Lexington, Kentucky, is Horse Country

Rolling green hills, white fences, red barns and colonial estates. Synonymous with the old South and its hospitality, Lexington is located within the Bluegrass area of Kentucky, where legendary musicians are almost as common as championship horses. Daniel Boone was one of Lexington's earliest visitors. The city was founded in 1775, 17 years prior to the establishment of Kentucky as a state. Since its earliest history, Lexington has attracted wealthy and cultured residents - so cultured, in fact, that the city was dubbed the "Athens of the West" during the 19th century.

Geographically, Lexington enjoys a prime location in the "Golden Triangle." Just 74 miles east of Louisville, Ky., and 81 miles south of Cincinnati -- Lexington is home to major corporate players like Proctor and Gamble, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Valvoline Oil and Lexmark International. A skilled workforce, provided in part by the University of Kentucky, moves easily into these corporations and others that have come to call the "Bluegrass city" their home. Lexington residents rank among the nation's most highly educated; 30 percent of residents have an undergraduate degree or higher, placing the city in sixth place among the United States' 75 largest cities.

A study conducted in 1996 found that Kentucky's horse industry was responsible for approximately $1.2 billion in goods and services each year. Nearly 130,000 Kentucky residents were involved in the horse industry in some capacity, whether that be as an employee or related service provider, a volunteer or an owner.

More than 16,000 of those 130,000 residents were full-time employees of the horse industry. Three-quarters of the winners of the Kentucky Derby were foaled in Kentucky - a clear indicator that Kentuckians know a thing or two about producing champions. And speaking of the Kentucky Derby, it's an entire culture in Lexington. The Derby marks the beginning of a series of glamorous galas for the rich and the beautiful. At these affairs, money is simply no object, from the champagne that flows nonstop to the extravagant evening gowns donned by attendees.

A visit to Lexington should include many of the historic landmarks that have played pivotal roles in the city's love affair with horses. The Kentucky Horse Center, a Thoroughbred training facility is a good starting point, where visitors learn how Thoroughbred horses are raised and trained to become champions. Kentucky Horse Park is home to some 45 breeds of horses and contains a series of exhibits, museums and theaters, all of them dedicated to Lexington's favorite four-legged friends.

If you want to witness racing in all of its glory, head to Keeneland Race Course in April or October (horse-racing season). For a historical portrayal, go to The Red Mile, where horses pull "jockeys" who sit in two-wheeled carts - just as they did back in 1875, when the first horses made their way down the these tracks. For more pastoral photo opportunities, you may also visit Lexington's numerous horse farms.

Considering its rich history and its general wealth, Lexington's housing inventory contains a large number of old and well-preserved estates. The city has experienced dramatic growth throughout the last several decades, however, and so today, you're just as likely to find new subdivisions as you are historic homes. The largest, most historic and, not surprisingly, most expensive homes often are owned by "family money." These families have deep roots in Lexington and often represent some of the city's most prominent entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Their 19th century estates are tucked back on quiet, lush, tree-lined streets.

To meet the city's expanding population, housing developers have built several subdivisions comprised of smaller, more affordable residences for younger and/or starting families and high-rise condominiums offering a broad range of luxury amenities; as well as numerous upper-class subdivisions for move-up homeowners, aging boomers and successful young professionals. According to 1999 third-quarter statistics provided by the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce's ACCRA Cost of Living Index, Lexington ranks consistently lower than the national average: a typical 1,800 square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath, two-car garage home will cost you $127,513.

The Bluegrass city enjoys a strategic location in the heart of the Golden Triangle, an economy that shows no signs of slowing down - thanks in large part to steady population growth, a competitive cost of living and a superior workforce - and an unbreakable link to one of the nation's most historic pastimes.

Published: December 4, 2000

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