Chasing the grain: Bourbon Chase winds through Boyle County, authorities warn caution
Published 1:24 pm Friday, October 13, 2017
The 200-mile Bourbon Chase relay race along Kentucky’s highways will wind through Boyle County twice this Friday and Saturday, and officials encourage people to get out and support the runners, but to do so safely.
Boyle County Sheriff Derek Robbins said it’s important for drivers to be patient.
“There will be hundreds of runners along the roads. Combine that with Friday night football and it leads to a lot congestion on dark roads,” he said. “Please take extra time and use extra patience while traveling to ensure everyone gets to their destination safely.”
Typical teams have 12 runners, while some have less. Each team member has to run at least three legs of the 36-leg race, ranging from distances of about three miles to about nine miles.
The teams bring their own vans with them, also traveling along specific routes, transporting the next runner to their starting point, picking up the previous runner, and continuing the process for the entire 200-mile race.
The first team will begin at 7 a.m.; starting times will vary, with the last team beginning at 8 p.m. Runners traveling after 6:30 p.m. Friday and before 8 a.m. Saturday will be required to wear reflective gear of some type.
The runners’ route
The race kicks off at the Jim Beam distillery, heads into Bardstown, through the Heaven Hill distillery, then toward Maker’s Mark, Lebanon and Springfield.
The race enters Boyle County on U.S. 150, between Springfield and Perryville. John Sheryak, event director said runners are expected to begin arriving in Perryville at about 3 or 3:30 p.m.
Runners continue toward Danville, turning left onto Locklin Lane, about a mile outside of Danville. An exchange is done on Locklin Lane, then runners continue onto Venetian Way, Pleasant Colony, Man O’War Drive, through the U.S. 127 intersection, entering the Boyle County Fairgrounds and then Millennium Park. The route continues out Cunningham Drive, left onto U.S 150/Perryville Road, traveling down Main Street. The next exchange happens at the intersection of Main Street and Third Street, anticipated to begin about 6 p.m.
From there, runners continue down Main Street, turning onto Stanford Avenue, down Wilderness Road, onto U.S. 150 and into Stanford
Runners re-enter Boyle County later, coming back from Stanford, traveling along Ky. 78, then turning onto Ky. 300, Knob Lick Road, heading into Junction City. Runners cross U.S. 127, continuing on Knob Lick Road, then turn left onto Lucas Street, continuing until the next exchange at the Junction City Elementary School.
The race continues up Lucas Street, across West Meigs Lane, then up Russell Street, which becomes Bonta Lane. At U.S. 127, runners turn left and head back to Danville, with the first runners arriving about 11 p.m..
In Danville, runners turn right onto Second Street, then left on Main Street. The race will continue on Main Street, go right onto Maple Avenue and then right onto U.S. 127, heading into Mercer County.
In Mercer County, runners continue on U.S. 127, through Harrodsburg, McAfee, and into Salvisa. There, runners will exchange at Salvisa Baptist Church, turning left onto Kirkwood Road. The race then leads right on Bondsville Road, exchanging at the Bluegrass Parkway overpass. Runners turn right on Paxton Road, and head out of Mercer County.
The race will continue past the Four Roses, Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve distilleries, winding through Lawrenceburg and Versailles, then north to Frankfort, east to Midway. The final stop is a party in Lexington, at Triangle Park.
There are a variety of prizes handed out after the race, including the Best Decked Out Van, the Most Spirited Team, Best Community Spirit and the Most Spirited Volunteer.
Last year, Danville won the Most Spirited Community award, and “hit a home run,” said Sheryak.
TO LEARN MORE about The Bourbon Chase, visit bourbonchase.com.
SO YOU KNOW
There will be a deejay downtown from 6:30-10 p.m. Friday night, as crowds gather to cheer on runners. Downtown businesses will also be open late.