Since when did Oldham County claim to have a world class bed and breakfast?

I’ll tell you when. Since Cheryl Sabin moved there and opened her Bluegrass Country Estate B&B, that’s when.

Located about eight miles from historic downtown LaGrange in the LeEsprit area, this five guestroom bed and breakfast offers many amenities not available at many overnights.

But it’s the grand entrance through the iron gate and down the drive, where visitors are greeted by a pair of life-sized bronze thoroughbreds that give cause for high expectations.

Disappointment will not be in the vocabulary.

A media room, with six oversized leather recliners in a semi-circle in front of a giant pull-down screen, is there for guests’ television needs. So are a swimming pool and an eight-person hot tub. There’s even a five-station gym for those who don’t want to just let “themselves go” for a day or two.

The elegance of this 6,600-square-foot, horse-themed home, with its collection of fine furnishings, one-of-a-kind lamps and hand-painted murals, all add to the overnight experience.

Sabin was born in Hollywood, Calif., and some of her mother’s collections of movie star memorabilia are prominently displayed on the walls of the media room, along with a for-real stand-alone popcorn machine.

With stops in Colorado, Philadelphia and London, England, the self-described entrepreneur felt like LaGrange was a logical place to land.

“I love horses,” Sabin said, “This area of the country is so beautiful and has horses. I wanted to create something here that would be appealing to visitors with horses.”

What Cheryl means are those travelers who are trailering horses behind their vehicles. And just to prove she is serious about it, she built an eight-stall stable behind her home shortly after purchasing the property. Although the barn may not rival some of Kentucky’s major horse farms, the padded floor, heavy oak sliding doors and convenient loading area won’t miss it by much.

The beautiful 9-acre grounds offer visitors an opportunity to stroll the grounds, and Cheryl likes to point out that her property has access to a 25-mile riding trail for those who bring their horses.

“I just love Kentucky and especially the people here,” Sabin said. “I’ve tried to present something here our guests will remember.”

You’ll also remember Angel and Blizzard, Sabin’s pair of golden retriever-lab mix dogs. Well-behaved is an understatement. A collar electronic system permits the dogs from going into Sabin’s “off-limits” area of the home.

A bed and breakfast should have a comfortable bed and a nourishing breakfast. Bluegrass Country Estate has both. You can travel around this world several times and you’ll not overnight on such a restful mattress as here.

And the next morning, when Sabin rings her “it’s time to eat” bell, the well-appointed breakfast counter looked like a picture out of a gourmet magazine. Country ham, sour mash pancakes topped with syrup laced with bourbon, cheese and eggs scrambled, and a fruit bowl with pineapples, strawberries, apples and grapes. All of this could be washed down with a cup of fresh-brewed coffee or chilled orange juice. What a way to start the day.

And the day has to include a short journey to downtown LaGrange. The shopping is awesome, from Karen’s Book Store to Friends and Fiber to Children’s Treasures to the 1880 Corner Store, it’s all good.

But whatever you do, don’t leave LaGrange without eating at Norma Jean’s Trackside restaurant. With a menu as varied as any “big city” restaurant, Norma Jean’s offers several things you’d have to go to a big city to eat. From Cuban dishes to yellow fin tuna to hot browns and fried green tomatoes, this eatery is a must for lunch or dinner, and if you’re lucky, maybe even both.

Part of the charm of LaGrange is the railroad tracks that run smack dab in the middle of town. Some 30 trains a day pass by, so be sure and look both ways before crossing the street.

There’s no excuse. Get up, get out and get going.

— Gary P. West’s column runs monthly in the Daily News. He can be reached via e-mail to west1488@bellsouth.net.