Horse Capital Marathon & Half Marathon
Organizer's Description
Come Run With The Horses in Lexington in our 11th Annual Horse Cap!
Join us on Saturday, April 11, 2026, for the 11th 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. You will never be out of sight of a horse farm!
RACE FEATURES
- Scenic country course passing by 50+ Central Kentucky Horse Farms
- Long sleeved performance/tech shirts
- Custom finisher's medals
- Kentucky Horse Country inspired awards
- Post Race Stretching
- Free Race Photos - 2 Photographers
- 17 Hydration Stations serving water and electrolyte drink (8 stations on half)
- Race Pacers (Thanks ForWord Running)
- Convenient location to I-75/64 with 8 Hotels within 3 miles of Start/Finish
- Virtual option for those who can't join the race in person
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/mile pace or better to complete the race in time.
PACKET PICKUP OPPORTUNITIES
- THURSDAY, 4/9 FROM 3-6PM at J&H Outdoors (189 Moore Drive, Lexington, KY 40503)
- FRIDAY, 4/10 FROM 2-6PM at J&H Outdoors (189 Moore Drive, Lexington, KY 40503)
- SATURDAY (race day), 4/11 FROM 6:15-7:15AM at the KY Horse Park Campground Area (race venue) - This PPU is only for out of town, out of state runners
Pick up for family/friends is fine and encouraged. The more that can pick up on Thursday/Friday the better. No credentials or ID necessary.
All in-person and virtual participants will receive a 11th Annual commemorative performance/technical shirts and finishers' medals and a run through 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)
GPS ADDRESS FOR THE RACE: 3785 Campground Road, Lexington, KY 40511 (It is NOT 4089 Iron Works Parkway - This address will take you to the KY Horse Park). We are not holding the race inside of the KY Horse Park.
