No, we haven’t ventured outside the Bluegrass to the French capital; we’re just taking a look at more spectacular horse farms Ð this time along scenic Paris Pike. Perhaps the most recognizable farm off the stretch of road that runs north of downtown Lexington is Gainesway. A bit of the background of this legendary farm from Patti Nickell’s Horse Lover’s Guide to Kentucky:

“The story is told in Lexington horse circles that a young man once asked John Gaines, the late owner of Gainesway Farm, how to make $10 million in the Thoroughbred industry. Without batting an eye, Gaines looked at him and said, “Well, son, it’s easy. You start off with $20 million and before you know it, you have $10 million!”
Perhaps his joke has some truth to it, but John Gaines was among the most successful of Kentucky’s Thoroughbred breeders. His grandfather established the farm, then located off Tates Creek Road, as a Standardbred operation, during which time it bred the winners of every major trotting race in North America, including the Hambletonian twice and the Kentucky Futurity three times – two legs of the trotting Triple Crown. His father, Clarence Gaines, continued the winning tradition while at the same time inventing a nutritionally balanced dog food. By the time John Gaines took over, switched to Thoroughbreds, and the farm moved to its present location, Gainesway saw six of its stallions listed as among the world’s leading sires, and Gaines became a racing icon when he helped create the Breeders’ Cup Championship in 1984.
Although the farm encompasses land that was once home to the first Kentucky Derby winner, Aristides (1875), Gainesway’s current star attraction is Afleet Alex, who narrowly missed being a Triple Crown winner, emerging victorious in both the 2005 Preakness and Belmont and finishing third in the Derby. His statuesque beauty and winning personality have made him a fan favorite on horse farm tours.
In 1989 Gaines sold Gainesway, which now includes parts of the adjoining Greentree Stud and the C.V. Whitney Farm, to South African tycoon Graham Beck who, in turn, handed over management of the farm to his son Antony. Thoroughbreds are no longer the only attraction on Gainesway’s 1,500 prime acres. The farm’s gardens have been designated as an arboretum by the American Public Garden Association and serve as a showcase for decorative plants, floral displays, and tree collections, most notably some 45 different kinds of oaks.”
3750 Paris Pike (US 68), Lexington. www.gainesway