A Day at the Races (and a night in Midway)

This past weekend I traveled to see family in Cincinnati and Lexington. My cousin and I attend Keeneland’s October and April meet every year; we are lucky enough to enjoy her stepfather’s box. Our routine is to have brunch first, then show up by the second or third race.  Sunday happened to be military day, so in addition to eyeing the horses as they paraded around the saddling enclosure, we inspected a few uniforms as well.

Keeneland is known as one of the prettiest racetracks in the country--and not just because the ladies wear dresses and pearls, and the ushers offer white parasols when the afternoon sun reaches the boxes. The track is nestled in among stunning horse farms including Calumet, home to such greats as Whirlaway, Citation and Alydar.

We followed our day at the races with an outrageously good meal at Holly Hill Inn, a destination dining favorite in the nearby, very horsey town of Midway (whose equine-loving residents include William Shatner and Sam Shepard.) We stuffed ourselves on the five course tasting menu and I enjoyed my first fiddlehead fern. Sounds country, tastes delicious.