The week of October 30th is expected to be an active one in downtown Lexington. Details of the C-H-I Health Breeders’ Cup Festival have been unveiled.
Lexington first played host to the Breeders’ Cup competition in 2015. The economic impact was significant, but Mayor Linda Gorton suggests bigger things.
“I’m predicting. I’m gonna say it publicly. I think we will top those records this year,” said Gorton.
The economic boost in Lexington seven years ago was more than $60 million. Festival Chair Kip Cornett is optimistic about as he puts it “jumping over the bar that the mayor raised again,”
“We have more venues again. If you think about 2015 we had a big hole in the ground in Main Street. We didn’t have greyline station, we didn’t have the distillery district. We didn’t have the depth of restaurants and the diversity of our restaurants,” said Cornett.
Among the events scheduled is a family stroll from the Isaac Murphy Art Garden to the Central Bank Center to kick off the week. Daryl Love is the director of the Ed Brown Society.
“Along the way, walkers will learn historical facts about African Americans within the equine industry and then return to Isaac Murphy Garden where kids and family will have an opportunity to participate in horse-related activities,” said Love.
Those will include dressing up in jockey’s silks, games, and close-up interaction with Thoroughbreds.
The world championships in Thoroughbred racing at Keeneland are set for November fourth and fifth.
