Qualla: Lexington: The Horse Capital of the World https://qualla.com/lexington en-us © 2026 Bendyline Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:21:06 GMT Qualla serial false Qualla support@bendyline.com yes https://qualla.com/_m/d/n/g/b/lexington-kentucky-wk/mary-todd-lincoln-house-lexing.jpg Qualla: Lexington: The Horse Capital of the World https://qualla.com/lexington Lexington: The Horse Capital of the World: Introduction https://qualla.com/lexington/ Photo credit Jason Phillips (user:Wildcat~commonswiki), CC BY 2.5. Lexington is the center of thoroughbred horse country - the Bluegrass region where horses have been bred and raced since before Kentucky was a state, where the farms spread across gentle hills of grass that appears blue in certain light. The horse industry is serious business: billions of dollars in sales at the Keeneland auctions, the breeding operations that produce Kentucky Derby winners, the culture that treats horses as more than investment. The city of 320,000 sits amid the farms, home to the University of Kentucky and its basketball obsession, connected to the bourbon distilleries that dot the surrounding counties. Lexington is horse country, bourbon country, basketball country - the heart of a Kentucky identity distinct from Louisville's urban character.

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Image: Jason Phillips (user:Wildcat~commonswiki) | CC BY 2.5

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/n/g/b/lexington-city-wk/dngb-lexington-the-horse-capital-of-the-world-intro.mp3 0:06 1 full Lexington: The Horse Capital of the World: The Horses https://qualla.com/lexington/ Photo credit Wes Blevins, CC BY-SA 2.5. The Bluegrass region's limestone soil produces calcium-rich water that strengthens horse bones - or so the theory goes. Whatever the reason, the thoroughbred industry concentrated here, the horse farms extending in every direction from Lexington. The names are legendary: Calumet,...

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Image: Wes Blevins | CC BY-SA 2.5

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/n/g/b/lexington-city-wk/dngb-lexington-the-horse-capital-of-the-world-the-horses.mp3 0:06 2 full Lexington: The Horse Capital of the World: The Bourbon https://qualla.com/lexington/ Photo credit The original uploader was Analogue Kid at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.5. The bourbon distilleries that ring Lexington are part of the larger Kentucky Bourbon Trail - Woodford Reserve, Four Roses, Wild Turkey, Buffalo Trace all within driving distance. The bourbon economy has boomed as whiskey became fashionable; the tours draw visitors who want to see...

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Image: The original uploader was Analogue Kid at English Wikipedia. | CC BY 2.5

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/n/g/b/lexington-city-wk/dngb-lexington-the-horse-capital-of-the-world-the-bourbon.mp3 0:06 3 full Lexington: The Horse Capital of the World: The Basketball https://qualla.com/lexington/ Photo credit Nyttend, Public domain. University of Kentucky basketball is Kentucky religion - the 'Big Blue Nation' that follows the Wildcats, the eight national championships that justify the obsession, the Rupp Arena crowds that pack 23,000 fans for every game. Kentucky recruits the nation's best high school playe...

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Image: Nyttend | Public domain

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/n/g/b/lexington-city-wk/dngb-lexington-the-horse-capital-of-the-world-the-basketball.mp3 0:06 4 full Lexington: The Horse Capital of the World: The University https://qualla.com/lexington/ Photo credit Mike Kalasnik from Charlotte, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0. The University of Kentucky, beyond basketball, is the state's flagship institution - 30,000 students, the medical center that serves the region, the research programs that attract federal funding. The campus anchors Lexington's economy and culture. The student population keeps th...

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Image: Mike Kalasnik from Charlotte, USA | CC BY-SA 2.0

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/n/g/b/lexington-city-wk/dngb-lexington-the-horse-capital-of-the-world-the-university.mp3 0:06 5 full Lexington: The Horse Capital of the World: Visiting Lexington https://qualla.com/lexington/ Photo credit Madgeek1450 at English Wikipedia, Public domain. Lexington is served by Blue Grass Airport (LEX). The Kentucky Horse Park offers horse education and riding. Keeneland races run in April and October; the September sales are for industry but viewable. The bourbon trail requires driving - Woodford Reserve is 20 minutes south, Buff...

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Image: Madgeek1450 at English Wikipedia | Public domain

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/d/n/g/b/lexington-city-wk/dngb-lexington-the-horse-capital-of-the-world-visiting-lexington.mp3 0:06 6 full