Lifestyle Fall in Horse Country September 26, 2025 Cooler weather, colorful autumn scenes, racing at Keeneland… can you tell we’re big fans of Fall? While Horse Country is a great place to visit any time of the year, Fall in Kentucky is particularly special to us. This season brings a variety of “can’t miss” events, experiences and more, so we’ve put together a guide to Fall in Horse Country to help you build an itinerary for this busy time with a variety of fall activities and special events. Racing at Keeneland October means the return of racing at Keeneland! This exciting time of year brings together some of the best racehorses in the country, many of which will go on to compete in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Racecourse in November. Racing begins on Friday, October 3rd and runs through Saturday, October 25th, with racing taking place every day except for Mondays and Tuesdays. Along with racing at Keeneland, we highly recommend heading to the track early in the morning to watch the horses train! Morning training takes place daily from 5:30am-10am, with Sunrise Trackside family and community events taking place each Saturday of the meet from 8am-10am. We recommend checking out our Guide to Keeneland for a more in depth look at how to make the most of your time at the races. Horse Country Staff Recommendation: Be sure to head to the Keeneland Track Kitchen to enjoy a homestyle breakfast after watching morning training. It’s a local favorite, and a common spot for horse trainers, jockeys, owners and more to enjoy a coffee! Tours Enjoy the autumn weather and colorful trees, while getting up close and personal to some of Kentucky’s friendliest equine residents on a tour in Horse Country. Since this is a quiet time of year for stallions, it’s usually a great time to get to see your favorite retired champions like Gun Runner (Three Chimneys Farm), Tapit (Gainesway Farm), Cody’s Wish (Jonabell Farm), Authentic (Spendthrift Farm) and more! A majority of foals have graduated to their next stage of life as weanlings, spending time with their pasture mates and growing up big and strong and the famed Kentucky Bluegrass! Mares, weanlings and sometimes even yearlings are excited to meet tour guests at farms like Denali Stud, Lane’s End Farm, McPeek Racing at Magdalena Farm, Mill Ridge Farm, Runnymede Farm and more. If you’re interested in the world of equine training – both on and off of the racetrack – there are a number of tours that focus on the topic of equine training and care, including the Pin Oak Stud Training Center Experience, Keeneland Morning Works Tour, Spy Coast Farm Grand Tour, and Morning Training Experience at WinStar Farm. Get up close and personal to adoptable horses at our sanctuary and aftercare touring partners, BraveHearts Equine Center, Kentucky Equine Adoption Center, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, Second Stride, Secretariat Center and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation at Chestnut Hall. Horse Country Staff Recommendation: Not sure which tour to choose? Give us a shout! The Horse Country Concierge team is happy to help craft itineraries or answer any questions you might have. Reach out by email at [email protected] or phone at (859) 963-1004. Special Events & Experiences A variety of special events are being hosted throughout Horse Country this fall, along with incredible community events centered around horses! Experience horse farms in a new way through special events like a Paint and Sip at BraveHearts Equine Center, Candle Making Experience at Lane’s End Farm, Mahjong Night at Lane’s End Farm and Yoga at WinStar Farm. Spy Coast Farm is hosting their annual “EquiConnect: Community Equine Day” on October 11th. The event aims to connect the local community to resources available within the equine industry with many free, family-friendly activities. Spy Coast Farm is also the location of the annual “Bluegrass Brunch & Bubbles” fundraiser for the Secretariat Center on October 12th! Local “Must-Do” Experiences Fall is a fun time in Kentucky, and not just for horse lovers! We’re often lucky to see beautiful fall colors as the foliage changes and the leaves fall, making it a great time to check out some of the scenic drives around the area. Our personal favorites are Old Frankfort Pike (if you start at its beginning in Lexington, you’ll have a chance to see an incredible statue of Secretariat), and Paris Pike. VisitLEX has put together two great driving tours to make the most of a roadtrip in Lexington, the Regal Traditions and the Parks and Paddocks Driving Tour, which both take you through the heart of Horse Country and pass many of our member locations. If a day spent outdoors on a hiking trail is more up your alley, Raven Run Nature Sanctuary in Lexington is a great escape located not too far out of town. Take a drive east to Red River Gorge to spend the day exploring some of Kentucky’s most famed natural wonders including Natural Bridge State Park. We couldn’t forget classic fall activities like apple picking and a day at the pumpkin patch! Local orchards like Eckert’s Boyd Orchard, Evan’s Orchard and Cider Mill, and more, make for a great addition to a weekend in Horse Country, thanks to their convenient locations in Versailles and Georgetown, respectively. Be sure to check out this guide from VisitLex for more information on these locations and many more! Horse Country Staff Recommendation: Head to Downtown Lexington for a bowl of Sawyer’s famous chili, a comforting meal on a cool, autumn day. While you’re there, be sure to go across the street and check out the Downtown Lexington Visitor’s Center, located in the historic old Fayette County Courthouse. Zim’s Cafe and the Thirsty Fox are also must-try spots if you’re in the mood for great food and drinks!
