Opening Day at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky and a Bourbon Drop Cocktail
Hello Wednesday! I’m switching things up this week. On Wednesdays I normally publish my featured article for the week and Friday is Casual Friday which is usually a quick and easy recipe or cocktail for the weekend. Well, this week’s feature needs a little more time so I declare today an early Casual Friday. That will most likely involve a cocktail or two. 😉 I will publish this week’s featured article on Friday.
It is the 75th anniversary of Keeleland this year.
You might know that it is the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, so I thought I would share with you our visit to opening day at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky that we attended three weeks ago. Since we are not attending the Kentucky Derby this year, this is the next best thing.
Horse races are full of tradition and much like the Royal Wedding, the women wear bad hats and proper clothing, although, I must say, those young fillies at Keeneland were wearing some really sexy wild shoes and clothes that I am sure many proper Kentuckians would be shocked at! Woah, Nellie!
The Bunkycooks were invited to attend the opening day festivities at Keeneland in their clubhouse while we were in Lexington last month. What a fun day it was! Our friend said the only place we could not go to take pictures was on the track and after a few cocktails…we almost didn’t obey that rule. 🙂
Jockeys coming into the paddock
One of the female jockeys discussing strategy with the trainer
If you are not familiar with Keeneland, it lies in the heart of the most beautiful horse country in the United States. Keeneland’s Spring Meet attracts some of the best jockeys and horses in the world and serves as a prep race for the Kentucky Derby and is celebrated as the opening of the horse racing season.
Keeneland was founded in 1935 on 146 acres of farmland west of Lexington, that was originally owned by Jack Keene. It operates as both a racing facility and an auction house for thoroughbred horses. Keeneland is nonprofit and has donated its proceeds from races and its auctions to better the thoroughbred industry as well as the surrounding community.
Garrett Gomez with Bunky
This is so cool, thanks for sharing
Wow! The pictures are great! Thanks again for sharing the Derby Day events
and History with us. We continue to enjoy this post!
I love Louisville Kentucky Gwe and what wodnerful pics of you and BEAUTIFUL horses. What a fun day! And the cocktail is ah-mazing 🙂
I have finally let loose the project I have been working on…can’t wait to hear what you think 🙂
chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Ugh..sorry about the typos 🙂
That sounds great!!!
Beautiful post!!!
You were right I would love this post! Garrett Gomez is another one of my favorite jockeys who rides at Del Mar during our season. Opening Day at the races is so exciting, with all the people watching, wild hats, and gorgeous horses. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go try one of those bourbon drops!
That is one of my favorite memories of college! I went to Opening Day at Keeneland with a “well-to-do” college boyfriend (what ever happened to him?)–it was complete and utter class all the way. There are no people like Kentucky Horse People. We were in the clubhouse and our glasses were filled immediately after we took a sip–hard to keep your coffee going the way you like it–but great for champagne. Thanks for bringing back that memory–a sharp contrast to my Derby infield experience a few years later (I still have nightmares about it). Love the horse racing posts…
My niece’s husband is a vet & a few years ago worked at Keeneland, so when we went, we were given the grant tour & royal treatment. Thank you for bringing back some of my favorite memories.
Looks like you had a mighty special time here Gwen. I always feel like I’ve been there with you on these trips. I really love the finish line shot. Motion is always fun to shoot.
BTW Bourbon on the rocks was my all time favorite drink! I liked it so well it scared me lol
Oh Lovely! This has inspired me to create a Derby post! It is such a great event!!! Love the pics!
your pictures are way better than mine, but i linked to you in my blog post! xo
mighty fine drink and fun post… have never been to the horse races but the excitement would be something else, so much different that the dog races we have around here…. no comparison at all
Keeneland would fit in nicely with a trip to the Bourbon Trail! Hmm, Woodford Reserve – a trip to the liquor store is in order. Thanks for sharing yet another beautiful post.