Author Archives: Horse Country

We’re celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week and we’re excited to share with you not only the great Horse Country experiences available to you, but also other attractions that pair perfectly.

For our nature lovers, our full-on hikers/adventure seekers, or maybe you’re building itineraries with primarily outdoor & socially distanced activities….this one’s for you!

Part of the lifecycle of a racehorse is of course, training! And, when racehorses are done at the track, many of them will be re-trained for new careers and homes. In this itinerary, you get to see both the beginning of this process at world-renowned Keeneland racetrack, and the progression of these athletes at each of our TAA-accredited aftercare facilities.

Paired with training are trails, where locals and guests alike can get their own movement in. As our friends at VisitLEX say, “we love our bourbon and our horses, but it’s a deep connection to the land that makes this place truly special.” We invite you to explore the horses and the land with these experiences celebrating the great outdoors:

Itinerary suggestion:

Wednesday Keeneland Morning Works Tour (9 AM) – see thoroughbreds working on the track
Brunch at DV8
Walk the paved paths and visit the Burr Oak at McConnell Springs
Afternoon tour of New Vocations (2PM) – Rehab. Retrain. Rehome

Thursday morning tour at Secretariat Center (11AM)(indoor and outdoor options available)
Lunch at Red State BBQ
Afternoon & early evening hike at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

Friday morning hiking at Jessamine County Gorge
Early afternoon tour of Ky Equine Adoption Center (1:30PM)

Perfect for: outdoorsy types, adventurers, hikers, active vacations, social distancing, nature explorers, families
Advance reservations: All the Horse Country tours, yes!
More info: visithorsecountry.com // visitlex.com

Happy National Tourism & Travel Week 2021!

We’re celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week and we’re excited to share with you not only the great Horse Country experiences available to you, but also other attractions that pair perfectly.

We couldn’t pass up the chance to feature our sister signature industry, of course! Today’s itinerary is about baby horses and bourbon – two things that are sure to leave a smile on your face!

Nursery farms this time of year are just bustling with life – foaling season begins in January and runs through about early June. Tours of these farms include learning about the raising and caring for broodmares and visiting with their foals and the young horses at the farm. These tours tend to be interactive, often with opportunities to pet the horses! Check out the many options for nursery tours here.

Not to be overlooked during Tourism Week are our friends in bourbon! This spirit has enjoyed a bit of a comeback the past two decades, not in small part to the success of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the good work of the folks sharing the history, stories – and of course product! – of this booming industry. There are so very many you can visit. We recently popped on a tour at craft distillery Bluegrass Distillers in downtown Lexington for a small, intimate look at the biz.

Pro tip: horse tours and bourbon tours are very popular right now, while capacity remains relatively limited. Be sure to do your homework and pre-register for your activities as you plan your itinerary!

Itinerary suggestion:

Friday morning tour at Mill Ridge (10: 30AM) – six generations of horsemanship, this nursery farm in Lexington allows for feeding the young horses!
Lunch at Goodfellas in historic Distillery District in Lexington
Afternoon tour at Goodfellas’ neighbor James E Pepper Distillery

Saturday morning at Saxony Farm (10:30AM)
Lunch
Afternoon tour of Bluegrass Distillers

Sunday morning at Spy Coast Farm (10:30AM) – see the mamas and babies of the sport horse world!
Lunch at Windy Corner
Sunday afternoon – Runnymede Farm tour

Perfect for: nursery farms are great for guests of all ages!; if you like a boutique operation; seeing KY’s signature industries
Advance reservations: yes, yes, yes!!
More info: visithorsecountry.com // kybourbontrail.com

Happy National Tourism & Travel Week 2021!

We’re celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week and we’re excited to share with you not only the great Horse Country experiences available to you, but also other attractions that pair perfectly.

First up: a couple of hidden gems! What’s better than a delightful, engaging experience that is a little off the beaten path? If you find your way to Horse Country’s Hallway Feeds, you are in the hands of some of the most hospitable folks in town (shout out at 2019 CommerceLex Small Business of the Year!). Those hands have made the feed that fuel winners…and we mean Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown, Breeders’ Cup winners. In fact, the 1-2-3 finish of the 2021 Kentucky Derby were all thoroughbreds fed by Hallway. Learn about the science, nutrition, and business behind the grain of Hallway Feeds.

