Frequently Asked Questions

All tours depart from the Thoroughbred Heritage Visitors Center located at 366 Waller Ave., Lexington, KY 40504; Suite 119

Transportation for all guests on the tour is provided on comfortable 14-person passenger vans. Departure times are at 8:30am (Morning Sessions) and 12:30pm (Afternoon Sessions). These are Departure Times, so please plan on arriving 10-15 minutes before departure.

Using GPS navigation is a great way to find our address, but please do not plan your GPS Arrival Time for exactly the same time as your scheduled Departure Time as any traffic delays will cause you to be late. Give yourself a cushion. The Visitors Center will be open to greet you and all of the other guests as you arrive. It cannot be guaranteed that the van can wait for you if you are late.

Guests will be returned to the Visitors Center at the conclusion of the tour.

*** The Visitors Center is the ONLY meet-up (pick-up) location. There are no other pick-up locations. ***

Parking

Parking is FREE with main parking at 366 Waller Ave., Lexington, KY 40504. When needed additional FREE parking is also available next door at 386 Waller Ave. and 354 Waller Ave.

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Proximity to Downtown Lexington (2.5 miles): The Visitors Center is 2.5 miles from downtown Lexington, including the downtown hotels Hyatt Regency, Hilton, Marriott and 21c Museum Hotel. Rupp Arena, home of the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team, is also downtown.

NEARBY HOTELS:

Hotels on Waller Ave.: [1] Candlewood Suits (0.3 miles), [2] Tru by Hilton (0.3 miles); Hotels on S. Broadway: [3] Campbell House (0.5 miles), [4] Elwood Hotel (0.7 miles); Downtown Hotels: [5] Hilton Lexington (2.1 miles), [6] 21c Museum Hotel (2.3 miles), [7] Marriott (2.4 miles), [8] Hyatt Regency (2.6 miles).

Meet the Visitors Center: Visitors Center Pictures Gallery (Suite 119):

Does the tour go rain or shine?

The short answer is “Yes”, the tour does go rain or shine.

Our weather policy is that just rain itself does not cause the tour to cancel. If the weather is more severe then there is a chance of cancellation because transportation could become dicey. All guests are transported to the various destinations on a Ford Transit 14-person passenger van by their guide.

Also note that if there has been severe weather the private farms that we visit may have clean-up to do on the smaller roads on their property that would limit their availabilty for a period of time following the severe weather.

If the weather forecast looks at all threatening and any guest would like to cancel or rescheudle their tour based on safety concerns about traveling then we completely understand and will accomodate that with no problems. This is especially easy for guests who have booked their tour directly on our website (www.SeeTheChampions.com). For guests who have booked through a third-party travel angency (TripAdvisor, Viator, GetYourGuide, etc.) then there may be an extra step for them in contacting the travel agency that they booked through.

Tours during the winter months (November - February) are more susceptible to cancellation.

What should we wear?

Wear comfortable clothing including shoes that you can walk in as the tour is largely outside and there is some walking involved. Please dress for weather conditions including warm enough for cooler temperatures and dry enough in cases of rain. The tour is mostly outside.

Stay Hydrated!

Guests are very much welcome to bring hydration with them on the tour vans. Water bottles, Gatorade, Energy drinks ... it's all good! In addition to what guests may bring, we will also have waters available for everyone as well. We want everyone to stay hydrated and healthy!

How much walking is there on the tour?

There is definitely some walking at each of the destinations but it is not extensive. The amount of walking at each stop is probably less than half a mile. Please refer to the photographs at the bottom of this page as they show what tours are typically like.

Can we bring a mobility aid (cane, walker, etc.)?

Space on the passenger vans is very limited, especially if the tour has sold out (all 13 seats). There is room for canes, but available space for folding walkers or other mobility aids is NOT guaranteed. It will depend, in large part, on how many guests are on the tour and how much extra space is left. Please make a note of the desired use of a mobility aid in the “Notes” section of the online order form that you use to purchase tickets.

Can we “follow behind” or “meet the tour” at a destination?

No.

All tour guests must be transported on one of our vans as the destination locations have authorized our vans and drivers to access their private property. We are not able to have other vehicles "follow behind" or "meet us" at locations. This is a safety measure.

Is there horseback riding on the tour?

No. There is no horseback riding on the tours.

What age group is the tour most suited for?

The tour is designed primarily for adults, senior guests and older children who have an interest in horses. There is no horseback riding on the tour or open play spaces for younger children and the tour is not recommended for children under the age of 6. For children, a local destination with open spaces and activities specifically designed for active children is called the “Kentucky Horse Park”. The Kentucky Horse Park is located in Lexington.

What is the tour like?

Pictures Taken on Tours: