Since 2897, Walmac Farm has been raising thoroghbreds on its fertile ground. The historical farm…read moreoff Paris Pike had been home to 100 stallions through the years. Newly acquired in 2018, a desire to resurrect Walmac has been ongoing and is poised to enter a new era for the longstanding farm. 19

This is specifically for their "owner's experience" tour, a tour that allows you to go behind the…read morescenes, where generally only owners are allowed. We got to see the stables, got to see the horses get saddled, got to meet companion ponies. We got to be on the rail in the winners circle to see a race, then be there when the winning horse and jockey entered the circle and the prize was awarded. Our guide was Carol Sue, who was a pistol of a lady. She was so knowledgeable and sharp, and had great answers to all our questions. She showed us all the VIP areas and shared tons of facts about Keeneland. She explained exactly what all the terms in the program meant and how to decipher all the stats (jockey's win percentages, horses records etc). She supplied all sorts of cool facts about racing. I only took one photo the entire tour because I was so focused on all the interesting things Carol Sue was saying that I didn't even think about it. She truly had us living in the moment, which is no small feat in 2026. I would purchase green lot parking for this tour, which costs around 20 bucks (I didn't know this ahead of time). Otherwise you have to park in general parking, the meadow or on the hill, and take the shuttle in, which adds time and is a pain. From some places, you can walk, as it's only like 1/2 a mile, but not all patrons are capable of that. I have been to Keeneland as a regular spectator. While there is no dress code, people do tend to dress up in the southern fashion (hats, dresses, blazers). But honestly, don't feel compelled. Some people show up in jeans and tees. I used to be one of those people who wanted to be on the rail (crowds, no seating unless you bring your own chairs). But now I would buy seating in the stands. Much more comfortable. Food and drinks are expensive, as expected. A 12 ounce water is 5 dollars. There are restaurants on site, but I've never tried them because better and cheaper food are available. FYI: you can also attend the auctions, where racing hopefuls recently brought in almost half a billion dollars. The owner's experience is 75 dollars per person and requires signing a digital waiver. Totally worth it to see the inner workings of one of the world's most prominent racetracks. And one more shout out to Carol Sue, a true bad ass!

A great horse racing venue with beautiful grounds. Appreciate you can watch morning horse training…read morefor free with easy parking The staff at betting windows is not interested in helping show you the app and many areas of the venue are closed though unless a major event. A bit more personable care and interaction would make it 5 stars

Did a 11am tour of the farm this morning. It was so beautiful! The tour starts at the stunning new…read morewelcome center where you watch two fantastic videos about the farms history. Then you set out on a shuttle to tour the farm grounds. The tour we did let us meet the mares and foals. I loved getting to pet the horses and their babies, they were adorable! Love that it was a hands on tour. Our tour guide was super knowledgeable and kind. After the tour we did a little shopping at the gift shop which had a great selection. Then we took some family pictures by the statue of the one and only Malibu Moon. It was a great way to start the day.

Kendall was friendly, but provided very little information about the racing and breeding industry…read more Compared to other tours I've taken of the horse industry, this was very lightweight.

I can't say enough about Old Friends. It's just wonder how the Founder, Michael Blowen, President,…read moreJohn Nicholson, and their entire staff have dedicated their lives to taking care of these fabulous Thoroughbred's. The staff is very informative and friendly. They take their time providing detailed history of each horse you see. We were able to pet a couple and feed all of them. Remember, put the carrot on an open/flat palm. We met Silver Charm, the oldest Living Kentucky Derby winner. We met Preakness Stakes Winners, I'll Have Another and Big Brown. We also met Hall of Fame, Lava Man. Over $150 equine athletes in the facility. I will return someday soon to do the Founders Tour!! Thank you for a memorable day with one of my favorite animals that God created.

Just go. A wonderfully caring facility providing a great place for retired horses to live. Very…read moreknowledgeable and thorough guide made our afternoon very memorable

Gainesborough Farm is the nursery division of Godolphin. A stunning expanse of over 1500 acres is…read morehome to mares and foals of the international breeding operation. It was a great opportunity to visit with Lou, a most accomplished guide. 75