And we may be known for our bourbon in the Commonwealth, but we also have a really great beer scene. One local favorite brewery, West Sixth, has a farm just outside the city where they grow their hops, apples and blackberries. They have food trucks on the weekends, live music, yoga and ample space to spread out with your two- and four-legged friends with a picnic or just to chill.

Itinerary suggestion:

Friday afternoon tour at Hallway (1:30PM)
Head out to West Sixth Farm in Frankfort (~40 mins from downtown Lex) to walk around the property and enjoy a beer at their farm taproom (opens at 4).

Perfect for: Hallway is great for anyone who loves a good behind-the-scenes tour, has enjoyed a bourbon distillery tour, is into small business or AgTech. West Sixth Farm is perfectly suited for all ages, anyone looking for a place to disconnect and chill for a few hours.
Advance reservations: Hallway -yes! West Sixth – no!
More info: visithorsecountry.com // westsixth.com/farm

Happy National Tourism & Travel Week 2021!

Are you looking to beat cabin fever? Want to get out? We’ve prepared a long weekend itinerary for January + February in Horse Country. Grab a hat, coat and mask, and come see, learn, touch, move! If this itinerary doesn’t work for you, let us know and we can help you make a new one!

F𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙮
10AM – Claiborne Farm
1:30PM – Hallway Feeds

S𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙖𝙮
9AM – Keeneland
3:30PM – Mill Ridge

S𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙮
10:30AM – Spy Coast Farm

All Horse Country tours should be booked in advance. Plan your visits at visithorsecountry.com. We can’t wait to see you soon!

Are you ready to start shopping?!? We sure are and we’re thrilled to share with you our top picks for the horse- and Kentucky- loving person in your life. It’s an exacta of gift giving: give a unique and meaningful gift and support a small business! Happy shopping …we hope the holidays bring you joy and peace in an unusual year.

THE GIFT OF EXPERIENCE
Maybe we’re a touch biased, but we can’t think of a better gift than one of experience. Seeing, learning, touching new things – send a friend or relative on a Horse Country tour and you’re giving them not just a gift on one day, but memories for a lifetime. Gift vouchers can be purchased here.

THEIR NEW FAVORITE APPAREL
A super soft tee or a Horse Country hat would is perfect for that person in your life who seems to live at the barn. Can’t have too many tee shirts or hats, can they? Check out our apparel here – all tee shirts are 20% off through Dec 4 with code TEETIME. Check out our full collection of apparel here and goods for the home here.

HORSE COUNTRY MEMBER MERCH – Give the gift of memories from a visit to a Horse Country tour, or some merch to rep a favorite tour location (in person or virtual!), a favorite stallion, or a bucket list experience! Linked here are Horse Country member locations with online shops – if you’re like us, the hard thing is what NOT to buy!

DONATE IN THEIR NAME
Some friends and family are hard to shop for, or it seems they don’t need another thing. Consider making a donation in their name – Friends of Horse Country was established to futher the mission of Horse Country and support our work of fan development. To read more about the initiative and fund, click here.

Three of Horse Country’s member locations are TAA-accredited aftercare organizations and rely on the generosity of donors to maintain operations. We invite you to check out their giving opportunities as well: KY Equine Adoption Center; New Vocations; Secretariat Center.

One of the most fun things about Derby time is learning how other people celebrate – traditions, superstitions, wardrobe, food, wagering, hopes and dreams….Derby has a little bit of everything! We’ve caught up with Mill Ridge Farm Manager Price Bell & his wife Beth for a peek into their Derby memories – and their kitchen! We hope you enjoy our visit as much as we did. Pro tip! Scroll to the bottom for the text recipe including instructions on how to can the pepper jelly! Happy Derby, friends!

Beth, do you remember your first Derby?

Absolutely. The first time I went to the Derby was a few years before I met Price. I was a year out of college and a group of friends who live in Lexington and Louisville invited me to join. We had a picnic on the backside–I have no idea how we got over there or who let us in–but we posted up by a fence and got to see the horses up close which was awesome, although, we had no idea who won the race! Turns out, the winner that year was Barbaro, which Headley did the mating for, and whose mother La Ville Rouge lived at Mill Ridge! A sign of things to come? Very spooky!

