LEXINGTON — