A three-year-old filly race horse has qualified for the Kentucky Oaks, named after legendary bartender Percy Pool. Percy's Bar, associated with him, is more of a cherished memory than a physical location in Kentucky.
Key points
Three-year-old filly qualified for the Kentucky Oaks
Named after legendary bartender Percy Pool
Percy's Bar is a symbolic memory, not a physical location
Percy Pool created a memorable atmosphere at the bar
The Kentucky Oaks is a prestigious race for fillies
Mentioned in this story
Percy PoolKeeneland
Percy's BarKentucky Oaks
When a three-year-old filly race horse crossed the wire first at Keeneland at the start of April and punched her ticket to the Kentucky Oaks, her name may have inspired some to want to celebrate at her namesake: Percy's Bar.
But Percy's Bar cannot be located on any map in Kentucky. It is not a commercial drinking establishment — not technically.
Percy's Bar is a memory ... a feeling ... a watering hole that does have several physical locations but now is missing the one person who made it worth standing in a line of people 16 deep.
That is the man himself: Percy Pool.
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Percy Pool never measured.
At his bar directly beneath the twin spires, he popped tops for patrons or made mint juleps during spring and fall race meets in Louisville beginning in the 1960s. He served 'em up from a bar above the paddock at Churchill Downs for 47 years — developing a knack for remembering the names of horsemen and their drinks of choice.
Horsemen and bartender repeated this dance across Kentucky — from Ellis Park during the heat of summer, to Turfway during the cold of winter, and Keeneland in between, including at horse sales.
No matter what part of the state horses rounded a track, Percy could be found pouring. He became an establishment within the establishment.
The saying among trainers and owners was, "Hey, I'll meet you at Percy's Bar after the race."
That became the affectionate name for any racetrack bar Percy bartended, including in Lexington.
Percy’s Bar walks out onto the paddock during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
Q&A
Who is Percy Pool and why is he significant?
Percy Pool is a legendary bartender known for creating a memorable atmosphere at Percy's Bar, which is celebrated in the racing community.
What is the Kentucky Oaks and why is it important?
The Kentucky Oaks is a prestigious horse race for three-year-old fillies, held annually at Churchill Downs, highlighting the best in female thoroughbred racing.
Where can I find Percy's Bar?
Percy's Bar is not a specific location in Kentucky but rather a symbolic place associated with the memories of Percy Pool.
What happened at Keeneland in early April related to the Kentucky Oaks?
A three-year-old filly race horse won a race at Keeneland, securing her spot in the upcoming Kentucky Oaks.
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Percy’s Bar walks around the paddock during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
Percy’s Bar walks around the paddock during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
Ben Colebrook, Percy’s Bar’s trainer, smiles during an interview at morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
Ben Colebrook rubs Percy’s Bar while she gets new horseshoes put on during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
Percy’s Bar is seen during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
Percy’s Bar is seen during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
Ben Colebrook rubs Percy’s Bar while she gets new horseshoes put on during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
Ben Colebrook rubs Percy’s Bar while she gets new horseshoes put on during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
Percy’s Bar, second horse from left, gets new horseshoes put on during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
Ben Colebrook watches as Percy’s Bar gets new horseshoes put on during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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In Kentucky Oaks, Percy's Bar horse honors a legendary bartender
Percy’s Bar walks out onto the paddock during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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In Kentucky Oaks, Percy's Bar horse honors a legendary bartender
Percy’s Bar walks out onto the paddock during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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In Kentucky Oaks, Percy's Bar horse honors a legendary bartender
Percy’s Bar walks around the paddock during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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In Kentucky Oaks, Percy's Bar horse honors a legendary bartender
Percy’s Bar walks around the paddock during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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In Kentucky Oaks, Percy's Bar horse honors a legendary bartender
Ben Colebrook, Percy’s Bar’s trainer, smiles during an interview at morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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In Kentucky Oaks, Percy's Bar horse honors a legendary bartender
Ben Colebrook rubs Percy’s Bar while she gets new horseshoes put on during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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In Kentucky Oaks, Percy's Bar horse honors a legendary bartender
Percy’s Bar is seen during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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In Kentucky Oaks, Percy's Bar horse honors a legendary bartender
Percy’s Bar is seen during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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In Kentucky Oaks, Percy's Bar horse honors a legendary bartender
Ben Colebrook rubs Percy’s Bar while she gets new horseshoes put on during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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In Kentucky Oaks, Percy's Bar horse honors a legendary bartender
Ben Colebrook rubs Percy’s Bar while she gets new horseshoes put on during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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In Kentucky Oaks, Percy's Bar horse honors a legendary bartender
Percy’s Bar, second horse from left, gets new horseshoes put on during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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In Kentucky Oaks, Percy's Bar horse honors a legendary bartender
Ben Colebrook watches as Percy’s Bar gets new horseshoes put on during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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Gatewood Bell keeps a list on the notes app of his phone of potential horse names.
