Horses
Bourbon County is proud to be known as the Thoroughbred Capital of the World! Host to some of the most beautiful horse farms in the world, Bourbon County is known for its thriving equine industry. Champions are bred, born, raised, trained, and raced from these iconic farms.
Secretariat, considered by many to be the world’s most famous racehorse, spent the last years of his historic life right here in Bourbon County and is laid to rest at his final home on Claiborne Farm. Secretariat Park (in downtown Paris) is a tribute to this most famous thoroughbred and will open on November 11, 2023, exactly 50 years to the date that he came to live on the farm in Bourbon County.
Check out some of these beautiful farms for a private tour or contact Horse Country Inc.
Claiborne Farm
Since 1910, more than 20 racing greats have been bred/raised at Claiborne farm along with a remarkable who’s-who list of prominent stallions, past and present. Tours are offered seven days a week including an all-farm shuttle tour, Foxes of Belair exclusive experience, private stallion tour and the one-hour “Visit Claiborne Farm” experience, with tours of the stallion barns and cemetery where iconic race horses like Secretariat have been laid to rest.
Adena Springs Farm
Adena Springs Farm’s breeding complex is renowned for producing three Breeders’ Cup Classic winners, including the fastest ever winner of that race in 2004, the much-lauded racing whirlwind and National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame inductee, Ghostzapper.
Runnymede Farm
Said to be the oldest continuously operated horse breeding farm in the Commonwealth, this beautiful 365-acre farm was founded by Col. Ezekiel Clay in 1867 and remains in the family today. Another family tradition here is producing winning thoroughbreds, including Kentucky Winner Ben Brush in 1896, and many other notables that followed in his horseshoe-prints!
Siena Farm
One of the newer operations to hit the horse racing scene, Siena Farm was founded in 2008 as a 262-acre boutique breeding farm with a recipe for success blending tradition with modern technology to produce quality racehorses.
Hillcroft Farm
Nestled amidst historic barns, a home and rolling fields of alfalfa, soybeans and corn are the hearts and souls of this farm – its horses, expertly cared for in the Saddlebred and Thoroughbred breeding programs here. Owned since 2000 by a fourth-generation horsewoman Misdee Wrigley Miller, the farm has a commitment to green agricultural practices and even has a polo division.
Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa
Driven by the passion to restore and revive the grandeur of arguably one of the most stunningly beautiful horse properties in the World, Hill ‘n’ Dale, with your help, will usher in an era whose impact on the industry and the breed will be enduring. If you believe, like we do, that everything matters, then you’ve come to the right place. Here, the obscure becomes the obvious. Welcome to Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa.