Column by Timothy Kroboth

As a National Student Exchange student from Winthrop, a small public university in South Carolina, I want to explore beyond the UK classroom and discover what makes Kentucky the unique state that it is.

In getting the most out of participating in NSE, I have taken advice from fellow NSE student Taryn Pachuca, an elementary and bilingual education Spanish and linguistics senior from New Mexico State University.

“Go do silly, touristy things, eat the local foods and really become engaged in the culture which surrounds you,” Pachuca suggested.

An experienced UK student had likewise advised me to take advantage of a local cultural attraction. During a K Week event back in August, men’s basketball senior Mark Krebs offered his opinion that UK students should visit Keeneland race track at least once during their time in Lexington.

“Dress up and make a day of it,” Krebs said.

Before coming to UK, I knew of Lexington’s reputation as the “Horse Capital of the World,” and I was eager to experience Kentucky’s thoroughbred culture. In the Carolinas, I had watched Triple Crown races on TV and had become familiar with several Keeneland jockeys, including Calvin Borel and Kent Desormeaux, but I wanted to experience the atmosphere of a well-known horse track for myself.

So, on a gorgeous October afternoon, I joined several friends and went to Keeneland.  As we arrived, I could not help but marvel at Keeneland’s picturesque setting with its trees drenched in autumn color.

As my friends and I made our way from the car to the track itself, I overheard a fellow Keeneland enthusiast tell his buddy, “I am going to pay the bills with my winnings today.” Being a first-time visitor to a horse track, I was less confident in my betting skills.

A race was about to commence when we strolled into the trackside bleachers. “Which one are you picking?” I was asked. Quickly glancing at my program, I cluelessly replied, “Uh, the one with the checkmark.” Beginner’s luck was on my side. My checkmark choice was proven right as Rock Hard Candy crossed the finish line first.

I was informed there are more educated methods for predicting winners at Keeneland.  Between races, I walked out to the saddling paddock behind the grandstands, where spectators were scrutinizing horses about to enter the track.

People-watching was equally entertaining as I observed the fans gathering for a quick look at the thoroughbreds before placing their wagers. The diverse array of individuals that had assembled at Keeneland amazed me.

“People come here from around the world for the horse racing,” my friend said.

Sadly, I returned home from my day at the races without having correctly predicted another winning thoroughbred. But overall, observing the workings of a well-known horse track on race day was a fun-filled cultural fieldtrip. Horse racing had finally come alive for me.

If you have not yet been to Keeneland, I highly recommend you go next April during the spring season, but Keeneland is not the only Kentucky locale I recommend to UK students.

Why not visit Red River Gorge, Henry Clay’s Ashland estate or even the UK Art Museum? Although avid hikers and rock-climbers may readily assent to the Red River Gorge suggestion, I suspect you think voluntarily going to Ashland or the UK Art Museum is ridiculous. But how is it so absurd?

Given that most college students visit historical sites and museums when they study abroad, why should UK students limit cultural exploration to Keeneland? Is being in a foreign country a prerequisite for cultural educational experiences?

Education is supposed to prepare us for the world ahead, but how can we understand our world if we do not expand our education beyond the classroom? At Winthrop University, classroom credits are no longer enough to earn a degree. Winthrop now requires all graduates to have at least 18 approved cultural experiences.

I am not advocating that UK add to its degree requirements: I do not want to become the least popular student on campus. However, can information learned outside the classroom not be just as valuable as class notes memorized and quickly forgotten after an exam?

Kentucky offers diverse opportunities to expand our cultural understanding. Let’s take advantage.