Behind the Scenes Thoroughbred Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

1 hour 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

The Thoroughbred Center's Behind the Scenes Tour offers an exclusive look at the training and stabling of thoroughbred race horses. Encompassing over 230 acres of prime Kentucky Bluegrass, this unique horse farm has the ability to accommodate over 1,100 horses. During morning training hours you will get to see horses up close while they workout on the track as well as walk through a barn where horses are stabled. Come see for yourself why trainers say The Thoroughbred Center is one of the best places in the world to train a horse. Minimum numbers are required to run this tour.

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately (Umbrellas are not permitted)

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Transport by air-conditioned minibus

Driver/guide

Small-group tour (no more than 24)

Drinks

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Lexington

Lexington United States

Departure Point: The Thoroughbred Center's Main Office Address: 3380 Paris Pike, Lexington, KY 40511 Directions: Use the 2nd entrance at the corner of Paris Pike and Johnston Road. Dates: April 1 – October 31 9:00am Monday – Saturday November 1 – March 31 9:00am Monday – Friday

End points

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Each tour starts at our main office which is located at the corner of Paris Pike and Johnston Road. Check in at the front desk and our tour guide will bring our mini bus around to pick you up. At 9:00am the bus departs from the main office. The first barns you come to are the two largest and original barns on the property and can house up to 300 horses each. This is where you will likely see the horsemen hot-walking, grooming or bathing their horse. It's all part of the daily activity. You will then pass two training tracks and then get off of the bus to stand rail-side watching morning workouts. It is likely an outrider or exercise rider will approach the group so if you've ever wanted to ask them a question, this is your chance! The group spends 20 to 30 minutes rail-side before getting back on the bus to travel to the backside. While on the backside you will see our training gate where horses learn to break from the gate, paddocks where horses spend their afternoons, hay and feed stores and more barns. As often as we can we will walk through Barn 28 and talk with trainer Mike Cameron if he is available. We spend about 30 minutes in the barn talking about the horses we see, how they are identified, what factors make central Kentucky the Horse Capital of the World and a myriad of other racing-related topics. He may even choose to pull a horse out of its stall! There is nothing quite like standing next to a 1,000-pound horse. So if you've ever wanted to have a Q & A session with a horse trainer, this will be your favorite part of the tour. Depending on the time of year, size of the tour group and amount of time left, the next stop may be a short walk through a gate to our neighbor, Mill Iron Farm. They have a swimming pool for horses! Trainers will sometimes choose to send their horses to Mill Iron for a quick swim rather than taking them to the track. As you head back to the main office, notice the plank wood fences that are all around you. Nowhere in the world will you see as much of this iconic fencing as you will in Central Kentucky.

Options

Behind the Scenes Thoroughbred Tour

Reviews

4.06

17 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Wonderful intro to thoroughbred racehorse country!
T2033AWjudyp,
Sep 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We loved the tour, which gave us tons of info about the horse racing world and took us behind the scenes at Keeneland Race Track and both a broodmare farm and a stud farm, as well as driving through lots of scenic horse farm country around Lexington. Daniel was a fantastic tour guide-- full of knowledge and stories and lots of fun. Highly recommended for anyone who loves horses and wants to see what the horse capital of the world is up to!
badexperience
michaelrcave,
Sep 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
never went disappointed that you could not confirm booking did not communicate well with me about alternative booking
Scam!
385jacys,
Jul 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
Do not purchase this. I contacted the farm after seeing the post here bc I wanted to check if they could accommodate our wagon (I have 5 small children). They said they are no longer offering tours and any found on third party sites are not legitimate! Beware!
What the heck?
ambrosed492,
May 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
Did not go. They cancelled my ticket order TWICE. I completed my ticket order and they cancelled it (did not accept it). Then, for a second time, the same thing happened. They rejected my order.
Great tour
gili976,
Jan 1, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great time touring the race training track and stables. It was a private tour for my wife and myself. Very informative and pleasant. Highly recommended
Very good experience.
r0se152,
Nov 2, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Although it was raining, we had a very good tour with Annette. She is very knowledgeable, answered all questions and very personable. Found it fascinating as to what they do with the mucked out stalls. Quite a business in itself!
Wonderful Tour!
MartaMI 8,
Oct 17, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This is a tour that you must go on. The guide was so good, and shared her knowledge with us about the farm. We were able to pet the horses, and she was very enjoyable to be with. A great time!
Very Interesting
Ivy F,
Oct 14, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Loved this tour! Our tour guide was a very knowledgeable lady and made the tour fun! It is amazing what kind of training the thoroughbreds go through before they race and how many people the owners need to help prepare the horses. Well worth the time.
Great Tour!
lizjs47,
Jul 6, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Had a great tour with Annette today. Our family of 6 was the only group on the tour. We learned a lot and also got to see many of the beautiful horses in action.
Great for someone not in the biz
Sandy135,
Jul 4, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Being on vacation last year, we drove by and didn't have the time to visit, but this year, we made a concerted effort to take a tour. It was great to see the training of the horses, stables. They have a starting gate but none of the horses were being trained when we were there. Interesting that there was an upper and lower track. Interesting to see the white horses and having their own barn. Beautiful. For someone who's not a rider but loves see horses as they are beautiful animals, this was a nice gem of a place. Our guide said that she does or has done the harness racing so it was good to hear her perspective on that. I'd recommend going especially if you love horses and watching them run.