Do you have any favorite Mill Ridge or Bell family Derby traditions?
What’s so funny about the Derby in the Bell household is that we never know what our plans are until the last minute. Sometimes a client has a horse running that day and we let them use the tickets. We typically don’t know if we’re going and who is going until a week or so before, which makes planning a derby outfit and hat very tricky!

We love this pepper jelly recipe! What else do you love on a Derby Day spread?

Usually, fried chicken is a staple. Our dear Save-a-Lot on Southland Drive which makes the world’s best fried chicken recently closed, so that’s been a huge blow to our menu this year. I refuse to fry chicken at home. Thankfully, the folks at Critchfield’s are planning to re-boot the Save-a-Lot space and continue to sell fried chicken. Here’s hoping they get it up and running again soon!

Tips for sharing Derby fun with the kids? How to get them involved?
I’m afraid we’ve introduced gambling fairly early with our kiddos. In years past, when we’ve had friends over to watch the Derby, we auction off the Derby field. Price describes each horse and their pros and cons and then we auction off who “gets” each horse. Then we pool all the money and if your horse wins you get the pot. We let our children participate, which is hilarious because the littlest ones have no idea what’s going on; the 8 year olds and up do and they are ready to play! I’m afraid we’re teaching them bad habits.

Beyond the Derby, how can people learn more about the sport and the tremendous care the horses receive year-round and beyond the track?

Visiting the farms where these horses are bred, born, and raised is such a great way to understand the full scope of how these horses eventually end up at the racetrack. Before I met Price, I don’t know that I had given it that much thought. After visiting Mill Ridge for the first time, it started to hit me just how difficult of a sport this is and how tough it is to make it to the Oaks and Derby. We are beyond fortunate to have so many Oaks and Derby connections throughout Mill Ridge’s history. We welcome visitors any time to come see us at the farm, pet a few mamas, and hear a few amazing horse tales (pun intended).

To stay up to date on all things Mill Ridge, be sure to follow them on Facebook & Instagram. Since mid-March, the team at Mill Ridge has conducted weekly virtual tours including visits with their stallion OSCAR PERFORMANCE, their mares and foals, deep dives into Mill Ridge history, and so much more. Be sure to check out some of those tours here.

Mill Ridge Farm’s Spicy Pepper Jelly
Adapted from Epicurious.com
Makes 4 to 5 (1/2-pint) jars

1 1/2 lb red bell peppers (about 3), cut into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)
1-3 jalapeños and/or spicy banana peppers (with or without seeds, depending on how spicy you like it!)
2 teaspoons dried hot red-pepper flakes
3 tablespoons Sure-Jell less- or no-sugar-needed pectin (from a 1 3/4-oz box)
3 1/4 cups sugar, divided
1 cup white-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
3/4 teaspoon salt

Pulse bell peppers with red-pepper flakes in a food processor until finely chopped. (Mixture will measure about 2 1/2 cups.)

Whisk together pectin and 1/4 cup sugar in a small bowl.

Stir together pepper mixture, vinegar, butter, salt, and remaining 3 cups sugar in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot. Bring to a vigorous boil over high heat, then continue to boil vigorously, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Gradually add pectin mixture, whisking constantly. Return jelly to a vigorous boil, stirring constantly, and boil, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes (mixture will thicken slightly). Remove from heat.

If eating in the near future (next month), ladle pepper jelly into glass jars, cover with lids, let pepper jelly sit out until it reaches room temperature and then refrigerator. Consume within one month.

If canning, see equipment and instructions needed below.

Special Equipment Needed, if Canning:
5 (1/2-pint) canning jars with screw bands and lids
candy thermometer
canning tongs

Sterilize jars and lids:
Wash jars, lids, and screw bands in hot, soapy water, then rinse well. Dry screw bands. Put empty jars on a rack in a boiling-water canner or a deep 8- to 10-quart pot and add enough hot water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, covered, then boil 10 minutes. Remove canner from heat, leaving jars in water, covered. Heat lids in water to cover by 2 inches in a small saucepan until thermometer registers 180°F (do not let boil). Remove from heat. Keep jars and lids submerged in hot water, covered, until ready to use.

