March 15, 2025
The Concorde lands at Blue Grass Airport, 1989
They watched from rooftops and shopping mall parking lots, lined Lexington roadsides and packed Blue Grass Airport. A crowd estimated at 3,500 to 5,000 gathered in and around the airport on Aug. 9, 1989, to watch the first Lexington landing of the world’s fastest airliner, the Concorde SST.
Travel Agents International, a Lexington agency, arranged the promotional flight from New York to Lexington. The 100-seat plane carried 24 people, 14 of whom were from Lexington. The 10-person crew served peanuts, champagne and wet towels during the 85-minute flight.
The supersonic jet reached speeds in excess of 1,300 mph on trans-Atlantic flights. It was so fast that it expanded and became longer during supersonic flights. The windows were only about 6 inches by 8 inches — so they could withstand the intense heat and pressure at the Concorde’s top speed and altitude. At the time, the plane was not permitted to fly at supersonic speeds over the United States because of the thunderous boom that results.
The Concorde began service in 1976 and retired in 2003 because of low passenger numbers after a July 2000 crash in France that killed all 109 on board and four people on the ground.
The Concorde touched down at Blue Grass Airport on Aug. 9, 1989. This Concorde was the last of only 20 ever built. The airliner was much narrower than most other jets: 91/2 feet across, with two gray bucket seats on each side of the aisle. Passengers could not easily see the graceful finlike wings from the small windows. Photo by Frank Anderson | staff
Vehicles parked and double-parked along Versailles Road to get a glimpse of the Concorde. “There he is,” somebody cried as the plane came into view. Heads turned in unison as it swung around the city at 3,000 feet. As it arced, the Concorde was barely recognizable for a while. Then it made a 180-degree turn and came in low. It zoomed over Versailles Road to the applause of the crowd. Photo by David Perry | staff
All passengers aboard the flight were invited into the cockpit, including Joan Owens of Lexington. Photo by Charles Bertram | staff
Churchill Downs, 1983
Aerial view of Churchill Downs just after Sunny’s Halo won the Kentucky Derby, May 7, 1983. 134,444 people were in attendance to see Sunny’s Halo take the lead on the backstretch and finish with a two-length victory. Photo by Steve Lowry
Derby Day, 1976
The view from behind the clubhouse of the Churchill Downs garden on Derby Day, May 1, 1976. The paddock can be seen toward the upper right. Ten years later, Churchill Downs, in the midst of a $25 million renovation, opened its fall meet with a $2.6 million paddock-toteboard complex behind the clubhouse that is used today. The renovation included 20 red oak-paneled stalls in a saddling center. The old paddock was converted into a pavilion with a seating area. The improvements were intended to make the track more competitive with other tracks and forms of entertainment, and more attractive for television coverage. In the old paddock, not all of the horses could always be seen. Today, the garden includes a statue of jockey Pat Day and one of Aristides, the horse that won the first Run for the Roses in 1875. Photo by Ron Garrison | Staff
Madden Derby Eve Party, 1980
Renowned Lexington Derby party hostess Anita Madden, right, was joined by Las Vegas designer Suzy Creamcheese before Madden’s Derby Eve party on May 2, 1980. Suzy Creamcheese designed many of Madden’s elaborate gowns. Photo by E. Martin Jessee | Staff
Howard Cosell at the Kentucky Derby, 1984
ABC Sports broadcaster Howard Cosell waited for the Kentucky Derby to start on May 5, 1984. The legendary sportscaster worked 11 consecutive Derbys (1975 to 1985) during his 40-year broadcasting career. Cosell died in 1995 at age 77. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Bob Hope in Lexington, 1953
Comedian, actor and singer Bob Hope was greeted by former Kentucky Gov. Happy Chandler on May 1, 1953, at Blue Grass Field in Lexington. Staff file photo
Kentucky basketball’s first starting five in Rupp Arena, 1976
The starting five for the University of Kentucky basketball team’s first game in Rupp Arena on Nov. 27, 1976. From left, Rick Robey, Larry Johnson, Jay Shidler, Jack Givens and Mike Phillips. Phillips, one of the “twin towers” on UK’s 1978 national championship team, died April 25, 2015. Photo by E. Martin Jessee | Staff
Lexington’s first White Castle restaurant, 1980
Crowds lined up inside and stretched out the door when Lexington’s first White Castle restaurant opened on Dec. 1, 1980. One day shortly after its opening, the restaurant at New Circle and Bryan Station roads sold 47,000 hamburgers — at 26 cents a piece. Almost exactly one year later, a second White Castle opened on East Reynolds Road. Both restaurants remain open today. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
The menu inside Lexington’s first White Castle restaurant in December 1980. Photo by E. Martin Jessee | Staff
Bruce Davidson and son Buck, 1978
Bruce Davidson held his son, Buck, after winning his second World Championship on Sept. 17, 1978. Davidson rode Might Tango in the first World Three Day Event held at the Kentucky Horse Park. Four years earlier, he won the World Championship at Burghley in England. After 1978, the event became an annual competition, held permanently at the Horse Park. Buck Davidson also became a top equestrian. In March, he was the No. 5-ranked rider on the world listings. Photo by Christy Porter | Staff
World Three Day Event, 1978
A crowd gathered at the head of the lake water jump during the cross country competition at the World Three Day event on Sept. 16, 1978, at the Kentucky Horse Park. It was the first year that the event, now known as the Rolex Three Day Event, was held in Kentucky. Photo by Christy Porter | Staff
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