Horse Capital Marathon & Half Marathon
About this race
Come Run With The Horses in Lexington in our 12th Annual Horse Cap!
Join us on Saturday, April 10, 2027, for the 12th 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
- Performance/tech shirts (Men's and Women's cut/sizing)
- Custom finisher's medals
- Kentucky Horse Country inspired awards
- Post Race Stretching
- Free Race Photos - 2 Photographers
- 19 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, 4/8 FROM 3-6PM at J&H Outdoors (189 Moore Drive, Lexington, KY 40503)
- FRIDAY, 4/9 FROM 2-6PM at J&H Outdoors (189 Moore Drive, Lexington, KY 40503)
- SATURDAY (race day), 4/10 FROM 6:00-7:15AM 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 12th 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 (1300 elevation, 19 hydration stations)
HALF MARATHON (13.1) ROUTE (600 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 Racetrack 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 which is 1/3rd mile EAST of the KY Horse Park Main Entrance.
Pick your distance
Running
Marathon
Marathon (26.2 miles) on rolling, scenic country roads, passing some 50+ horse farms. Pace limit of 14 minute 30 second/mile (6 hour). All participants receive a commemorative performance/tech shirt and finisher's medal.
Half Marathon
Half Marathon (13.1 miles) on rolling, scenic country roads. Walkers welcomed for the half marathon. All participants receive a commemorative performance/tech shirt and finisher's medal.
Race Volunteer
We have volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups. If you aren't running, consider donating your time and energy to help make our race a great experience for our runners and walkers. Got a question about volunteering? Email BobBaney12@gmail.com
Virtual Runner/Walker
An opportunity to participate virtually and earn your commemorative race shirt, bib and finisher's medal for doing either the half marathon or full marathon distance. We will mail your packet to you (shipping included in registration fee ($60). You'll have the opportunity to log your time or completion of your virtual Horse Cap 13.1 or 26.2 race online.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 12 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Lexington, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 7:09 AM and sets at 8:09 PM local time (EDT) in Lexington on April 10, 2027 — 12h 59m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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Results — Horse Capital Marathon & Half Marathon
Other races near Lexington
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
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Monster Mash & Dash 5K Glow Run
The Running Pumpkin
Miles For Medicine 5K Run/Walk
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Lexington
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Lexington 5K Races 38 races
- 10K Run Events in Lexington 8 races
- Lexington Half Marathons 3 races
- Marathons in Lexington 2 races
- Lexington Running Calendar 2026 63 races
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 67 Lexington events
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