Tours of Breeders near Lexington

SilkySullivan · July 23, 2013, 07:09:35 AM

A good friend is heading to Lexington. Wondered if any breeding operations are particularly worth visiting. Any Thoughts.

catcapper · July 23, 2013, 08:38:16 AM

You could start with Lane\'s End. I haven\'t taken a tour, so I don\'t know what you get to see or how entertaining it is - assuming they have tours. What they do have is a long roster of some of the highest class stallions today. Plus, they have Zenyatta.

Depends on what your friend wants from the visit. Do they just want an educational tour of a thoroughbred breeding operation, or are they interested in the horses particularly?

shanahan · July 23, 2013, 09:12:31 AM

Gainesway is beautiful - a Ritz Carlton for equines. I don\'t know if Lanes End take s public tours, but that one is classic as well.

magicnight · July 23, 2013, 10:41:12 AM

The Lane\'s End site says that they have tours Thursdays at 10AM during the off-season for breeding (breeding season ends in June).

Not a breeding farm but one to consider is Old Friends in Georgetown. Tours available every day (reservations needed, I believe). Lots of great old horses living out their days in comfort. Ppresumably, this would be a very \"vistor friendly\" locale.

TGJB · July 23, 2013, 10:58:03 AM

I\'m sure Win Star has tours.

shanahan · July 23, 2013, 11:10:23 AM

Magic, that is the best advice I\'ve seen on the board in some time...in fact, I\'m headed there after seeing your post in October. Selfish of all of us not to make a visit there.

Topcat · July 23, 2013, 11:24:22 AM

SilkySullivan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A good friend is heading to Lexington. Wondered
> if any breeding operations are particularly worth
> visiting. Any Thoughts.

Spendthrift and Gainewsway, for openers . . . many are quite friendly to visitors.

Topcat · July 23, 2013, 11:41:08 AM

magicnight Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Lane\'s End site says that they have tours
> Thursdays at 10AM during the off-season for
> breeding (breeding season ends in June).
>
> Not a breeding farm but one to consider is Old
> Friends in Georgetown. Tours available every day
> (reservations needed, I believe). Lots of great
> old horses living out their days in comfort.
> Ppresumably, this would be a very \"vistor
> friendly\" locale.

Believe Gulch (!) is there, among others . . . a must, if you\'re in the area.

dcbred1 · July 23, 2013, 03:37:39 PM

Claiborne is a must see and has tours.

cubfan0316 · July 23, 2013, 06:43:01 PM

claibornes in paris, not cheap

alydar61 · July 24, 2013, 02:29:16 AM

Calumet used to allow visitors. Don\'t know if they still do. The cemetery there is spectacular, as are the grounds. Might try calling them.

BH · July 24, 2013, 03:53:24 PM

I live in Lexington and do work at a few farms. Several tours available, here\'s one, Google and you\'ll find others:

http://www.horsefarmtours.com/

Opinion:

For history and beauty, Claiborne, nothing else close.

For recent retirees, names you\'ll recognize, Gainesway, Lane\'s End, Ashford, Darley.

Extras: Keeneland and its library, Ky Horse Park, Old Friends.