Carefully remove jars and lids with canning tongs, then drain jars upside down on a clean kitchen towel and quickly dry lids. Invert jars and immediately ladle hot jelly into jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at top. (Last jar may not be full.) Run a clean plastic spatula between jelly and sides of jars to eliminate air bubbles. Wipe off rims of filled jars with a damp clean kitchen towel, then firmly screw on lids with screw bands.

Seal and process jars:
Put sealed jars on rack in canner or pot and add enough hot water to cover by 2 inches. (If you have a jar that is partially full, do not process it. Cover it with a lid and screw band, then keep in refrigerator.) Bring to a full boil, covered, then boil jelly, covered, 15 minutes. Transfer jars with canning tongs to a towel-lined surface to cool. Jars will seal; if you hear a ping, that means that the vacuum formed above the cooling jelly has made the lid concave. Remember that you may or may not be around to hear the ping. The important thing is for the jars to eventually have concave lids. Jelly will thicken as it cools.

After jars have cooled, 12 to 24 hours, press center of each lid to check that it’s concave, then remove screw band and try to lift lid with your fingertips. If you can’t, the lid has a good seal. Replace screw band. Put any jars that haven’t sealed properly in the refrigerator and use them first (along with jar that was only partially full).

Cooks’ Note:
•Check the expiration date on your pectin to ensure freshness.
•If you are using jars with rubber rings (still sold, but not approved by the USDA), follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
•Jelly keeps in sealed jars in a cool dark place 5 to 6 months.

We’re days away now from the Kentucky Derby and we know that many of you, like us, are making plans for (another!) Derby at home. If you’re hosting a virtual party, a small group safely, or watching it with your family/roommates/quaranteam, we’re here with some Derby day tips from Lane’s End Farm’s Tour & Hospitality Manager, Ande.

Ande knows what works well for a party: a snack board! Read on to learn about the Derby traditions that have inspired her 2020 snack board, and download Ande’s recipe for mini hot browns for your own Derby spread this weekend!

We’re days away now from the Kentucky Derby and we know that many of you, like us, are making plans for (another!) Derby at home. If you’re hosting a virtual party, a small group safely, or watching it with your family/roommates/quaranteam, we’re here with some Derby day tips from Lane’s End Farm’s Tour & Hospitality Manager, Ande.

Ande knows what works well for a party: a snack board! Read on to learn about the Derby traditions that have inspired her 2020 snack board, and download Ande’s recipe for mini hot browns for your own Derby spread this weekend!

Can you tell us about what has inspired your snack board?

Ham and Pimento Cheese Sandwiches          
   We always drive to Louisville and back for derby day on a bus, one of the snacks usually packed on the bus is ham sandwiches! I put my own spin on your typical derby day snack by adding some pimento cheese to them!
Trick’s Big Head Beer Cheese
      I love beer cheese, and Trick’s is one of my all time favorites! It’s a must for any Derby Party if you ask me!
Merrick Inn’s Fried Chicken
Every year after a long day at Churchill we have fried chicken when we get home, Merrick Inn has always had some of my favorite Fried Chicken in Lexington!
Mr G’s Salted Caramel Corn
Every Snack Board needs something sweet! I love caramel popcorn, and Mr G’s is a local Kentucky company that you can now find in Kroger!
Cotton Candy Grapes
Because I’m obsessed with them and can’t stop snacking on them!

Do you have any tips for a fabulous Derby party at home?
One of my favorite things about Derby is being with a fun group of family and friends who enjoy a day of racing as much as I do!

Any particular memories of Lane’s End connections running in the Derby?

It is always so much fun if Lane’s End or friends have horses running the day of Derby.  My Grandfather had Code of Honor running last year, and it makes the day just that much more exciting!  

Lily or Mint Juelp?

I usually go for a Lily on Derby Day but love Juleps!

Hat or Fascinator?

Hat- Although I have found that fascinators are a bit easier to wear all day!

As experiences begin to open up, are you ready to get out but not quite sure how to handle the details? Enter Lex on Tap, a tour partner of ours who specializes in custom tour experiences bringing guests to breweries, distilleries, and Horse Country locations, as well as providing a variety of local dining experiences and safe transportation. This team is particularly adept at VIP & custom experiences, so if you’re dreaming big, give them a shout.

