Lawrence's words seem appropriate to introduce this section on Kentucky's most prized animal. Lexington and its surrounding areas comprise the most renowned and most concentrated horse-breeding grounds in the world. Kentucky each year is responsible for the production of more thoroughbreds than any other state, and Lexington itself is Thoroughbred Central. Visitors from all over flock to the Bluegrass to drive past rolling, picturesque horse farms, visit the Kentucky Horse Park, bet on races and enjoy other equine attractions.

The horse has a long and glorious history within the state's borders, having been brought by settlers in the late 18th century. A Fayette County census in 1789 recorded an equine population of 9,607, compared with a human population of only 9,000. Even back then, horses were used for racing as well as for more mundane tasks, such as farm work and war. There is historical record of three-day race meetings being held in 1791. The first Jockey Club in the state was formed at a local tavern in 1797.

The glamorous thoroughbred, star of the most spectacular and most hyped 2 minutes in sports, gets most of the attention. But, however much we associate this sleek horse with the Bluegrass, it was developed more than 300 years ago by Europeans who bred their own horses with a trio of Arabian stallions. The only breed of horse native to Kentucky is the American saddle horse, a sturdy and spirited breed that originated in the 19th century as a direct descendant of a horse named Denmark, a thoroughbred who was in Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan's cavalry.

You might be surprised to find that the thoroughbred is not the most abundant horse in Kentucky. An equine census conducted by The American Horse Council Foundation in 1987 found 36,000 quarter horses to 32,000 thoroughbreds. Next, in descending order, came Arabians, saddlebreds and standardbreds. While those numbers, the most recent available, have undoubtedly changed, a 1996 study prepared for the foundation sheds additional light on the horse industry in Kentucky. That study, "The Economic Impact of the Horse Industry in the United States," found that out of 150,000 active horses in the state, 67,000 were used for racing, 37,000 for recreation, 32,000 for showing and 15,000 for other uses. Additionally, the study found, the state horse industry produces $1.2 billion in annual goods and services and involves 128,800 Kentuckians as horse owners, service providers, employees and volunteers. This figure includes 16,600 full-time equivalent jobs.

Even without the presence of the thoroughbred, horses would play a highly visible role in Lexington's economy, its culture and its day-to-day life.

For example, in Lexington you can:

• Bet on standardbreds at The Red Mile, the fastest harness racing track in the world.

• Take a romantic horse-drawn carriage tour through the center of town.

• Go horseback riding.

• Watch or participate in steeplechases, polo matches, Three Day Events and horse shows.

• See mounted police patrolling downtown streets.

Other locally prominent breeds of horses are the Morgan, the Tennessee walking horse, the Appaloosa and a variety of show horses, work horses and ponies. At the Kentucky Horse Park, you're likely to see, depending on the occasion, such diverse breeds as Lipizanners and miniature horses.

But, without a doubt, it is the thoroughbreds -- and the farms where they are bred and raised -- that most visitors have come here to see. They are the horses that bring the big money into town. Should you and your bank account be so inclined, you might plunk down several million dollars for a horse as some of the richest and most glamorous people in the Bluegrass, the world (Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum and his brothers from oil-rich Dubai) and even the galaxy (Star Trek star William Shatner, who owns a farm in Woodford County) look on.

The Bluegrass thoroughbred is recognized and cherished worldwide for its beauty, speed and stamina. The plentiful calcium and phosphorous in the limestone deposits that feed the soil apparently help the horses develop strong skeletons perfectly suited for the strenuous sport of racing. The land itself -- rolling, firm, well-drained -- is ideal for training. As producing fine wines seems to come naturally to the people of France, so it is with breeding fine thoroughbreds for the people in and around Lexington. There must be something in the water indeed.

No wonder those with the wherewithal to do so are willing to pay dearly for these animals. Shakespeare, taken out of context, might have been referring to the Keeneland or Fasig-Tipton thoroughbred auctions when he wrote in King Richard III: "A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!" When you look at the top thoroughbred prices, including a world record $13.1 million paid for a son of Nijinsky II and My Charmer in 1985, you begin to think that many kingdoms probably have been exchanged for the opportunity to achieve track immortality with one of these regal beasts.

