Happy Birthday Kentucky!

Happy Birthday to the great Commonwealth of Kentucky, admitted to the United States of America on June 1, 1792!

In 1792, after nine conventions to discuss the separation, Kentucky was made a separate state and was admitted to the Union as the fifteenth state. Isaac Shelby was chosen as the first governor. Kentucky’s first constitution was drafted in April and May of that year (the constitution was rewritten in 1800, and again in 1850 and 1891), and Frankfort was chosen to be the site of the state capital.

When the Civil War erupted in 1861, Kentucky was torn apart by conflicting loyalties. Officially a neutral state, brother often fought against brother as Kentucky supplied approximately 100,000 troops to the North and 40,000 troops to the South. Ironically, Kentucky was the birthplace of the Union president, Abraham Lincoln, and the Confederate president, Jefferson Davis. The two great men were born in log cabins within one year and 100 miles of each other. Kentucky’s strategic potential was recognized by both sides in the conflict, and several bloody engagements and many guerrilla raids occurred throughout the state. The most violent battle took place near Perryville in 1862.

On this date, we celebrate excellence in thoroughbred horses, horse racing, bluegrass music and college basketball…