Kentucky
How long does it take to get through the Kentucky Horse Park? What to know
Churchill Downs announces Grandstand Club and Pavilion renovation plan
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The Kentucky Horse Park, located about an hour and 15 minutes from downtown Louisville in Lexington, might be worth a visit before the end of the season.
Here’s what we know.
Kentucky State Fair 2024: Don’t miss more than 30 free concerts at the 2024 Kentucky State Fair. Here’s the lineup
What happens at the Kentucky Horse Park?
The Kentucky Horse Park, which has been “celebrating our relationship with the horse since 1978,” offers various educational and entertaining experiences from live horse shows to guided trail rides to camping opportunities, according to the organization’s website.
The more than 1,225-acre park has also been home to stellar racehorses like Western Dreamer, the 1997 Pacing Triple Crown Winner; Bold Forbes, the 1976 Kentucky Derby winner; and Forego, an eight-time Eclipse Award winner.
Why is Kentucky Horse Park famous?
The Kentucky Horse Park has been a long-standing part of Kentucky horse racing history through educational, entertaining and engaging methods.
The park is known for its “Hall of Champions,” where accomplished racehorses retire and live out their final days while educating the local community. Horses that die at the park are moved to the “Memorial Walk of Champions,” home to like Be a Bono, Cam Fella and Da Hoss.
The Kentucky Horse Park is also home to the grave sites of Man o’ War, War Admiral and Isaac Burns Murphy.
How long does it take to go through the Kentucky Horse Park?
The Kentucky Horse Park takes about three to five hours to fully experience during the main season. Those adding on extra rides or attractions should plan for more time.
Can you ride a horse at Kentucky Horse Park?
Yes. The Kentucky Horse Park offers both horse trail rides and pony rides.
What is the weight limit for rides at Kentucky Horse Park?
Guests must be 7+ years old, 4 feet tall and weigh less than 150 pounds to do a horseback trail ride. It costs $30 per person with times available at 11:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Ages 2-12 with a 90-pound weight limit can participate in the pony rides. Three times around the paddock costs $6 with time slots at 11:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Which American jockey is buried at Kentucky Horse Park?
Isaac Burns Murphy, a three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey who died in 1896, is buried at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Murphy, who won more than a third of races in his career, had brought home five Latonia Derby wins and four of five of the initial American Derby victories.
After passing, Murphy’s grave remained untouched and abandoned in a Lexington cemetery until his remains were found, exhumed and reburied with Man o’ War at his previous site in 1967. The two were then moved again to their current location before the opening of the Kentucky Horse Park in 1978.
What famous horse is buried in Kentucky?
Man o’ War, with 20 first-place wins and one second-place win in his 1919-20 racing career, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1957 and is buried at the Kentucky Horse Park. His grave site is marked with a bronze sculpture near the front of the park and he is buried near his most famous son, Triple Crown winner War Admiral, and several other children, as well as the famous jockey Isaac Burns Murphy.
What movie was filmed at the Kentucky Horse Park?
The 1985 family drama movie “Sylvester” was filmed in part at the Kentucky Horse Park.
What champions are at the Kentucky Horse Park?
The Kentucky Horse Park Hall of Champions includes seven retired racing horses, one of whom was the U.S. Pacing Triple Crown winner in 1997, Western Dreamer.
Where is Secretariat buried?
Secretariat is buried at Claiborne Farm in Paris, not far from Lexington. It is located at 703 Winchester Road.
Where was ‘Seabiscuit’ filmed?
The 2003 movie “Seabiscuit” was filmed in a variety of locations, but the horse was first introduced at Calumet Farm in Lexington.
Is the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington privately owned?
The Kentucky Horse Park is owned and operated by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
What was the old name of the Kentucky Horse Park?
The Kentucky Horse Park had many previous owners and previous names, according to the history of the organization. These included Walnut Hall, Senorita Stud Farm and the Ashland-Wilkes Farm.
What do you do at the Kentucky Horse Park?
The Kentucky Horse Park offers various interactive elements like the American Saddlebred Museum, the International Museum of the Horse, horse shows and meet and greets, trail and pony rides, a gift shop, a cafe and more.
How much does it cost to visit the Kentucky Horse Park?
Admission can be purchased at the visitor center, and the cost varies.
- Adult admission (ages 13-61): $22
- Senior (ages 62+): $20
- Military (with I.D.): $12
- Child (ages 6-12): $12
- Toddler (ages 5 and below): Free
Tickets purchased during the main season include the next day free except for major holidays and events.
Kentucky Horse Park hours
The Kentucky Horse Park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday during its main season, which concludes Nov. 3. The park is closed Monday and Tuesday.
Kentucky Horse Park’s day-to-day schedule
The daily schedule is as follows.
- Horse-Drawn Trolley: 10 a.m.
- Hall of Champions Show: 10:30 a.m.
- Parade of Breeds Show: 11 a.m.
- Draft Horse Presentation: 11:45 a.m.
- Facts & Fun at the Museum: 12:30 p.m.
- Hall of Champions Show: 1:15 p.m.
- Parade of Breeds Show: 2 p.m.
- Horse-Drawn Trolley: 2:45 p.m.
- Hall of Champions Nightcap: 3:30 p.m.
Kentucky Horse Park 2024 event schedule
The current August schedule is as follows.
- Hats Off Day – Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix: 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.
- Kentucky Summer Classic: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, Aug. 4.
- International Gay Polo Tournament: All day Thursday, Aug. 1 to Saturday, Aug. 3.
