25 Feb Foal-Filled Weekend Itinerary
Can’t get enough of baby horses? Want to pet a mare? We get it! There is nothing quite as magical in Kentucky as getting up close and personal with our beautiful horses. Foaling season is in full swing by the time spring rolls around, with new arrivals at farms all around the Bluegrass region.
We’ve put together threes days of tours focused on all the mama and baby cuteness you can handle. Can’t make them all? Pick and choose from the following experiences, or check out all of our tour offerings, to curate your perfect weekend.
Note: This itinerary is a suggestion only and is based on a sample of what tours may be available in spring and summer 2025. Each Horse Country tour requires that guests be ticketed in advance. Tickets are available for purchase at www.visithorsecountry.com or by calling 859-963-1004. Though this info has been researched & is being shared in good faith, tour availability is subject to change.
Thursday
Kick off your weekend in Paris and North Lexington with visits to Denali Stud, Spendthrift Farm and Downtown Paris.
Spendthrift Farm Shuttle Experience | 11am – 12pm (beginning in April)
Cruise through beautiful Spendthrift Farm aboard their electric shuttle while learning about the process of breeding and raising young Thoroughbred racehorses. You’ll meet some of Spendthrift’s broodmares and their new foals, plus you’ll get a chance to browse their world-class B. Wayne Hughes Visitor’s Center.
The Spendthrift Farm Shuttle Experience is offered on Wednesdays through Saturdays at 11am, beginning in April.
May we suggest… lunch at Windy Corner Market between tours? Located just a mile off of scenic Paris Pike, Windy Corner is owned by beloved Kentucky chef Ouita Michel, who incorporates Kentucky’s culture into each of her dishes. While you’re there, be sure to pick up some Kentucky Proud goodies to take home!
Denali Stud | 2pm – 3pm
On this visit to one of Kentucky’s leading Thoroughbred nurseries, you’ll learn all about what it takes to raise and sell top racehorses. Denali Stud is a family owned and operated farm that foals, raises and consigns many horses each year. While visiting Denali, you’ll visit with the broodmares and their foals while enjoying a walk through the peaceful Kentucky landscape.
Denali Stud offers tours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2pm (with 10am tours available in April).
Be sure to visit… Downtown Paris, Kentucky, after your tour! Downtown Paris is highlighted by shopping, restaurants and a few equine-themed attractions including the Bourbon County Horse Walk of Fame and the Secretariat Park. Check out our Top Things to Do in Paris, Kentucky here.
Friday
Enjoy the best of a Hallmark-quality small town and get a peek at one of the other industries bringing the world to Kentucky – bourbon. Plus, meet more future champion racehorses.
May we suggest… grabbing a coffee and a pastrry at the Amsden Coffee Co. in Versailles before your tour?
Gainsborough Farm | 10am – 11:30am
Gainsborough Farm is one of four farms in Kentucky owned by Godolphin, the largest Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation in the world. On this shuttle tour, you’ll enjoy scenic views while driving through the farm and meet some of Gainsborough’s resident mares and foals. Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous, Cody’s Wish’s dam Dance Card and a number of other famed horses are often featured on tours of Gainsborough.
Gainsborough Farm offers tours Thursday through Sunday at 10am and 2pm.
May we suggest… The Stave in nearby Frankfort? Located just a few minutes down the road from Gainsborough and Pin Oak Stud, this locally-owned eatery centers their menu around Kentucky-inspired dishes and is home to a well-stocked bourbon bar. We recommend making a reservation, especially if you are visiting during the Keeneland meet or another busy time of year!
Pin Oak Stud | 1pm – 2:15pm
Visit the nursery division of storied Pin Oak Stud, where you will meet mares and foals and learn more about how racehorses are bred, raised and trained at this operation that does it all in house! You’ll learn about the history of Pin Oak from its founding by the beloved Josephine Abercrombie to its new ownership under Jim and Dana Bernhard, who seek to continue the quality and traditions of Pin Oak while venturing into a new era.
Pin Oak Stud offers tours on Thursdays and Fridays at 1pm.
Be sure to check out… a local distillery after your tour! Kentucky is known for bourbon & horses for good reason – there are dozens of distilleries in Central Kentucky alone. Nearby distilleries include Castle & Key, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses and more. Just be sure to make your reservation ahead of time! Our friends at the Kentucky Bourbon Trail are the ultimate resource for all things bourbon.
Saturday
Meet the next generation of champion sport horses and racehorses, enjoy a scenic drive and eat at one of Kentucky’s most famed spots.
Spy Coast Farm | 10:30am – 12:30pm
Get an inside look at nearly every division at Spy Coast Farm, the nation’s premier sport horse breeding operation. This shuttle tour makes stops at their Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, Stallion Division, Young Horse Development Center, and of course, Nursery. You’ll see what it takes to develop high quality equine athletes from the foaling barn to the show ring.
Spy Coast Farm offers tours at 10:30am daily (excluding Tuesdays & Thursdays)
May we suggest…. lunch at Wallace Station between tours? Wallace Station is one of Central Kentucky’s most popular restaurants, thanks to its locally-sourced, delicious food and its location, in the heart of Horse Country. Located on Old Frankfort Pike just a few miles away from Stonestreet Farm, you’ll enjoy a beautiful, nationally-recognized scenic byway while traveling to your tour. Wallace Station can often be busy – we recommend ordering ahead so you aren’t late to your tour of Stonestreet Farm or carving out time in your schedule after the tour to enjoy your meal!
Stonestreet Farm | 2pm – 3pm (beginning in April)
Wrap up your foal-filled weekend at Stonestreet Farm, a famed nursery farm that is home to one of the most acclaimed broodmare bands in the sport of horse racing. On this tour, you’ll get to meet mares and foals while learning all about their racing records and pedigrees. Plus, you’re likely to see retired Hall of Fame inductee Rachel Alexandra in her paddock.
Stonestreet Farm offers tours Wednesday – Sunday at 2pm, beginning in April
After your tours… head into Lexington to check out all that our beloved city has to offer. Some of our favorite spots include the Distillery District and Downtown. Our friends at VisitLex have information on anything and everything to do in Lexington and the surrounding areas.
About Horse Country, Inc.
Based in Lexington, Ky, Horse Country is a not-for-profit membership organization that offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the equine industry through tours of member farms, veterinary clinics and other equine attractions in Kentucky. Check out Horse Country on social media: Instagram @visithorsecountry Facebook @visithorsecountry and Twitter @kyhorsecountry. For more information: www.visithorsecountry.com.