Itineraries Future Champions Itinerary March 23, 2026 Thousands of Thoroughbred foals are born each year across Central Kentucky. The rolling hills and nutrient-rich bluegrass of the region help horses develop strong bones and muscles, making this one of the best places in the entire world to raise young horses. Some of the world’s best racehorses were born and raised right here in the Lexington, Kentucky area, and we always say that you’ll never know who you’ll meet on a Horse Country tour! That foal you take a selfie with could go on to be the next Kentucky Derby winner. This ‘Future Champions’ Itinerary visits farms with strong connections to the Kentucky Derby, including two farms where Kentucky Derby champions were born and two farms where Derby winners currently reside. You’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with foals and see some of the champion sires who reside in the Bluegrass region. This itinerary is based on tour availability on Thursdays and Fridays in Spring and Summer of 2026. Thursday EXPLORE Make a stop in Downtown Versailles before heading to your tour of Gainsborough Farm. Grab a coffee and pastry at The Amsden, a local favorite with great drinks + popular seasonal flavors. Take a stroll through the charming downtown area, and grab a selfie in from of the Horse Country mural! TOUR 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in Versailles Visit the birthplace of 2025 Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty – Gainsborough Farm! Gainsborough Farm is one of two nursery farms in Central Kentucky owned by Godolphin, the largest Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation in the world. On this shuttle tour, you’ll meet mares and foals, while learning about the incredible racehorses raised on this property. Plus, you might even see Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous, along with many other famed racehorses. The Gainsborough Farm shuttle tour is available on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Click here to learn more and book your tour. Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty in his early days at Godolphin’s Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, Kentucky Enjoy a shuttle ride through the farm to meet mares and foals at Gainsborough Farm EAT & EXPLORE Head to the small town of Midway, Kentucky for a meal, shopping and more. Stroll through the downtown area that feels like it’s straight out of a Hallmark movie, and be sure to stop by Midway Makers Market, Midway Art Studios or some of the other darling shops for a keepsake from your time in the Bluegrass. Enjoy lunch at the Brown Barrel or Midway Bakery & Cafe, two of our favorite local spots to grab a bite to eat between tours! Take a stroll through Downtown Midway, home to local shops and eateries Grab a bite to eat at the Midway Bakery & Cafe TOUR 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Meet past Kentucky Derby winners and potential future champions on a tour of Airdrie Stud! This tour begins at the stallion division where you’ll see two Kentucky Derby winners – Mystik Dan and Mage – in their new careers as stallions. After visiting with these studs, you’ll drive through the farm to see mares and foals. You never know who you’ll meet when visiting these sweet babies! Tours of Airdrie Stud are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m. (Summer tours offered at 10 a.m.). Click here to learn more and book your tour. Meet Kentucky Derby winners Mage and Mystik Dan at Airdrie Stud Get up close and personal to future champions when you visit the nursery division of Airdrie Stud FRIDAY TOUR 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. in Lexington Start your day with a tour of Magdalena Farm, the Lexington base for leading racehorse trainer Kenny McPeek. On this tour, you’ll get a chance to see mares, foals, yearlings and even some racehorses in training. Magdalena Farm is most well known for being the birthplace of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, who was trained by McPeek for the entirety of his racing career. You might even meet his dam, or mother, Ma’am! Tours of Magdalena are offered on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at various times. Click here to learn more and book your tour Meet momma mares and baby foals on a tour of Magdalena Farm in Lexington Ma’am, the dam of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, and her 2026 foal, a colt by Into Mischief EAT 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Enjoy lunch at Windy Corner Market, owned and operated by beloved local restaurateur Ouita Michel. Windy Corner is perfectly placed among rolling hills and horse farms, with a menu that is as quintesentially Kentucky as it gets! We recommend grabbing an Ale-8 (Kentucky’s signature soda) with your meal and heading to one of the picnic tables to enjoy lunch, and the scenery. Windy Corner Market is located between Lexington and Paris, the perfect stopping point between horse farm tours! Enjoy some comfort food, baked goods and a bottle of Ale-8, Kentucky’s signature soda TOUR 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Wrap up your visit with a tour of the stallion division of Spendthrift Farm in Lexington. Tours of Spendthrift begin in the incredible B. Wayne Hughes Visitors Center, where you’ll see memorabilia from some of racing’s biggest events, including the blanket of roses worn by Authentic after his Kentucky Derby win. From there, you’ll walk to the stallion barns, home to many leading stallinos, including Into Mischief, sire of three Kentucky Derby winners, and one of his Derby-winning sons, Authentic. You’ll learn more about Thoroughbred breeding and racing and see the stallions whose bloodlines are producing the next generation of superstar athletes. Tours of Spendthrift Farm are offered on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Click here to learn more and book your tour See the blanket of roses and trophy won by 2020 Kentucky Derby champion Authentic View a selection of the Spendthrift Farm stallions Note: This itinerary is a suggestion only and is based on a sample of what tours may be available in Spring and Summer of 2026. 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.
