Lexington horse farms

The Red Mile

HarnessQuarter Horse
Official site ↗Directions ↗Hotels nearby ↗

The Red Mile is a harness and quarter horse racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky. It opened in 1875, making it 151 years old in 2026. It races on a 1-mile red clay harness oval.

Its signature race is the Kentucky Futurity.

First raced over on September 28, 1875, it is the second-oldest harness track in the world and hosts the Kentucky Futurity, a leg of the trotting Triple Crown.

Track facts

Location
Lexington, Kentucky
Racing
Harness, Quarter Horse
Track
1-mile red clay harness oval
Opened
1875
Racing season
Late July to mid-October (harness); spring Quarter Horse meet 2023–2025
Operator
Lexington Trots Breeders Association

Signature races at The Red Mile

Race day

When to go. Live racing runs late July to mid-October (harness); spring Quarter Horse meet 2023–2025. Check the official site for post times and the current stakes schedule.

The view. Our illustration shows Lexington horse farms in the background.

Getting there. Directions to The Red Mile and parking nearby.

Plan your trip to The Red Mile

Hotels near The Red MileBook a stay for race day on ExpediaRace schedule & post timesLive racing dates and stakesParkingLots near the trackDirectionsMap to The Red MileTours & things to do in LexingtonSightseeing, tours and more on ExpediaFood & drinks nearbySpots to eat before or after the races

Tracks near The Red Mile10

  1. 1ThoroughbredKeeneland — Blue Grass Stakes (Lexington, Kentucky)same city
  2. 2ThoroughbredTurfway Park — Jeff Ruby Steaks (Florence, Kentucky)68 mi
  3. 3ThoroughbredChurchill Downs — Kentucky Derby (Louisville, Kentucky)69 mi
  4. 4ThoroughbredBelterra Park — Cradle Stakes (Cincinnati, Ohio)72 mi
  5. 5HarnessCumberland Run — Kentucky Sires Stakes (Corbin, Kentucky)79 mi
  6. 6HarnessMiami Valley Raceway — Harness racing (Lebanon, Ohio)97 mi
  7. 7Quarter HorseSandy Ridge Racetrack — BOCO Futurity (Ashland, Kentucky)102 mi
  8. 8HarnessHollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway — Dayton Pacing Derby (Dayton, Ohio)118 mi
  9. 9ThoroughbredHorseshoe Indianapolis — Indiana Derby (Shelbyville, Indiana)128 mi
  10. 10ThoroughbredKentucky Downs — Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint (Franklin, Kentucky)148 mi

Questions about The Red Mile

Where is The Red Mile?

The Red Mile is in Lexington, Kentucky.

What kind of racing is at The Red Mile?

The Red Mile hosts harness and quarter horse racing. Live racing runs late July to mid-October (harness); spring Quarter Horse meet 2023–2025.

When did The Red Mile open?

The Red Mile opened in 1875.

What is the biggest race at The Red Mile?

The signature race at The Red Mile is the Kentucky Futurity.

What other racetracks are near The Red Mile?

The closest is Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, about 5 miles away. See the full list of nearby tracks on this page.

Facts are for the 2026 racing season. Distances are straight-line miles. The illustration is original artwork, not a photo. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your track? Get the “Listed on HorsetrackAtlas.com” badge for your website.