Tours The Sport of Kings: Stallion Farms in Kentucky July 3, 2025 In Kentucky, stallion farms are home to legendary sires whose bloodlines continue to shape the future of Thoroughbred racing and breeding. According to the Jockey Club, the state of Kentucky ranked first among North American states with 203 stallions breeding 16,764 mares in 2021. This helps to create over 24,000 jobs and $832 million in direct state revenue from the breeding and racing industry. Stallion farms play a vital role in the Thoroughbred industry and are home to the most influential sires in North America, whose bloodlines continue to shape the future of “The Sport of Kings”. Stallion farm tours offer a unique behind-the-scenes experience in the breeding and business side of the industry, while also having the opportunity to meet the champion sires that call the Bluegrass home. If you’re looking for additional guidance in planning your visit, our Concierge team is here to provide insight on stallion farms offering tours around Central Kentucky. We can be reached at [email protected] or (859) 963-1004. Airdrie Stud Midway, Kentucky Airdrie Stud consists of more than 2,500 acres primarily on Old Frankfort Pike, near Midway, Kentucky. Much of that land is part of famed Woodburn Stud, home of the immortal Lexington as well as four 19th century Kentucky Derby winners, and it is in fact considered the birthplace of Kentucky’s Thoroughbred industry. Airdrie is home to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, along with proven sires Cairo Prince and Collected. Guests will see an overall view of the farm’s operation from their stallion complex as well as mares and foals while reminiscing on the influential history of the property. Book a Tour Coolmore at Ashford Stud Versailles, Kentucky Learn more about one of the biggest global players in the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry with Coolmore by visiting their American division at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky. Usually referred to as the Home of Champions, Ashford is home to some of the best stallions in the country with the roster being led by Triple Crown winners Justify and American Pharoah, as well as young sires Epicenter and Tiz The Law. Book a Tour Darby Dan Farm Lexington, Kentucky Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Kentucky is one of just two horse breeding farms in the world to both breed and own the Derby winners on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Located in Lexington, Kentucky their private experiences can offer guests a chance to see their thriving stallion operation which includes 2019 Kentucky Derby winner Country House, as well as proven sires Dialed In and Flameaway. Book a Tour Gainesway Farm Lexington, Kentucky Gainesway Farm, located in Lexington, Kentucky is home to mares, foals, yearlings, and stallions and is one of the industry’s leading sales consignments. Gainesway’s seasonal tours offer the chance to learn more about the Thoroughbred breeding business by allowing guests to visit their unique stallion facility. Meet an elite stallion roster including leading industry sire Tapit, dual surface producer Karakontie, and rising young sire McKinzie. Book a Tour Jonabell Farm Lexington, Kentucky Visit the Darley stallions at Jonabell Farm, which is a division of Godolphin. Godolphin is known as the international Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation founded by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates. Guests on a tour will visit the stallions while walking around the property, learning more about the industry from one of the largest Thoroughbred operations in the world. Their roster includes Kentucky Derby winners Street Sense and Nyquist, Horse of the Year and 2x Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Cody’s Wish, and Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality. Book a Tour Lane’s End Farm Versailles, Kentucky Lane’s End is one of the world’s premier Thoroughbred farms, encompassing more than 2,300 pristine acres in Versailles, Kentucky. In addition to breeding and boarding, Lane’s End also has an extraordinary sales record being named Leading Consignor on 30 occasions. Visitors to Lane’s End will get an overview of their stallion complex and get a chance to see current leading sires such as Candy Ride, Twirling Candy, and Quality Road. The farm also is home to the highest rated dirt horse in the world and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Flightline, Saudi Cup winner Senor Buscador, as well as Belmont Stakes and Travers winner Arcangelo. Book a Tour Mill Ridge Farm Lexington, Kentucky Experience a farm renowned for raising and selling first class Thoroughbreds in the industry. Since 2000, Mill Ridge has raised and/or sold 39 Grade 1 winners including a Kentucky Derby winner, 9 Breeders’ Cup winners, 2 Horse of the Year Titleholders, and 2024 Preakness winner Seize the Grey. A tour at Mill Ridge will offer guests a chance up close to a variety of horses as well as feeding them when permitted, and the tour will include a stop by their 3 stallions, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner and rising turf sire Oscar Performance, Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Aloha West, and 4x G1 winner Casa Creed. Book a Tour Spendthrift Farm Lexington, Kentucky Visitors will immerse themselves in the historical culture of thoroughbred breeding at Spendthrift Farm by starting at the B. Wayne Hughes Visitor Center before going to the stallion complex. Sitting on over 1, 200 acres in Lexington, Kentucky, Spendthrift is the home to champions such as 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, leading industry sire Into Mischief, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Forte, Belmont Stakes and Haskell winner Dornoch, and more. Book a Tour Taylor Made Farm Nicholasville, Kentucky Family owned and operated since 1976, Taylor Made Farm has grown from a small boarding farm into the worldwide leader in Thoroughbred industry with boarding and marketing. Located in Nicholasville, Kentucky, they are also a leader in sales by raising and selling more than 135 Grade 1 winners, including 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Taylor Made is home to Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Knicks Go, leading industry sire Not This Time, and more. Book a Tour Three Chimneys Farm Versailles, Kentucky The Borges-Torrealba family acquired the property back in 2013 with a clear vision: to breed, raise, and race world-class Thoroughbreds capable of competing and winning on the sport’s biggest stages. On a seasonal tour at Three Chimneys, guests will learn the history of the farm as well as meet an elite stallion roster including Horse of the Year, Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and current leading industry sire Gun Runner, as well as some newer stallions such as G1 winners Newgate and Gun Pilot. Please Note: Three Chimneys offers stallion tours only October and April. Book a Tour WinStar Farm Versailles, Kentucky Founded in 2000, WinStar was a dream established by friends and business partners, Kenny Troutt and Bill Casner. WinStar Farm now regularly ranks among the Top 10 North American breeders and has been in the Top Five by earnings each year since 2014. Visitors will learn more about the operation while meeting high-class stallions that influence the sport, including leading industry sire Constitution, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner Life is Good, and newly added Cogburn, who won the G1 Jaipur in a world record time. Book a Tour