Lex on Tap is providing extra measures of safety and sanitation of their transportation and adhering to all guidelines set by their partners (like us!) for healthy and enjoyable experiences for all!

Check them out today –follow them for KY fun or build your own experience at lexontap.com!

Horse Country is an organization of members rallied around a singular goal: fan development – and that includes fans of all ages! Mill Ridge Farm has begun hosting Future Fan Friday Virtual Tours (check out the first one here), aimed at educating young ones on all things horses and farm life. We invite you to share this with the little ones in your life, and reach out if they have specific questions or would like to see something on a tour in particular: [email protected].

Kentucky Oaks Day – the full day of racing the Friday of Kentucky Derby week and headlined by the G1 Longines Kentucky Oaks for 3 year old filles – is upon us. Oaks Day has become a popular lifestyle event in its own right, with race goers dressed in pink hues and sipping the day’s signature drink, an Oaks Lily.

We knew that we wanted to raise a glass virtually to all the fillies in Horse Country and for our own Lily recipe, we could look no further than our friend Autry. Autry serves as Assistant Marketing Director at Spendthrift Farm & farm hostess extraordinaire and is the gal behind many of the amazing photos you know and love on Spendthrift’s Instagram & Facebook. Many of you may have attended a tour hosted by Autry and know her knowledge of and deep love of the sport – so, we’re tickled pink today to share a fun Q&A to get to know her better, along with her take on the classic Oaks cocktail. Cheers, y’all!

 What is your earliest memory of being at a track?

My earliest memory at the track would be when parents took me for the first time to Keeneland for their Sunrise Trackside program as a kid. On the day we went I got to meet Pat Day & I was so overwhelmed (because I loved him) I cried the entire time…there are photos. I also remember that day during the races seeing a female jockey on her mount headed to the track and my sister yelled “I didn’t know girls could be jockeys” and the jockey stopped her horse, turned around, smiled, and said “yes we can”. It was really special.

Any standout Kentucky Derby or Oaks moments?

The first year I ever attended the Oaks & Derby happened to be a pretty big one: 2018, Monomoy Girl wins the Oaks and Justify wins the Derby. While watching the two races were an incredible experience, I will say my standout memories came from the two weeks leading up to the Derby. Spendthrift had two future stallions running, Bolt d’Oro and Free Drop Billy, and my job was to document their time at Churchill Downs leading up to the big race. I spent most mornings with the Spendthrift team watching the two horses work on the track, talking to trainers, exercise riders, etc. taking photos and videos for social media. While our horses didn’t win, I will never forget what it felt like to be on the back side of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week – talk about energy!

Pro tip! . Netflix filmed a documentary during this time on Dale Romans and they featured Free Drop Billy – it’s called 7 Days Out

Thoughts on September Derby?

I don’t have all the answers but I think it is important to ask the hard, nitty gritty questions when making a huge change like this – questions on everything from horses qualifying to crowd management.  I will say, I’m not mad about the option of wearing Fall dresses on Derby Day!  

Autry’s top tips to get you through quarantine like a horseracing Kentuckian:

Watch the Virtual Tours – Horse Country posts a virtual tour schedule every day on their social media so you don’t miss a thing!

Watch old races or read up on historical horse racing – the 1920’s – 1940’s will blow your mind, I promise!

Follow Spendthrift Farm on social media – we are bringing you new content daily!

How are YOU celebrating the Kentucky Derby this year?! Things are different and we’re optimistic looking ahead to September, but we just can’t let the original Derby Day pass without a raising a toast to our beloved May tradition.

We’ve got a line up of virtual tours & blog posts coming this week, and we’ll be tuning in on Saturday for the Kentucky Derby’s 2020 #KyDerbyatHome. Our friends at Taylor Made have the perfect goodies for celebrating while staying healthy at home. All items are linked below. Happy shopping & happy celebrating!

Taylor Made Heritage dress| Houndstooth poncho | Mint condition tie | Cream of the Crop tie | Tie bar

CatStudio KY Derby glass | Mint Julep earrings | Needlepoint can cooler | Jockey silk pin | Derby platter |