Racehorse Themed Grave

I saw this stunning gravestone with a statue of a racehorse and jockey in the Rose Crest Cemetery, Versailles.

At first I assumed that the gentleman must have been involved in horse racing himself, but I found his obituary online and that's seemingly not the case. Apparently he just loved horses, which is one of the best things that can be said about any man.

Masonic Grave Wreath

Spotted in the Rose Crest Cemetery on the outskirts of Versailles, this is the first Masonic grave wreath I can recall having ever seen.

World Equestrian Games

One from our Transylvania Gentlemen blog:


You've seen it advance-hawked on the big sign on I-64 for years now, and at last it's finally here: the World Equestrian Games opens in Kentucky on September 25.

My fellow Irishmen Ronan Tynan and Muhammad Ali will be on hand, as well as the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Cherryholmes. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, will also be there (he owns Gainsborough Farms in Versailles, KY and the global breeding operation Darley.)

But what I really want to know is, will noted equestrian and Kentucky horse farm owner William Shatner be there? (That's Bill pictured above, with his saddlebred horse All Glory.)

I'm gonna be there in the cheap seats. Want to hang out? Find me.

Castle Post

A friend just emailed me some new photos in and around the newly-restored Castle Post (that's the new official name for the old castle in the Pisgah/Versailles area that has been previously referred to as the Martin Castle and the Pisgah Castle). It's been lavishly updated into the mother of all bed-and-breakfasts.



Looks super-impressive indeed, but at $1000 a night, I don't think I'll be lodging there anytime soon. Maybe the JSH Combo can wrangle a lounge-act gig there and we can worm our way into the secret fortress as hired help, Nick Nightingale style.

Versailles Cemetery Vandalized

This past Tuesday night, unknown vandals, continuing the rash of cemetery desecration that's been going on around the state lately, knocked over 152 headstones in Versailles Cemetery. This is the biggest single instance of vandalism to a cemetery that I've ever heard of, in all my years of gravewatching.

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader:

Versailles police continue to seek clues about those responsible, and have offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to their arrest and conviction. Felony charges are possible including institutional vandalism, said police spokesman Pat Melton. The cemetery is owned by the city of Versailles.

The cemetery gates were locked, so it appeared the vandals jumped a 4-foot rock wall, Melton said. Cemetery manager Terry Brown said he was shocked by the extent of the damage.

"I've been here 20 years. I've never seen anything like this," Brown said. "I think there probably had to be three or four or five people, because some of the stones are quite large."

Pisgah

Pisgah is a very small spot on the map on Highway 60 between Versailles and Lexington, but there’s a lot of Kentuckiana of note here:

Happy Chandler is buried at the local Pisgah cemetery, William Shatner’s horse farm is nearby, and one of my favorite donut places in the entire universe - Doughdaddy’s - is located right next door. (Shatner donut-run sightings are rampant, not surprisingly).


But what most people are drawn here for is the famous castle overlooking Versailles Road. Known for years as “The Martin Castle,” it sat abandoned for decades and was long the subject of myth and speculation regarding its purpose and its reclusive creator, who died a few years back. Although temporarily set back by a fire, the new owner is renovating it and hopefully soon we’ll be able to do more than just peer at it through the majestic front gates and wonder.

And hey, if you find yourselves underwhelmed by all this excitement, don’t forget Keeneland racetrack is just minutes away from here as well.

Dairy Queen Monster Feet

This pair of tridactyl feet made of cement fascinated me for years and has been the subject of much speculation, much like the mystery four-toed stone foot on ABC's Lost. Whatever this statue was, it once stood in front of the Dairy Queen in Versailles, KY. Now even the base with the feet are gone, leaving only this photo and many unanswered questions, not the least of which is, who was this Elmer?