Lexington history: Queen Elizabeth’s visits to horse farms and the Kentucky Derby
Editor’s Note: As Lexington celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com each day throughout 2025 will share interesting facts about our hometown. Compiled by Liz Carey, all are notable moments in the city’s history — some funny, some sad, others heartbreaking or celebratory, and some just downright strange.
In its 250-year history, Lexington has hosted multiple national and international dignitaries.
Queen Elizabeth II visited Lexington several times before her death in 2022, primarily because of her love of horses and the city’s reputation as the “horse capital of the world.”
Her first visit in 1984 was to celebrate the first Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.
During that visit, she stopped by Lane’s End Farm in Versailles and other horse farms in the area. Arriving on Oct. 8, the queen flew in on a “gray, drizzly afternoon that would have made any Englishman feel at home,” Herald-Leader staff writer Art Jester wrote. After a few days touring farms and Keeneland, she returned to Britain on Oct. 12.
In 1986, she visited Lane’s End again, as well as Hermitage Farm in Oldham County and others. She was welcomed by children with tiny Union Jacks and a balmy May breeze, reports said. The queen inspected breeding stock and visited six mares she owned and boarded in Kentucky at the time.
In 1989 and 1991, she visited more horse farms and viewed stallions for breeding. Lane’s End again hosted the queen for her visit in 1989, where she toured the walking arena and visited 12 farms in total.
Her last visit, in 2007, was to attend the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. She was in full view at Churchill Downs for only a few minutes, but her presence was felt.
According to Herald-Leader archives, security was tighter than usual that year, and ticket-takers and some Derby-goers wore plastic crowns and rose-bedecked tiaras to welcome the monarch.
Then-Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who did spend some time with the queen, got an etiquette briefing on how to behave around her majesty and even offered to let the queen present the Derby Trophy, though her security refused to allow it.
Elizabeth was Britain’s longest reigning monarch when she died at age 96.
On her death, Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said she left a legacy on the sport and on the Bluegrass.
“Keeneland joins the world in mourning the loss today of Queen Elizabeth II, a beloved leader with exceptional integrity and an unmatched horsewoman,” he said in a statement at the time. “Queen Elizabeth’s lifelong love for horses and her passion for racing left an indelible legacy on the sport around the world and at Keeneland. Keeneland extends its deepest condolences to her family and her Country.”
Have a question or story idea related to Lexington’s 250-year history? Let us know at 250LexKy@gmail.com.