February 20, 2025
Tubby Smith and Bob Huggins, 2005
University of Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith, left, talked with Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins before the Wildcats took the floor for practice on March 16, 2005, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Three days later, after beating Eastern Kentucky in the first round, Kentucky won its second-round matchup against Huggins’ Bearcats, 69-60. The Wildcats would later lose in the regional finals in double overtime to Michigan State. Huggins, now the coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, will meet John Calipari and the Wildcats on Saturday night in Morgantown. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff
Filling potholes on Upper Street, 1984
Lexington Streets and Roads department employees Oliver Mabson, right, and Ricky Cobb filled potholes on North Upper Street on February 8, 1984. Photo by David Perry | Staff
Kentucky Derby, 1998
Jockey Kent Desormeaux came up out of the saddle and blew a kiss on May 2, 1998, after Real Quiet crossed the finish line to win the 124th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville. It was Desormeaux’s first of three Derby winners (2000 on Fusaichi Pegasus and 2008 on Big Brown). Trained by Bob Baffert, the bay colt next won the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. Real Quiet came up a nose short of becoming the first Triple Crown winner in 20 years. His loss in the third leg, the Belmont Stakes, was the smallest margin of defeat ever, at only four inches. The 2018 Kentucky Derby is 100 days away. Photo by David Coyle
Lexington’s first Walmart, 1993
Aerial photo of construction of the Mist Lake Plaza shopping center at Richmond Road and Man o’ War Boulevard on June 2, 1993. The site included a 360-foot retaining wall ranging in height from 5 feet to 35 feet and containing 17,000 to 18,000 blocks. It was the highest keystone block wall in Kentucky at the time of construction. In 2011, the wall had to be rebuilt. The plaza contained the city’s first Walmart. On July 11, 2018, Walmart announced it is closing this location as of Aug. 10. When Walmart opened on Richmond Road in 1993, it was a big deal for Lexington. How big? The traffic pattern changed and other stores on Richmond Road saw a big uptick in customers. Click on the image for a closer look and note that at the bottom the shopping center where First Watch and Tire Discounters is located today, has yet to be built. At the far right, in the middle of the image is the edge of the J. Peterman Co. store, which enjoyed pop culture success from 1995 to 1998 thanks to the TV show Seinfeld. Click here to see an image from our archives of the store. Photo by Tom Woods II | Staff
UK basketball honors 100 players, Fantasy Five team, 2003
In conjunction with the celebration of the University of Kentucky’s 100th basketball season, 100 former UK lettermen were honored at halftime of the Cats’ Feb. 23, 2003, game against Mississippi State at Rupp Arena. UK, then called State College, began playing basketball on Feb. 6, 1903. The team lost to Georgetown, 15-6. That year, they played only three games, winning one. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff
As part of the centennial celebration, UK unveiled a Fantasy Five team during halftime of the Cats’ 70-62 win over visiting Mississippi State. From left are three members of that team: Jack Givens (1974-78, who led the Cats to the 1978 NCAA title), Dan Issel (1967-70, UK’s career scoring leader) and Kyle Macy (1977-80, a three-time All-American). Jamal Mashburn (1990-93, sixth on all-time scoring list) and Tony Delk (1992-96, named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player while leading Cats to its sixth national title) also were named to the team but couldn’t attend because of NBA obligations. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff
Former Kentucky player Melvin Turpin walked off the court with former coach Joe B. Hall after the 100 former lettermen were honored during halftime of the Cats’ game against Mississippi State. Turpin, a Lexington native, played center for Hall from 1980-84, leading the Cats to the 1984 Final Four. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff
Second-oldest house in Kentucky razed, 1947
Built in 1787, Ellerslie, the second-oldest house in Kentucky and the oldest in Fayette County, was being razed in January 1947. Originally owned by General Levi Todd, the house, on Richmond Road at the No. 1 reservoir, was then owned by the Lexington Water Co. and was being torn down because the condition of the walls and beams was considered unsafe. Gen. Todd and his brothers helped found Lexington and were prominent landowners and statesmen. Todd also was the first Fayete county clerk and had his offices in the house, so it was frequently referred to as Fayette’s first courthouse. Todd was the grandfather of Mary Todd Lincoln. Materials from the two-story brick structure were to be used to build Sunday school rooms as an addition to the East Hickman Baptist church.The oldest house in the state still stands: the William Whitley house in Lincoln County. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
L.R. Cooke Chevrolet fire, 1947
Flames and smoke poured from the L.R. Cooke Chevrolet Co. at 180 East High Street on Jan. 21, 1947. The large garage of the dealership was destroyed by fire, which caused an estimated $300,000 in damage, including the loss of 30 to 40 privately owned automobiles left at the garage for repair. It was thought that the fire resulted from an explosion of a gasoline tank on a truck that was being repaired at the rear of the building. Six companies of the Lexington Fire Department fought the flames, fanned by a southwest wind, in 15-degree weather for almost two hours before bringing the blaze under control. 180 East High Street is now an empty lot, across Lexington Avenue from the post office. Photo by John C. Wyatt | Staff
Kentucky vs. Florida in basketball, 1993
Florida’s Stacey Poole and Kentucky’s Travis Ford tangled in a rush for a loose ball on Jan. 30, 1993, during the Cats’ 71-48 win over the Gators at Rupp Arena in Lexington. Ford, a junior guard, was one of three Cats in double figures (Jamal Masburn had 22 points; Rodrick Rhodes had 10). Ford also dished out a team-high five assists for No. 4 UK, which improved to 15-1. Poole led Florida with 16 points. Kentucky would finish the year 30-4, losing to Michigan in the Final Four in New Orleans. Florida and UK will meet for the 139th time Saturday. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
Keeneland betting ticket search, 1987
Michael James, 12, of Ashland leaned over the rail on April 8, 1987, at Keeneland, looking for possible winning betting tickets. James was in town for the spring meet and visiting family. Keeneland announced Thursday that the 2018 spring meet will be its richest ever. A record $4.4 million in purse money will be distributed during the 16-day meet, which will include 16 stakes races. Photo by Frank Anderson | Staff
Snowy sled ride at Kentucky Horse Park, 1981
R.K. Walker, manager of horse-drawn tours at the Kentucky Horse Park, drove visitors through the park on a sled pulled by a pair of draft horses on Jan. 7, 1981. The 30-minute rides, offered seven days a week as long as there was 2 to 3 inches of snow, cost $1.75 for adults and $1.50 for children. Photo by Frank Anderson | Staff
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Kentucky.com news feed
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