Trip to Lexington...suggestions welcomed
 

I will be making a last minute run to the Lexington area to take in racing at Keeneland on Saturday afternoon. First time I've been able to take in Kentucky. I will have all morning and afternoon on Friday to do whatever it is I want. I was thinking of taking a tour of one of the many farms in the area or going to the KHP to see Cigar, John Henry, and Da Hoss.

I guess my questions are...

How freely can you move around the KHP? Is everything conducted through guided tours?

If there was one farm that has tours open to the public on short notice, which would you pick?

Best steakhouse in Lexington?

The rest I'll figure out once I get there. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Checking out the Kentucky Horse Park is definitely worth your time. I enjoyed going out there... it's beautiful. When we went, we did not have a guided tour. I'm not sure how it works now, but their website will probably give you any info that you need:

http://www.kyhorsepark.com/

As for everything else, I'm relatively clueless. We toured Gainesway when I was a kid and I really enjoyed that (got to see Mt. Livermore.)

If I make it there, I'll thank him for his Pennsylvania Governor's Cup win at Penn National. People had no idea what they were seeing up at Grantville that Sunday afternoon. The BC wins are nice too...

Farm- Adena Springs. But it's breeding season... good luck.

Steakhouse- Malone's, hands down. Fantastic.

I second this.

And if you happened to have a mare that was scheduled to arrive in a few weeks to be bred? Would that get the door opened? Obviously I'll be calling in the morning, but just curious.

Then you'd probably have no problem, but I'm sure you know that.

If this sort of thing interests you, they do tours and explainations of their therapy center:

http://www.kesmarc.com/

Yes.

Try DeShea's downtown.

Homestead is a great place to hit after keenleand, great KY food but it is not cheap. The patio is hopping after the races, and you would need a reservation.

I would hit the horse park and then a farm tour.

Hopefully the weather will be as nice Sat as it is today, but I think it may be colder...like 50's. Sat will be a great day, very crowded though. If you have time go to the works and breakfast Sat morning - 7-8 am. That is very very fun.

Depends on how long of a night it is Friday! Thanks for the suggestions.

Any website for Homestead? All I can come up with is a Homestead Nursing Center. I'm sure the shuffleboard area is hopping at night...

Sorry, forgot it is Murray's now......same owners as the historic Merrick Inn here in Lexington

http://www.murrays-merrick.com/murrays/index.html


It is basically 2 miles from the track, go down Man O War past the airport and it is on the corner of Man O War and Harrodsburg Rd.

Malones is good also, and they have a good bar which will also be hopping after the races.

http://www.malonesrestaurant.com/

MALONE'S IS A MUST....also, you should just come out for opening day...why wait until Saturday??????????

Should I make reservations at Malones now for the night before the Bluegrass?

I'm driving in Thursday night and leaving sometime on Sunday. Only have two days, and unless I get over to Adena early in the morning, chances are I'll be there in the afternoon. Of course their schedule may dictate otherwise.

I was the guest of a Kentucky circuit trainer during the entire running of the Keeneland Spring meet in 2004.

Without question, my favorite part of Keeneland is the library.

With the new surface installed, I now have absolutely no use for that meet from a betting standpoint---and, perhaps because they opt to sell Burgoo (what the hell is that anyway?) instead of Pizza---I didn't exactly take a liking to the place---that SO MANY I've known seem to.

However, I would seriously consider taking a ride there just to haunt the library for hours and hours. I would recommend that as the one stop you must make.

http://ww2.keeneland.com/visit/Lists/Copy/research.aspx

I have to agree with drugS that the library @ Keeneland is a must see...I have spent entire days in there...try to get one of the librarians to take you into the basement vault...they have amazing stuff that hasn't even been cataloged...photos, paintings etc.

for farm tours the easiest place to get into IMO is ashford...they are used to it...even during the breeding season...and they have an overhead gallery type area where they sometimes let tours watch a breeding.

