Red Mile Race track in Lexington

Last Thursday we didn't know what to do. Regular bars sounded kinda lame, and sittin' at home sounded lamer. So we decided to goto Red Mile race track for some harness racing.

What is so impressive about this is the fact that I've been in Lexington for 10 years and had never been to regular harness racing at Red Mile. Sure like, 10% of Lexingtonians I had been to Red Mile, usually under the guise of some event, like Junior League, or maybe a concert, but like most Lexingtonians, I had never been to the actual races, that Red Mile was built for.

Red Mile is really the red headed step child of horse racing in Lexington. Everyone knows Keeneland, and EVERYONE goes to Keeneland. If you live in Lexington, there are two things you must do, support the Wildcats, Goto Keeneland. But somehow Red Mile slipped through the cracks and got forgotten about.

Unfortunately Red Mile doesn't have the glamor and glitz that Keeneland has. Keeneland is prestigious an well bred (thoroughbred). It has a paddock and well groomed grounds. Red Mile looks like some Communist fortress built around 1950. The facilities are a bit dated (yellow flourescent lighting) and the grounds are a tad shabby (okay alot shabby).

I'm done bashing, here's my review. AWESOME! Going to Red Mile is like going to a flea market you can bet at and drink beer. The cool thing about Red Mile is it runs at night, so you can go after work. The harness races are hillarious. Since the horses run with the jockey behind them they start the race in a trot. This means the gate is moving... how do they move? Well they are pulled behind a fitted Cadillac. AWESOME!! Want carny food? Red Miles got you covered. Want beer? Got you covered there.

Why was it so much fun? Because it was like going back in time. Going to a place that had been untouched by corporate hands. Red Mile is like going to a carnival, but with less people. I honestly am surprised that the college kids haven't started hitting it up. It's only 2 bucks to get in, and it doesn't require binge drinking all day (since it opens at 6 ish) like Keeneland. You can go, get lit, bet some horses, and not be ashamed of wasting the entire day.

Red Mile is something that Lexington needs to embrace. It was fun and I'm not ashamed to admit it. It was good times. Check out pictures and drink prices of Red Mile in Lexington KY