Join us on Saturday, April 13, 2024, for the 9th Annual Horse Capital Marathon & Half Marathon. Run on one of the most beautiful marathon/half marathon courses in the United States, passing over 50 Central Kentucky horse farms.
RACE FEATURES
Our race will start at 7:30am from the Kentucky Horse Park Campground Area. A short section (beginning and end of the race) will be on the Legacy Trail with 98% being in scenic Central Kentucky country roads passing by 50+ Central Kentucky horse farms.
This race will be staged in Lexington, Kentucky, commonly referred to as the Horse Capital of the World. Our Marathon/Half Marathon will begin together at 7:30am and will have a 6 hour maximum duration (per our city permit). This means that those competing in the marathon must keep a 14 minute 30 second pace or better to complete the race in time.
PACKET PICKUP --- 3 OPPORTUNITIES TO GET YOUR RACE PACKET
THURSDAY, APRIL 11TH (4:00-7:00PM)
FLEET FEET LEXINGTON AT THE SUMMIT AT FRITZ FARM
(Address: 4084 Finn Way Suite 140, Lexington, KY 40517)
* We expect to be inside the Fleet Feet near the back of the store.
FRIDAY, APRIL 12TH (1:00-7:00PM)
ESTEPP'S FRIENDLY SHELL COMPLEX -- HOT HEAD BURRITOS
(Address: 1445 Newtown Center Way, Lexington, KY 40511)
* We will be set up inside the Hot Head's Burritos restaurant/bar. Hot Head's is offering 25% OFF all burritos or bowls on Friday or Saturday. Just show them your race bib. One meal per runner.
SATURDAY, APRIL 13th (6:15-7:15AM)
KY HORSE PARK CAMPGROUND AREA
(Address: 4089 Iron Works Pkwy., Lexington, KY 40511)
* Look for the Packet Pickup tent near the Start/Finish line; This PPU is intended only for our out of town runners who can't make it in by 7pm on Friday.
Long-sleeved technical shirts and finishers' medals and a beautiful, rolling course through Horse County.
Our race benefits Bluegrass Farms Charities who are the "Heart & Hands of Thoroughbred Racing." Founded in 2003, Blue Grass Farms Charities is a unique 501(c)(3)nonprofit dedicated to providing health and human services to people working in Central Kentucky's Thoroughbred industry.
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MARATHON (26.2) ROUTE (1260 elevation, 17 hydration stations)
HALF MARATHON (13.1) ROUTE (570 elevation, 8 hydration stations)
HOTELS NEAR RACE VENUE There are 8-10 hotels located within 3 miles of the Kentucky Horse Park (Including Fairfield Inn, Embassy Suites, Marriott Griffin Gate Resort, GLo Hotel, La Quinta Inn, Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Residence Inn by Marriott). We do not have any room blocks with these hotels as it is horse racing season at Keeneland Race Track so the hotels don't enter into those arrangements in April. Here is a HOTEL LIST of these hotels off I-64/i-75 most at Newtown Pike (Exit 115)
We'll reveal our 2024 Finisher's Medal later this fall. The medal pictured below is our 2023 medal.
You can have your name and finish time engraved on the back after the race. Our friends from Finish Line Engravers will be there doing the engraving.
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Our race charity beneficiary is Blue Grass Farms Charities. 100% of participant donations and partial proceeds will benefit this worthy local charity supporting the thoroughbred horse industry in Central Kentucky.
MISSION
Founded in 2003, Blue Grass Farms Charities is a 501(c) 3 non profit corporation EIN#20-0374962 devoted to providing health and human services to people working in all aspects of the Thoroughbred industry in Central Kentucky.
Additional race information can be found at http://www.horsecapitalmarathon.com/.
The Full Marathon route starts at the Kentucky Horse Park Campground area on the paved Legacy Trail. Runners will proceed on the Legacy Trail for 1/4 mile until intersecting with Iron Works Pike. Right turn on Iron Works, Right turn on Mt. Horeb (long out and back), Left on Old Lemmons Mill (long out and back) Left on Huffman Mill Pike (Long out and back), Left on Old Lemmons Mill, Left on Mt. Horeb, Right on Iron Works, Right onto Legacy Trail to finish line. The race start and finish are at the same location.
Runners will pass by 17 hydration stations serving water and SWORD hydration in small cups. We will have some bananas and salty snacks at 2 of the later marathon hydration stations. These stops are on average spaced every 1.5-1.75 miles. Each hydration station will have at least one portable restroom. Elevation change for the marathon is approximately1260 feet.
The Half Marathon will start in the Kentucky Horse Park Campground area. The race will start/finish on the paved Legacy Trail. Runners will start on the Legacy Trail and be on the trail for the first 1/4 miles before turning left onto Iron Works Pike, then left on Mt. Horeb Pike. Runners will do a long out and back on Mt. Horeb Pike and then return to Iron Works and then onto the Legacy Trail to the finish line.
There will be 8 hydration stations along the 13.1 mile course. Hydration stations will be spaced about 1.75 miles apart and serve water and SWORD hydration in small cups. There will be 2 portable restrooms at each hydration station. The elevation change for the half marathon is 570 feet.
Our 2024 Horse Cap shirt is a long sleeved Greenlayer brand tech shirt. These are very comfortable and a favorite among our runners. We have the shirts available in women's sizes (XS-2XL) and men's sizes (S-3XL) while supplies last.
The shirt color will be determined soon. The picture shown is the 2023 race shirt.
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