I dont' eat steak...:p

It's way overpriced and the food is mediocre. If you are downtown try and hit up Jonathan's at Gratz Park, Dudley's, or Metropol (very limited seating). Bellini's is an Italian place and is also downtown, tons of people love it, but Ive had two blah meals there. Jonathons would be my top choice out of these.

Yes, if you wait too long, you'll be SOL.

Dress warm. It is going to drop into the 20's on friday night in Louisville (mid 70's today) and Lexington is usually colder. I wished we had stayed at Gulfstream for another week. The Frankel barn just moved in this morning next to us at Churchill, and they are in for a treat when the weather changes tomorrow.

Wow, talk about a change. Dropping from a high of 82 today to 49 tomorrow and 40 come Saturday. Just my luck.

Alright. I'll be checking Adena out at 3:30 on Friday afternoon, which means I'll probably hit KHP in the morning, then jet over to Keeneland for a couple of hours before heading over to Adena then back to the room to watch a night of racing from beautiful Grantville.

I don't think I'd mind being at Keeneland in the cold. It's still Keeneland. (Last year, I did a day at Keeneland in the pouring rain. No problem getting right on the rail to watch the races.)

Labeeb, sounds like you have a plan. I was going to suggest to you that you go to the KHP and be there in the afternoon, when Cigar gets turned out. It's a treat to see him canter/trot around and pose for the tourists. I do believe he knows we're taking pictures. Heh, at least you still have John Henry turn his back on you!

Ah, if they bring out the horses in the afternoon, maybe I'll have to try and go over on Sunday afternoon before coming back home. Perhaps works at Keeneland in the morning, lunch, then maybe the library, then over to Adena.

I really am hoping to see Cigar, John Henry, and Da Hoss but Alphabet Soup, Awesome Again, Congaree, Ghostzapper, Giacomo, and Touch Gold ain't half bad either...

For the record, Malone's is on the docket as well for a late dinner Friday night. My mouth is already watering.

If you go to Malone's, you will be within 6 blocks of my house. We live in the Lansdowne-Merrick subdivision, named for the Farm (Merrick), named for the TB that lived to the greatest recorded age (38), who lived there and is buried on the grounds of the farmhouse, now the Merrick Inn. It's nice to think about when I'm in my backyard that Merrick may have grazed on this hillside.

Not sure why, the burgoo is famous...very tasty.

I lived in the Hamburg area...it's weird to think about what was there and what is there now.

I'm thinking that if I really want to do burgoo right, I have to wait until I visit Louisiana and the Fair Grounds. Maybe I'll try a link of it.

As for Rader...bartender or patron?

Actually I was getting burgoo confused with that strange link-like deal they sell in butcher shops in Louisiana. Name escapes me right now.

Is the track burgoo a good representation?

If you've got IBS you might want to consider getting the burgoo to go. I'd advise not eating it before the races start because it tends to get really crowded (especially on opening day/weekends) and the restrooms are horrendous.

Why do I have this sneaking suspicion that I'll be packing on a good five pounds in two and a half days in Kentucky?

Anybody try the wahgu at malones?

Burgoo is a local version of a meat stew, usually created in large batches and slow-cooked in a pot over an open fire. In olden days, game meats predominated but today they use beef and chicken mostrly. And local vegies, like corn and lima beans. Take a look at the Wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgoo

The sausage in question is, I think, andouille.

If you've got luck and cash, try and book a private tour with MaryAnn Squires, the wife of J.D., who bred Monarchos. She'll get you in anywhere and she knows everyone. The contact info is Kentucky Horse Tours (Mary Ann Squires) (859) 312-1124.

Go to this website for all sorts of horse farm tour info:
http://www.visitlex.com/quick/tours.html

HAVE FUN!

I love her! She's such a sweet lady.

Is Keeneland the only simulcast facility in the area? If not, will any others offer a different simulcast menu for Friday evening?

Unless you are interested in harness racing simo at the Red Mile Harness Track in Lexington.