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Photo: Jason Phillips (user:Wildcat~commonswiki), CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Enjoy horse racing in a "days-gone-by" setting. The movies Seabiscuit (2003), Dreamer (2005) and Secretariat (2010) have been filmed at Keeneland, which prides itself on maintaining racing traditions in a facility that has changed little over the decades: for example, it didn't install public address speakers until 1997. Keeneland hosts live thoroughbred races only two months a year, with the Spring meet in April and Fall meet in October, but they welcome visitors year round (you can use online or print maps to explore the grounds for free, or book a tour). During races you can choose your level of comfort near the track (general admission, grandstands, or nicer indoor rooms), or tailgate in the free parking lot while watching races on a jumbo TV and wagering. The feature race of the Spring meet is the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, a prep race for the Kentucky Derby. When its live races are not in session, entry is free; you can explore the stadium and walk right up to the race track, watch other races broadcast from around the world, or attend events like the yearling horse sales, where many young stallions command price tags in the millions. Buyers include local horse farms and bidders from Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai.
Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for its reference library.
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The Red Mile hosts harness racing, where horses pull a two-wheeled cart. The one-mile track is made of red clay, whence the name.
A micro distillery, part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. Their history ties back to the James E. Pepper Distillery, the former owner of their building 50 years prior. Current products include a vodka, moonshine, rum, and bourbons.
Alltech's Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company
Touring Town Branch, you'll get a double-header of beer and whiskey. From its roots as an agricultural company started by yeast expert Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech began brewing beer with the intention of making slightly more than its employees could drink. Ten years later, they now produce 5 beers and 3 spirits and are Kentucky's largest brewery, working 24 hours a day to keep up with demand, 80% of which is for their signature Bourbon Barrel Ale.
The two-story girlhood home of Abraham Lincoln's wife, and the nation's first shrine to a First Lady. The 14-room house contains period furniture, furnishings from the Todds and Lincolns, and family portraits.
The Kentucky men's basketball team, one of the most storied programs in all of college sports, boasts eight NCAA championships (including in 2012), an undefeated regular season in 2014-15, and leads the NCAA with more than 2,000 all time wins. The team coach (John Calipari since 2009) inevitably enjoys celebrity status around town.