Private Kentucky Farm Tours

[Habersham000]

Originally Posted by philcski

hmm... you are correct. i must have been thinking of scott county, where on georgetown rd in georgetown there is a liquor store that says "last chance liquor" when you are leaving fayette and "first chance liquor" when entering. but i looked up dry counties and neither of them are on there. im confused

I know certain parts of Scott country are dry but I thought the whole county is....woodford country is NOT dry.

As for Farm tours like everyone said make sure to leave a tip and don't try to pop into Darley unexpectitly, they have a guarded gate and won't let you in.

Although Margaux does not have the superstar stallions that other Kentucky farms has they are extremely nice if you want to make a visit.

[Riot]

Scott County allows liquor to be served in certain restaurants with dinner. No packaged goods available.

"First Chance-Last Chance" liquors is the closest place <g>

If one googles "Horse Farm Tours" for Lexington, call them and ask them what farms they visit - they do get you into some farms that normally don't like to do general public tours, and they do give you a beautiful driving tour of the bluegrass (you get to sit and watch). So if you want someone to "do it for you" for a morning or afternoon, these are terrific.

Here's some reliable good ones:
http://bluegrasstours.com/
http://www.horsefarmtours.com/

http://www.seethechampions.com/

If you want to do it yourself, yes, simply call and ask, and if the farms can accomodate you they certainly try to :-) Three Chimneys is good, and Claiborn out in Paris is very fun to visit - they use the same breeding shed they always have ... and the graveyard (Secretariat, Bold Ruler, etc) is amazing for the influential horseflesh the farm has owned. Walking through the two old stud barns, with all the former occupants brass nameplates still on the doors - gives ya shivers - pretty cool.

PS e-mail me before you come if you want, Old Friends is just up the road from me, I'm always up to lunch or dinner with a fellow Dee Tee-er! <g>

[DerbyCat]

Thanks everyone for your input, I believe I will just take myself around to the farms (and a few distillery tours ). Special thanks to a fellow DTer who has connections at Lane's End and said he could get me in - AP Indy, Curlin and Lemon Drop Kid will be a real treat to see - thanks, drinks will be on me at Churchill that weekend!

I'm going to do three days and two nights in Bluegrass Country - hoping to stay at Old Friends B&B - would love some one-on-one time with Lava Man, he's every California claiming owners dream After some advice I got from folks here and friends from the track who have been to KY, I think I'll try to visit Three Chimneys, Gainesway, Lane's End, Airdrie, Stonewell, Shadwell and Hill 'n' Dale... maybe a couple others if I can fit them in but these ones all seem to be "must see" farms. I want to see Cigar but I hear that the Kentucky Horse Park isn't worth the price of admission if all you're really interested in is race horses - anyone here feel otherwise?

Riot, I'll take you up on the meal invite, I have no doubt you've got some great stories and I've found DTers to be nothing but great people. I'd love to meet up with any other DTers while I'm in town (I'll post again as I get closer to the trip) and if we meet up, the first drink is on me!

Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom, I do appreciate it!

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

Thanks everyone for your input, I believe I will just take myself around to the farms (and a few distillery tours ). Special thanks to a fellow DTer who has connections at Lane's End and said he could get me in - AP Indy, Curlin and Lemon Drop Kid will be a real treat to see - thanks, drinks will be on me at Churchill that weekend!

I'm going to do three days and two nights in Bluegrass Country - hoping to stay at Old Friends B&B - would love some one-on-one time with Lava Man, he's every California claiming owners dream After some advice I got from folks here and friends from the track who have been to KY, I think I'll try to visit Three Chimneys, Gainesway, Lane's End, Airdrie, Stonewell, Shadwell and Hill 'n' Dale... maybe a couple others if I can fit them in but these ones all seem to be "must see" farms. I want to see Cigar but I hear that the Kentucky Horse Park isn't worth the price of admission if all you're really interested in is race horses - anyone here feel otherwise?

Riot, I'll take you up on the meal invite, I have no doubt you've got some great stories and I've found DTers to be nothing but great people. I'd love to meet up with any other DTers while I'm in town (I'll post again as I get closer to the trip) and if we meet up, the first drink is on me!

Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom, I do appreciate it!

try to get to claiborne, i enjoyed it. got to see my namesake. also very touching to go to the cemetary, where secretariat, swale, princequillo and others are interred. a lot of history there.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

I want to see Cigar but I hear that the Kentucky Horse Park isn't worth the price of admission if all you're really interested in is race horses - anyone here feel otherwise?

I went when I was a kid and got to see John Henry, Bold Forbes in all his hammy glory, and Forego among others. I thoroughly enjoyed it but it wasn't through the eyes of an adult so maybe it'd be like going back to your old elementary school and thinking how small it seemed. I wouldn't really get as into the Parade of Breeds I suppose.

Don't forget, Alysheba's there. Between him and Cigar it's probably worth it to me. Of course I don't know the actual ticket prices now. What are we talkin here? Is it 'boy there better be a rollercoaster and someone dressed up as Goofy for the price of this thing'?

[DerbyCat]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

Of course I don't know the actual ticket prices now. What are we talkin here? Is it 'boy there better be a rollercoaster and someone dressed up as Goofy for the price of this thing'?

Well, ticket prices are $15 for adults and yes, you get to see Cigar, Alysheba, De Hoss and Funny Cide... I guess it might be worth it for that

[philcski]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

Well, ticket prices are $15 for adults and yes, you get to see Cigar, Alysheba, De Hoss and Funny Cide... I guess it might be worth it for that

The Horse Park is great. Definitely hit it.

[Sightseek]

I was going through my photo galleries and found this one of Invasor showing his appreciation for treats...