- EquineEd: Featuring Wren Blae Zimmerman: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3.
- USEF Pony Finals: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 to Sunday, Aug. 11.
- Bluegrass Festival Horse Show: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13 to Sunday, Aug. 18.
- Central Kentucky Riding For Hope Annual Open Barn Day: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17.
- KHJA Show – August: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21 to Sunday, Aug. 25.
- Walk to Defeat ALS: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24.
- USEA American Eventing Championships: All day from Tuesday, Aug. 27 to Sunday, Sept. 1.
- Bluegrass Classic Dog Show: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28 to Sunday, Sept. 1.
- KHP Foundation Battle in the Saddle: 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30.
For more details and additional events, click here.
Kentucky Horse Park location in Lexington
Kentucky Horse Park is located at 4089 Iron Works Parkway in Lexington.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – Kentucky state lawmakers held a town hall Wednesday night at the South Central Regional Library in south Louisville to hear directly from residents about concerns over hyperscale AI data centers — one of several public meetings on the issue in recent months, but the first organized by legislators themselves.
State senators and representatives convened the meeting on their own time, during the legislative off-season, ahead of January’s session.
“This is a time to bring people together, allow community to have their voice heard, and us take that information back so when it does come time for January, we have the right information in order to create policy that is going to be good for our constituents,” said Sen. Keturah Herron.
Residents, advocates, and organizers packed the library to raise concerns about energy demand, water use, noise, transparency, and whether costs would be passed to everyday utility customers.
Rep. Lisa Wellner cautioned that the legislative fight ahead would be difficult.
“The utilities lobby is very, very powerful in Frankfort…These are going to be the same powerful moneyed forces we’re going to be up against with these hyperscale data centers,” Wellner said.
Sen. Gary Clemons, a 30-year chemical industry veteran, drew a comparison between the potential impact of AI data centers and the effects of factories already bordering some Louisville neighborhoods.
“I negotiate with multi-million, billion dollar companies every day. I’m ready to go toe-to-toe with them now, if we’re ready to do it,” Clemons said.
U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey also attended the meeting.
“I am sick and tired and done with out-of-state corporations coming into our state, our home, our community — and using our resources, wasting and exploiting our people for their gain,” McGarvey said.
Attendee Virginia Bush, who came with a list of concerns about the city’s draft regulations, said halting data centers entirely was not realistic but that inaction was not an option.
“We know it’s not realistic to stop all of them, because people use the data in their everyday life…but they need to be regulated so that these things aren’t causing damage to the communities and to the environment,” Bush said.
Copyright 2026 WAVE. All rights reserved.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Health officials are warning residents about a rise in Cyclospora cases, a parasite that causes an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis and can leave people sick for weeks.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health reported 67 cases between June 14 and July 2 — nearly double the approximately 35 cases the state typically sees in an entire year. While cases normally rise in the spring and summer months, Kentucky is among several states seeing a larger-than-typical increase.
Cases likely undercounted, health official says
Cassie Prather of the Woodford County Health Department said the reported numbers are likely an undercount.
“At this point, we have an underreported number of cases because a lot of people will deal with this and their immune system can kick it in a few days,” Prather said. “For those with a suppressed immune system it can lead to quick dehydration or even a hospital visits if they’re dealing with symptoms that don’t go away for 3-5 days.”
How the parasite spreads
People can become infected after eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Fresh produce has been linked to outbreaks in the United States, but the CDC says it is still working to pinpoint the cause of the current increase.
Symptoms and timeline
Symptoms often begin about a week after exposure but can appear as soon as two days or more than two weeks later. The most common symptom is watery diarrhea. People may also experience stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, bloating, and weight loss. Symptoms can last weeks and sometimes return after improving.
“You’re going to endure stomach cramps, nausea, sometimes you can have a low-grade fever with that,” Prather said.
Prevention guidance
Public health experts urge people to follow food-safety guidelines to reduce the risk of cyclosporiasis and other intestinal illnesses. That includes washing hands with soap and water before and after handling raw fruits and vegetables, and refrigerating cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables within two hours.
Health officials say people whose symptoms last more than a few days, keep returning, or cause signs of dehydration should contact a healthcare provider for evaluation and possible testing.
Copyright 2026 WKYT. All rights reserved.
What is going on with Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell’s health?
The 84-year-old senator is still hospitalized after nearly three weeks, according to staff. Staff members still have not said why he was admitted.
Like many Kentuckians, I have been following the recent questions surrounding Senator Mitch McConnell’s health and ability to carry out the responsibilities of his office. Every elected official deserves privacy regarding personal medical matters. But when legitimate questions arise about an officeholder’s ability to serve, the public deserves transparency.
Unlike the presidency, the Constitution provides no mechanism for addressing the incapacity of a sitting member of Congress. That makes accountability even more important. At a time when every vote and committee decision can have significant consequences, Kentucky cannot afford uncertainty about whether one of its two senators is fully able to represent the Commonwealth.
Governor Beshear, Senator Rand Paul and Kentucky’s six members of the U.S. House should insist on transparency on behalf of their constituents. Kentuckians deserve an honest assessment of whether Senator McConnell is able to fulfill the duties of the office to which he was elected.
If he is well enough to continue serving, that should be communicated clearly. Weeks of unanswered questions are not fair to Senator McConnell, nor are they fair to the people he was elected to serve. I hope my fellow Kentuckians will join me in urging our elected officials to be transparent and put the interests of Kentucky first.
— Kate Caverno, 40245
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