Horses or Housing? Lexington\u27s Fight to Save the Horse Industry and House its Low-Income Community

Abstract

Kentucky has a long and nuanced history with horseracing–one of its most impactful heritage industries. The equine industry is so integral in Kentucky that Lexington, one of the state’s largest cities, is deemed the “Horse Capital of the World.” Some of the best racehorses in the world were bred in Lexington, including American Pharoah and Secretariat. Kentucky has had racetracks since the late 1700s, around the same time as its founding, but Kentucky’s heritage industry does not stop there; it also includes the equine sales industry and equine veterinary care. Because this heritage industry is such an intrinsic part of Kentucky’s history and its future, protecting this heritage industry is an important goal for lawmakers and citizens all over Kentucky