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. 

Another exciting form of horse racing is harness racing. Instead of sitting on top of the horse, jockeys ride in a two-wheeled cart, or sulkie, behind the horse as it trots or paces around an oval track.

Kentucky is home to three harness racing tracks. Red Mile Gaming & Racing in Lexington first opened in 1875, making it the second oldest harness racing track in the world. Oak Grove Racing in Oak Grove, where you can watch the races from a palatial 13,000 square-foot grandstand. The Mint: Cumberland Run in Corbin is a new facility that made its debut in October 2023. 

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.