Before the Europeans settled in central Kentucky, the region was home to grazing herds of buffalo. The Iroquois Indians called the area the “meadow land” which became the origin of our state’s name “Kentucky.”

In the 19th century central Kentucky’s meadow lands reminded some immigrants of their home in the British Isles – so many settled here and brought their love of horses with them. Soon thoroughbred breeding, trading and racing became a primary enterprise in the Lexington area. In the first Kentucky Legislative Assembly a bill was introduced by Daniel Boone for “improving the breed of horses” and eventually Lexington gained the reputation of being the “Horse Capital of the World.”