Have to say we were very disappointed of our experience with our first Breeders Cup event this Nov…read more 2022. I have been to Keeneland many times and have always had a wonderful experience so not sure who dropped the ball here. There was 6 of us that purchased tickets for Sat race in the Silk Lawn Chalet, tickets were $450 / person which included food and table services, TV screen, betting windows, bar and bathroom. Our thoughts were with only occupancy for 2500 people it would be a better experience then the crowds, potential service in general admission for $75. we were wrong..... The TV's didn't work majority of the time, we never saw table service, the bars rain out of water, soda water and many alcoholic beverages. The food was terrible, and the choice of food seemed questionable, pork is the most widely not eaten food, by religious and ethnic groups, and then salmon? which again is a fish 50% like and the rest don't. To add to that considering flu, covid and just the cost of the tickets, you would think they could afford to have people serving at the buffet line. We had two vegetarians in our party and most things were gone, not to mention concerns of health and sanitation. After getting over the fact most wouldn't be eating that day, then the TV's and betting machine went down. Most people I spoke to were very disappointed and were placing bets on their phone. I also spoke to people that had been to this chalet in 2015 and 2018 and said they had a much better experience. Other friends that were in different chalet and general admission, stated a better menu choice, no issues with TV or betting machine. In fact our friends in general admission stated there were some outside food vendors and lines were only about 10 min waits. In summary, based on my conversations, what ever changes you made in 2022 over previous years with the Silk Lawn Chalet were an Epic Fail! What was suppose to be marking one more thing of the bucket list was a complete disappointment! Disappointed from Florida.

Anytime I have an opportunity to visit Ashford, I'm there. The farm continues to enthrall. But for…read moreall it's beauty, it is Triple Crown winner American Pharoah that brings me back over and over. 54

The tour we had was awesome! Our tour guide was very informative and answered many of our questions…read morewith enthusiasm. As a uninformed tourist, I learned a lot about the studs and their lineage, the breeding process, and about the Coolmore farms. They showed us the barns and told us interesting facts about the horses that stayed there. They also showed American Pharaoh and Epicenter out of their stalls, which was a great photo opportunity.

I can't say enough good things about the second annual Horses & Hospitality event, sponsored by…read moreHorse Country. Last year all the participants gathered at Keeneland for fantastic food, networking, and learning opportunities, before venturing out to a variety of thoroughbred farms. Audra and I experienced the wonder that is Taylor Made, and although it wasn't my first farm tour, it was one I'll never forget. This year, COVID did away with the large group gathering, but the farm tours were able to take place as scheduled. The majority of farms are stud-centric, but - ironically - at Denali Stud you won't find any stallions or breeding sheds. More on that to come. Founded in 1990 by former New Jersey jockey Craig Bandoroff and his wife, Holly, Denali Stud is a 300-acre mare and foal property - i.e. a nursery - situated in picturesque Paris, KY. So what's with the name? I wondered the same. 'Denali' is a mountain range and Eskimo word meaning 'to aspire to greater heights,' and the word 'stud' is synonymous with 'farm' in Europe. Voila! The four barns, office, and other buildings on the property run almost completely on solar energy. Although the farm has produced many successful athletes, some of their most beloved clients date back to the humble beginnings of the farm. Craig, a passionate outdoorsman, has taken great care to curate a variety of trees around the property, carefully labeling many with their type and year planted. As he and his wife prepare for retirement in Lexington, their son and his wife have begun building their own residence on property. Our tour started at a large, centrally-located field full of mamas-to-be. And let me tell you, swollen bellies won't stop those ladies from stampeding toward you in pursuit of a peppermint and a good cheek scratching! From there we got to visit with mares and foals in an adjacent field, before venturing on to the foal bar - where the magic happens. Each stall was occupied by either a mare very close to (or past!) her due date, or a mother and new foal, and I mean NEW - a couple of the foals were only two days old! Pay close attention when you're walking through the barn, as you may recognize some high profile sires; I counted at least three babies by Tapit and one by Real Quiet. Another nearby barn houses some older foals with their mamas, and pregnant mares with less imminent due dates. While Denali Stud is the most recognizable farm in the family's portfolio, there are two others, both of which take their names from mountain ranges: K2, which is dedicated to maiden and barren mares, and Lotse, a 5-barn yearling division. Our guide was primarily Alexis - with additional input from Aly - and her knowledge of the industry, farm, animals, and many other business facets was really impressive. Passion and enthusiasm likes hers is what gets people excited about tourism, and I'm so glad Denali Stud participated in the event this year!

Horse Country provides access to thoroughbred farms and other related businesses to locals and…read moretourists alike who would not otherwise have the ability to experience them. This tour company has a variety of experiences to choose from at various prices and durations which can be booked online. Appointments are scheduled for you, but you must provide your own transportation. You will join other visitors while an individual from the farm walks you through the property, giving its history and showing some of the stallions that stand for breeding.

Visiting Claiborne Farm was fun and educational. We did the walking tour with one of the handlers…read morewho gave us great knowledge about the Thoroughbred racing industry and some of the farm's famed horses such as Secretariat, Round Table, Mr. Prospector, and more. We had the chance to see some of the current stallions such as Silver State, Blame, and War Front. It was so cool to see some of these majestic stallions right in front of us and even pet/feed a few! We of course had to pay our visit to the cemetery and see some of the legends. It's very apparent that Claiborne Farm loves their horses and cares for them deeply. It's a beautiful piece of property as well.

Amazing tour, learned a lot and loved the horses! Absolutely beautiful farm! Highly recommend! Easy…read morewalking and worth the drive there.