Now the vice president of racing for Keeneland, who manages the race meet, "busy" doesn't even begin to describe Bell's constant thrum of a day. Yet each morning, as part owner of Percy's Bar, Bell watches from the Lexington racetrack's stands as the brown filly with a blaze works.
"My favorite 15 minutes of the day," Bell said.
After her workout nearly a week before the biggest race of her career, the Kentucky Oaks, Bells scrolls through the note of names in his phone.
"I hear a song lyric, it goes on the list," he said. "I've had Percy's Bar on there a really long time. Oh, yeah, it's right before Spanish Pipedream."
Spanish Pipedream began racing in 2014. She finished first in four of her six starts.
When he first founded a bloodstock agency — a consultant or broker of thoroughbreds— back in 2011, Bell used to get really nervous before his horses would race. He would head up to the Mezzanine bar at Keeneland from the paddock.
"I'd say, 'Percy, I need the luckiest Heineken you've got,'" Bell recalled. "Percy would pretend to dig around in the ice looking for it and take the top one."
"Here you go," he would tell Bell.
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Percy's Bar, the filly, stands in the middle of the shedrow as a farrier puts on her new shoes.
Multiple cameras point at her. At least five people have walked up to admire her as she patiently lifts a foot. The three-year-old filly acts more like a 23-year-old mare, who's been through this thousands of times in her life. Ben Colebrook, who trains Percy's Bar, said this is how she always is.
"Until Luan gets on her," he said of jockey Luan Machado. "He's the only one who has ever breezed her, so when he gets aboard, she knows it's go time."
Ben Colebrook rubs Percy’s Bar while she gets new horseshoes put on during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
Ben Colebrook rubs Percy’s Bar while she gets new horseshoes put on during morning workouts on April 22, 2026; Lexington, KY, USA; at Keeneland.
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Tucked in a horse-themed subdivision in Oldham County, Nichelle Pool smiles warmly as she touches a trophy.
The name plate for the race declares "Percy's Last Pour."
On June 27, 2015, her father retired at age 73. Churchill Downs named the first race of the day in his honor. The winner's photo is so packed with friends, family and horsemen, it looks more like a race during Kentucky Derby week. Percy passed away in 2024.
Nichelle Pool, the daughter of longtime bartender Percy Pool who poured drinks at Churchill Downs and Keeneland for more than 40 years, stands with memories at her own Percy's Bar on April 22, 2026, a week before a horse named in her father's honor races in the Kentucky Oaks.
Nichelle Pool, the daughter of longtime bartender Percy Pool who poured drinks at Churchill Downs and Keeneland for more than 40 years, stands with memories at her own Percy's Bar on April 22, 2026, a week before a horse named in her father's honor races in the Kentucky Oaks.
Framed win photos hang on a wall of Nichelle’s living room. One photo is from Percy's Last Pour in June 2015. The next photo was taken a decade and two days later, when Percy's Bar ran The Debutante, a stakes race at Churchill Downs, and won. The other is of Percy's Bar's victory at the Ashland Stakes, the one that clinched her trip to the Oaks.
The victories hang above an old bottle of liquor shaped like a car that Percy loved. They hang above a bar, Percy's bar.
"I'm going to keep adding her photos every time she wins," Nichelle said of her new favorite horse as she gestured toward empty spots on the white wall.
Legend goes the bar tops her father served at for decades would have multiple bartenders whose lines would be short and then Percy's who was deep with waiting trainers and owners.
"You know as he aged, he'd have to take a break," Nichelle said. "Sometimes he'd go take a five-minute break and no one in that line would move or complain. They would wait for him."
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Gatewood Bell is notorious for not naming a horse until it's ready to race. He wants to make sure the name truly fits the horse.
Percy, the man, was described by his daughter as "warm and easy going. He didn't like bad energy. He really cared about the people he was serving."
The same could be said for this filly. That's why Gatewood finally used the name.
"He served me my first Heineken and probably my last," Bell said. "I would always go to him."
Ben Colebrook, Percy's Bar's trainer, waited in line many times to get a cold one from Percy.
"Percy's Bar was a place horsemen went to celebrate or commiserate," Colebrook said.
The legendary bartender helped bettors too do just that for more than 40 years at Keeneland.
After her Ashland Stakes victory, Bell and other part-owners went to celebrate at the spot they still refer to as Percy's Bar. They celebrated with the mezzanine bar staff, who pooled their money together to bet on the horse named after a longtime bartender.
Keeneland's mezzanine bar staff will bet again when Percy's Bar runs for the lilies, hoping to make a man few truly knew into a man who truly goes down in history.
Bell and Colebrook already know what they'll be doing after their first appearance in the Kentucky Oaks.
They will take a few beers to the area above the paddock, where a man used to celebrate and commiserate with them by handing them a drink.
There, they'll raise a toast to Percy's bar.
Stephanie Kuzydym is an enterprise and investigative sports reporter, with a focus on the health and safety of athletes. Reach her at skuzydym@courier-journal.com or@stephkuzy.
