Kentucky Horse Racing Thrills

Feeling the earth shake as a mass of thundering hooves goes barreling down the stretch during a horse race is one of the quintessential Kentucky experiences.

Each May, more than 150,000 fans gather at Churchill Downs to attend the most famous horse race in America: the Kentucky Derby. Other races held at Churchill Downs are equally beloved by Kentuckians, including Thurby and Kentucky Oaks. Keeneland, a National Historic Landmark in Lexington, holds world-class thoroughbred races in the spring and fall, as well as some of the most prestigious horse sales in the world. Throughout the year, the public can watch racehorses run through their early morning workouts, followed by breakfast at the Track Kitchen – an intimate experience that will make you feel like you’re part of a special club. 

And if you’d just like to learn about the sport's inspiring horses, trainers and jockeys, the Kentucky Derby Museum and the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park will give you a deeper appreciation for the animals and the sport.