Versailles (Kentucky, that is) is located just outside Lexington and is another bluegrass horse farm hotspot. Its scenic country roads, quaint community charm, and resident bourbon distillery – Woodford Reserve – make it a place to include on a driving tour or daytrip. Famous area farms include Ashford Stud, Lane’s End Farm, Buck Pond Farm, Pin Oak Stud … the list doesn’t end!
One of the more spectacular roads to drive down is Midway Road, home to Lane’s End Farm. Currently, Curlin, the 2007 and 2008 Horse of the Year, stands at stud at Lane’s End along with his sire, Smart Strike, and A.P. Indy, a son of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. It’s here that owner William S. Farish, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, has hosted Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
Another Versailles Thoroughbred farm to make special note of is Ashford Stud, a branch of famed Coolmore Stud in Ireland. Ashland boasts a park-like setting and blue-trimmed stone buildings, and it is one of the biggest farms in Kentucky, based on the number of stallions. Among those stallions are 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, 1995 Derby winner Thunder Gulch, and Giant’s Causeway, a son of Storm Cat and considered by many one of the best young sires in the world.
(Alexandra Beckstett photo) Lane's End, 1500 Midway Rd., Versailles. (859) 873-7300. www.lanesend.com
(Anne M. Eberhardt photo) Ashford Stud: 5095 Frankfort Rd. (U.S 60), Versailles. (859) 873-7088. www.coolmore.com
While you’re cruising around Versailles’s horse country, stop in for lunch or dinner at Cleveland’s. Writes Patti Nickell in Horse Lover’s Guide: “Executive Chef Jared Richardson has made this restaurant in the Woodford Inn a bastion of Kentucky cooking. That means fried catfish and pork chops marinated in bourbon barbecue sauce and served with side dishes such as stone-ground grits, slow cooked greens, corn pudding, and fried apples. You can dine in the main dining room or to make it even more of a Southern tradition, on the sun porch. The adjoining Bourbon Bar features more than 50 premium bourbons.”
140 Park St., Versailles. (859) 879-6062. www.woodfordinn.com.
Also listed in Horse Lover’s Guide are several historic accommodations for overnight stays in Versailles:
1823 Historic Rose Hill Inn, voted “Best Bed and Breakfast in Kentucky” by readers of Kentucky Monthly magazine two years in a row. 233 Rose Hill Ave. (859) 873-5957. www.rosehillinn.com.
Montgomery Inn, a restored 1911 Victorian inn with 10 individually decorated suites. 270 Montgomery Ave. (859) 251-4103. www.montgomeryinnbnb.com.
Storybook Inn, an 1843 antebellum mansion offering the ultimate in Southern hospitality. 277 Rose Hill Ave. (859) 879-9993. www.storybook-inn.com.
Upcoming Events
Turfway Winter/Spring race meet, Florence: January 1 – March 31
Professional Horseman’s Course, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington: Jan. 7 – May 7
USEF "A" rated hunter/jumper show, Lakeside arena, Frankfort; Jan. 22 – 24
Horses and Hot Chocolate Mounted Games, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington: Jan. 23
Indoor Polo, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington: Jan. 26 & 28
Horses, Hooch and History with Bluegrass Tours, Lexington: Jan. 30
Share your own Versailles or bluegrass stories and suggestions with other readers in the comments box below. Horse Lover's Guide to Kentucky is available in hardcopy, Kindle reader, and PDF format.