When your horses are worth that much, you do whatever you can to keep them healthy. To that end, the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center was opened on the University of Kentucky campus in 1987. This center, acknowledged as the finest equine research facility in the country, has resulted in a number of discoveries related to vaccination and disease control, blood testing and breeding efficiency.

Look up "Horse Farms" in the Lexington Yellow Pages, and you will find more than 150 entries, thoroughbred as well as standardbred and saddlebred. The names of the famous ones, of which there are many, trip off the tongue. Calumet (ever notice how much that sounds like Camelot?), the first horse farm that people generally see when they fly into Lexington. Airdrie Stud. Castleton. Claiborne. Darby Dan. Domino Stud. Elmendorf. Gainesway. Hamburg Place, long known for its horses as well as its extravagant pre-Derby parties. Lane's End, where Queen Elizabeth II stays when she visits Central Kentucky. Overbrook. Stoner Creek Stud. Taylor Made. Three Chimneys. Walmac International. The list goes on and on.

Calumet, which in 1991 was bankrupt and at risk of being auctioned off in parcels, was rescued from such an inglorious fate by Henryk de Kwiatkowski, a Polish-born aviation executive. De Kwiatkowski -- who paid $17 million for the farm plus $250,000 for the right to use the name and logo -- vowed not only to refrain from changing the character of the storied farm but also to return Calumet to its glory days. This is a farm, after all, that has bred nine Kentucky Derby winners, including Whirlaway (1941), Citation (1948) and Strike the Gold (1991); eight of them were foaled in the same barn.

Seventy-five percent of the Kentucky Derby winners have been foaled in Kentucky. So were the first six winners -- and eight of 11 total -- of the elusive Triple Crown, which consists of the Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. In light of such impressive pedigrees, it's only natural that Lexington be entrusted with the sacred American Stud Book, a register of all thoroughbreds foaled in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The computerized database, maintained by the Lexington office of The Jockey Club, contains the names of more than 2 million horses tracing back to the late 1800s. It also contains results of every thoroughbred race in North America, plus pedigree and racing data from around the world.

For years, during the 1930s, the Lexington Herald had a standing offer to give subscribers free papers on any day that no horse bred within a 50-mile radius of Lexington won a race at any major track. At that time, there would be periods during the year when only one track in the country would be running, which greatly increased the odds that no Kentucky horse would win on a particular day. But no one can remember it ever happening.

That a newspaper would even make such an offer is indicative of the pride many Central Kentuckians feel in being able to live in such a special place. You don't have to be involved in the horse industry to feel it.

Of course, lots of people are attracted to the racing scene simply because it provides a fabulous excuse for a party. In the Bluegrass you will find, especially around Derby time, some of the most extravagant parties anywhere, where beautiful people in tuxedos and glittering evening gowns mingle and champagne flows freely. Anita Madden's annual Derby Eve blowout at Hamburg Place in Lexington is perhaps the grandest of them all. Should you rate as a "somebody" important enough to merit an invitation to one of these gala events (so far, we haven't), you may find yourself rubbing elbows with famous actors and actresses, rock stars, sports legends or perhaps even a president or two.

Elsewhere, we "regular" people hold our own Derby celebrations, which, while substantially less stylish, are characterized by no less enthusiasm. Most of us tend to steer clear of Churchill Downs itself on the first Saturday in May, but we can make a day-long party out of the 2-minute race on our televisions.

Then there are the brave souls who do travel to Louisville to experience the Derby amid that strange world known as the infield. On the big day, the area inside the track is packed with humans, a sizable percentage of whom are of the "party animal" species. They will tell you that it is entirely possible to attend the Run for the Roses without ever seeing an actual horse. Some have their vision obscured simply because they are surrounded by taller people and are a prohibitive distance from the action on the track. Others have theirs obscured by perhaps a few too many mint juleps. This is not advisable.