finish line. The money in the purse was his prize for winning the race—and the term "purse" is still used today.

A lot of big time horse people stay with friends when they visit the area—including Queen Elizabeth II, who keeps her mares in Kentucky. But, if you aren't in the same class as her majesty, they try Griffin Gate Golf Club, a full-service Marriott Resort, with indoor and outdoor pools and just about any other amenity you can think of, including a very nice spa. Delectable food is offered at its stunning restaurant, The Mansion, a historic two-story antebellum mansion more that 150 years old (www.mansionrestaurant.com). Hotels in Lexington KY include several Boutique hotels where fans of this type of accommodation will enjoy staying at the newly redecorated Gratz Park, where at Jonathan, its charming bar and restaurant, you can meet lots of the movers and shakers who help keep Lexington humming right along, in addition to savoring some great food and, of course, bourbon.

And, don't forget to drive over to Frankfort (about a 30-minute drive) and tour its beautiful capitol and enjoy a meal at one of its restaurants. The Buffalo Trace distillery (www.buffalotrace.com) home of Buffalo Trace Bourbon is also in Frankfort, and offers very informative tours to visitors--so make a day of it. In this process you will learn that each distillery has a different story to tell.

As the price of gas continues to skyrocket, along with the cost of air tickets to foreign lands, this might be good time to explore some the unique and wonderful places a little closer to home. Lexington, KY, and environs, is definitely one of these gems. And, as my dear father used to say, "A little Wild Turkey will make you go gobble, gobble, gobble". We may never know if Bourbon affects Queen Elizabeth that way, or not…

If you happen to be in New York and are a horse lover, check out The Horse, a comprehensive exhibition on the enduring bond between horses and humanity, opening at the American Museum of Natural History on Saturday, May 17, and remains on view until January 4, 2009 (AMNH).

Clint Brownfield

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