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The William Whitley House stands as a monument to pioneer ingenuity and resourcefulness. Also known as Sportsman's Hill, it was the first brick home and circular racetrack that was constructed west of the Alleghany Mountains. The structure was completed by William Whitley and Esther Whitley in 1794. At that time, the house provided a gathering spot for early Kentuckians, including George Rogers Clark and Daniel Boone. It was also dubbed the "Guardian of Wilderness Road."

The Whitley couple, in the 1780?s to 1790?s, was secured enough to build their brick home and a circular racetrack, where they could hold race meetings each autumn. The track that they have completed was quite unique compared to the others found across the country because it was the first racetrack to have circular design and to be built of clay instead of turf. It is believed that the practice of racing counter-clockwise utilized by Americans began in this very racetrack, as a response to conflicts with the British, who were to race in a clockwise direction, during that period.
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