Horse Capital Marathon & Half Marathon

🐎 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 course: Scenic country course passing by 50+ Central Kentucky Horse Farms
• Shirts: Long sleeved performance/tech shirts
• Finisher's medals: Custom finisher's medals
• Awards: Kentucky Horse Country inspired awards
• Post Race: Post Race Stretching
• Photos: Free Race Photos - 2 Photographers
• Hydration Stations: 17 Hydration Stations serving water and electrolyte drink (8 stations on half)
• Pacers: Race Pacers (Thanks ForWord Running)
• Location: Convenient location to I-75/64 with 8 Hotels within 3 miles of Start/Finish
• Virtual option: Virtual option for those who can't join the race in person

🏁 Race Day Details

Our race will start at 7:30 am 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 7:30 am 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: 3-6 PM at J&H Outdoors (189 Moore Drive, Lexington, KY 40503)
• Friday, 4/10: 2-6 PM at J&H Outdoors (189 Moore Drive, Lexington, KY 40503)
• Saturday (race day), 4/11: 6:15-7:15 AM at the KY Horse Park Campground Area (race venue)

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.

🏆 Participation and Charity

All in-person and virtual participants will receive an 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.

Also, please follow us on FACEBOOK

🗺️ Routes and Nearby Hotels

For the routes, you can find the following:

• 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. 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.

For more information, visit our [race page](https://runsignup.com/Race/KY/Lexington/HorseCapitalMarathonHalfMarathon?aflt_token=QZt1KFBDIiIun5smo9vi7y59qq2fNLcB).