1. On May 9, 1936, the famous racehorse and Triple Crown winner, War Admiral, was born at Faraway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He went on to win 21 of his 26 races and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1958.

2. In 1904, the Kentucky State College (now the University of Kentucky) was authorized to award degrees in agriculture, mechanical engineering, and mining engineering, making it one of the first state schools to offer these degree programs.

3. May 9, 1864, marked the beginning of the Battle of Cynthiana, a major engagement of the Civil War fought in Harrison County, Kentucky. Confederate forces led by Gen. John Hunt Morgan clashed with Union forces led by Col. Louis D. Watkins, resulting in a Confederate victory.

4. In 1983, the Kentucky Court of Appeals upheld a lower court decision granting custody of Baby Jessica, a child born to a Kentucky teenager and given up for adoption, to her biological parents rather than her adoptive parents in Michigan. The case garnered national attention and led to reforms in adoption laws.

5. On May 9, 1914, Jesse Stuart was born in Greenup County, Kentucky. Stuart would go on to become a beloved author and poet, known for his depictions of Appalachia and rural life. He won numerous awards for his work, including the Poet Laureate of Kentucky in 1954.