A Town Born on the Railroad, Shaped by Horses
Midway began as Kentucky’s very first railroad town, named after its midway location between Lexington and Frankfort, as well as Versailles and Georgetown. That practical geographic logic gave the town its identity, and over the following two centuries, horses gave it its soul. Midway is a beautiful, historic small community within Woodford County, and the trains still run through town daily.
Halfway between Lexington and Frankfort, Midway feels like a place time forgot in the best way possible. With its single, charming Main Street running parallel to an active railroad, the town captures the nostalgia and timelessness that many historic towns only aspire to. The result is a town that manages to feel both lived-in and quietly extraordinary.
The Bluegrass Landscape That Makes It All Possible
At the heart of Kentucky’s Horse Country lies the Bluegrass region, named for the unique blue-tinted grass that thrives in its rich soil. That soil is the secret ingredient. Land in Midway is prized for its high levels of phosphorus, which is a key ingredient in most fertilizers and instrumental to the natural development of plants. Those who are interested in commercial agriculture will find the land naturally rich in the minerals needed for a successful crop, and these same factors make the community ideal for horse farming because the mineral-rich waters and soils ensure that horses have access to lush grazing pastures.
The Woodford County landscape is dotted with rolling hills and classic three-board fencing that have become synonymous with Kentucky. It’s the kind of scenery that stops you mid-conversation.
Airdrie Stud: 2,500 Acres of Living History
Airdrie Stud consists of more than 2,500 acres primarily on Old Frankfort Pike, near Midway, Kentucky. Much of that land is part of the famed Woodburn Stud, considered the birthplace of Kentucky’s Thoroughbred industry, and is home to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage. Visiting Airdrie is as close as most of us will ever get to standing inside a living chapter of American racing history…