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Originally Posted by paisjpq
In kentucky the Bluegrass region is actually a unique geological area...the 30 mile radius of land (approximate) that surrounds Lexington sits on a foundation of underlying limestone and minerals...this creates extremely fertile soil and the grasses in turn provide optimum nutrients (especially calcium) for growing bones in horses and other livestock. It is not by mistake that horse farms are concentrated in this area.
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It sure isn't by mistake that the farms are concentrated in this area. At the outset of the Civil war, all of the wealthy horse owners in Virginia, Maryland, and the Carolinas sent their absolute best stock west so they wouldn't be commandeered by the Union/Confederate forces. The railroad went as far west as Lexington.
The war ended up being a much bigger event than they imagined, and what they planned on being a few months, turned into a few years.
So, the horses stayed in Lexington and the breeding industry thrived due to the absolute best stock in America being there. People didn't scout around and after a long and lengthy search land in Lexington and say "Alas, this is the perfect soil to raise thoroughbreds on!"