Thanksgiving Day: the Thoroughbred Classic 5K
Bluegrass Runners' 43rd Thoroughbred Classic 5K starts at 9 am on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026, with the start and finish near Barn 2 at Keeneland, 4201 Versailles Road. The whole course is paved road inside Keeneland's grounds and is closed to traffic, and spectators can cheer a short walk from the parking areas near Gate 2. Registration on RunSignup is $45 for ages 10 and up and $45 for the 9 and under entry, plus RunSignup's fee, and the price rises after November 25, 2026 at 11:59 pm; there are no refunds. Every finisher aged 1 to 9 gets a turkey medal. Strollers and dogs need a $5 untimed bib each and start at the back, with no retractable leashes.
Thoroughbred Classic packet pickup
Early packet pickup is Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25, 2026, 2 to 6 pm, at Keeneland. The race's own site says Barn 2 and its RunSignup page says Barn 1, so check the signs when you arrive. Race day pickup opens at 7:30 am, and the race asks you to arrive at least an hour early to avoid traffic and parking delays. There is no pickup after the start.
The weekend before: the Gobbler and the Southern Lights Stroll
The 11th Gobbler Half Marathon, 10K and 5K starts at 8:30 am on Sunday, November 22, 2026 at Mereworth Farm, 719 Dolan Lane. When read, the half marathon was $93 with 29 spots left, the 10K $65 with 48 left and the 5K $49 with 49 left, and online registration ends November 22, 2026 at 8:30 am. Walkers and strollers are welcome in the 10K and 5K, dogs are not allowed because the farm has horses, and the half has a 15-minute-mile limit. Early packet pickup is at J&H Running Company, 197 Moore Drive, on November 19 (5 to 7 pm), November 20 (4 to 6 pm) and November 21 (1 to 4 pm), with limited race day pickup 7:15 to 8:30 am. The Southern Lights Stroll at the Kentucky Horse Park, 4089 Iron Works Pike, is Saturday, November 21, 2026: the timed 5K starts at 5:30 pm in front of the Visitors Center ($40 for ages 13 and up) and the untimed stroll at 6 pm ($35), with everyone on the course by 8 pm. Kids 12 and under run or stroll free, a race shirt costs extra for them, and leashed dogs are welcome. Packet pickup is at the Visitor Information Center November 19 and 20, 4:30 to 7 pm, and from 4 pm on race day.
December: the Reindeer Ramble
The YMCA's 20th Reindeer Ramble 5K run and walk is Saturday, December 12, 2026 at 10 am at Keeneland, 4201 Versailles Road, with parking through the Gate 2 entrance; holiday sweaters and Santa suits are encouraged. The fee was $32 through November 8; it is $37 from November 9 to 29 and $40 from November 30 to race day. Packet pickup is Friday, December 11 at the Whitaker Family YMCA, 2681 Old Rosebud Road, 9 am to 1 pm and 4 to 6:15 pm, and race morning at Keeneland from 8:30 am.
Kids' fun runs
The city's free Castlewood Youth Turkey Run at Castlewood Community Center, 201 Castlewood Drive, is open to anyone under 18, with three age groups (6 to 10, 11 to 13 and 14 to 17), each racing 1 mile or less, and turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner as prizes. Register on race day from 9 to 9:30 am; races start at 9:45 am. The Thoroughbred Classic's 9 and under entry and the Southern Lights Stroll's free kids' entry are the other children's options above.
Worth the drive
The Kiwanis Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk was Saturday, November 7, 2026 at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 3501 Lexington Road, Harrodsburg: registration opened at 8:30 am, the 5K started at 9:30 am and a kids' fun run followed at 10:30 am. Entry was $30, online registration ended November 7 at 9:15 am, every 5K runner got a free Shaker Village day pass and dogs were welcome. The Huntertown Turkey Trot Fun Run in Versailles is Saturday, November 21, 2026, 11 am to 1 pm: two laps of a mowed grass one-mile loop in Huntertown Community Interpretive Park, 1546 Huntertown Road, starting and ending at the historical marker, for $25, with registration open until November 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm.
What these pages don't say
The city's Castlewood page heads the run Saturday, November 14, 2026 but says registration is on the day of the races, November 22, under a weekday that does not match: November 22, 2026 is a Sunday, so call Castlewood Community Center before you go. None of these race pages lists road closures outside the race grounds, and the Thoroughbred Classic's page links a 2025 course map. The Gobbler's spots and every price here can change after this read.
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Official sources for this guide
- Thoroughbred Classic 5K (leaves Around Lex)
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- Thoroughbred Classic: FAQs (leaves Around Lex)
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- RunSignup: register for the Thoroughbred Classic (leaves Around Lex)
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- RunSignup: The Gobbler (leaves Around Lex)
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- RunSignup: Southern Lights Stroll 5K (leaves Around Lex)
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- RunSignup: Reindeer Ramble 5K (leaves Around Lex)
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- City of Lexington: Castlewood Youth Turkey Run (leaves Around Lex)
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- RunSignup: Kiwanis Turkey Trot 5K (leaves Around Lex)
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- RunSignup: Huntertown Turkey Trot (leaves Around Lex)
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