Secretariat Day-Fest 2022
2022 SECRETARIAT DAY-FEST – OCT. 22
We are proud to announce the Bourbon County Secretariat Day-Fest in Paris, Kentucky will be taking place on Saturday, October 22. The Day-Fest will offer private farm tours of Claiborne Farm and Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa as well as organized visits with acclaimed artist Jaime Corum onsite at the forthcoming Secretariat Park, where she will be in the midst of creating a magnificent three-story mural of Big Red.
Secretariat Day-Fest-goers will also be able to explore the charming shops and sites of downtown Paris such as Frames on Main Gallery featuring a variety of spectacular historic and contemporary equine photography. Or visit Lil’s Diner — considered a Paris breakfast and lunch tradition — located in the former J. J. Newberry dime store building on Main St. For the antiquity aficionados, stop by Loch Lea Antiques, home to a treasure trove of racing-related keepsakes and Kentucky collectibles. And a must for horse lovers of all ages is a visit to Quillin Leather & Tack for the finest in hand-crafted saddlery products.
Our primary Secretariat Day-Fest activities include:
- Claiborne Farm Tour – Enjoy a 9:00 a.m. visit to the famed breeding operation where Secretariat lived out his life as a stallion and is buried in his hallowed grave. A special private Day-Fest Tour will include Secretariat-centric history and stallion viewings of Claiborne’s roster of acclaimed sires that currently includes the internationally renowned War Front, champions Blame and Runhappy, and newcomers Catholic Boy and War of Will among others.
- Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa Farm Tour – This is a rare opportunity for your choice of afternoon tours of perhaps the most beautiful horse farm in Kentucky and what is often called “the Biltmore of the Bluegrass.” The historic and storied property, tracing its origins to 1827, features a spectacular stallion roster that includes two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, leading sire Ghostzapper, 2013 Secretariat Vox Populi Award winner Mucho Macho Man, and the promising newcomers Good Magic and Charlatan.
- Mural Meeting with Jaime Corum – The Secretariat Day-Fest activities will include a visit with equine artist extraordinaire Jaime Corum who will be in the midst of bringing Secretariat to life in the form of a three-story tall mural onsite at the future Secretariat Park on Main St. This will be a wonderful opportunity to see history in the making and learn how a project of such momentous magnitude actually takes place. Best of all, Jaime will allow visitors to leave their own personal mark on the mural with their very own brush stroke as part of the visit.
Please note there will be limited availability on a first-come basis for each of our activities.
CLICK HERE FOR QUICK LINK TO PURCHASE FARM TOUR TICKETS
We expect the 2022 Bourbon County Secretariat Day-Fest will be a charming and most memorable opportunity for horse lovers of all ages to share the region’s proud horse heritage and celebrate racing’s most popular champion. Please check back for more details, information and updates.
Please know we anticipate the Secretariat Festival will resume in all its glory in 2023 as part of our ongoing plans to celebrate the landmark 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s 1973 Triple Crown.
The Secretariat Festival, which celebrates the life and legacy of the 1973 Triple Crown champion, launched in 2008 in Paris, Kentucky. In the years since, thousands of attendees have gathered in the heart of the Bluegrass to toast the sport of racing and one of its most beloved champions. Proceeds from the event have benefited the area charities as well as the Secretariat Foundation, which is committed to funding equine-related causes that enhance the welfare of the Thoroughbred community. Updates for this year’s festivities and future announcements will be posted on the Secretariat Festival’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds.
Directions: Paris, Kentucky is located just north of Lexington. Driving east or west on I-75/64, take Paris Pike Exit 113 heading north on US Highway 27/68 approximately 18 miles to downtown Paris.
Nearby Accommodations: A diverse selection of hotels can be found in Lexington including Best Western Paris, Clarion Hotel Lexington, Griffin Gate Marriott, Embassy Suites Newtown Pike, Ramada Lexington North Hotel, and the Fairfield Inn Lexington North. Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport, located across the road from Keeneland Race Course, is serviced by Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
Live Racing: We encourage all Festival-goers to experience the thrill and excitement of racing at beautiful and historic Keeneland Race Course while they are in Lexington for the weekend. Post time at is 1:05 p.m. daily Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
