Jeffrey Scott Holland: Hamburg’s horse cemetery one of last vestiges of days as farm

Story and photos by Jeffrey Scott Holland

In the midst of all the exciting shopping going on at Lexington’s Hamburg Pavilion, you might be puzzled to catch a glimpse of this horseshoe-shaped graveyard on Sir Barton Way, headed out toward Winchester Road.

It’s the Hamburg Place Horse Cemetery, one of the last vestiges of the olden days when the area was a horse farm with nothing but rolling fields and picket fences in all directions. But today the graves, which were once inaccessible to the general public, can be viewed by anyone who wants to pull over and visit. I wish all Derby horses would be given this same show of respect.

The cemetery began in 1908 when the farm’s founder John Madden began giving his most prized broodmares, stallions and trotting horses a decent burial with a headstone, just as one would a human being. Many years later, Madden’s grandson Preston continued the family tradition and interred several thoroughbreds here in the 1970s. The cemetery is one of the oldest dedicated to racehorses in North America.

Among the celebrity horses found here:

Bel Sheba — Best known as the dam of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, Alysheba, Bel Sheba also ran 22 races of her own. She was trained by Hall of Fame jockey and trainer A.P. “Paddy” Smithwick and placed third in the 1972 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga.

Plaudit — Winner of the 1898 Kentucky Derby with Willie Simms as jockey, Plaudit won four of his eight races and finished second in the other four, including the Latonia Derby. He was descended from the English Triple Crown champion, West Australian. After his retirement to stud in 1899, Plaudit lived another 20 years before passing away in 1919.

Nancy Hanks — Of all the horses interred here, Nancy Hanks gets the most deluxe marker with a lovely statue. Named after Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks never ran in a Derby but did break a world record for trotting a mile in 2 minutes and 4 seconds, which was a major feat in 1892.

It’s Madden himself, however, who gets perhaps the fanciest treatment of all. There’s an upright pedestal bearing a bust of his likeness. Contrary to popular belief, this is not Madden’s grave; it’s just a tribute. Madden, who died in 1929, is actually buried in Calvary Cemetery.

Take a moment and pay your respects to these fine equine Kentuckians the next time you find yourself driving out that way. The cemetery is on the distant end of Sir Barton Way, near the Lowe’s parking lot. (And with Culver’s, Johnny Carino’s and Stuarto’s Olive Oil Company out in Hamburg, why wouldn’t you?)

Jeffrey Scott Holland is a native Kentuckian, painter, writer, actor, musician, paralegal — and interested in all things. He joins a growing stable of talented, interesting regular columnists for KyForward, bringing his gift of a well-turned phrase, quirkiness and humor to entertain and enlighten — and sometimes provoke — our readers. He can always be reached at any time, by anyone on the planet, at jshpaint@gmail.com.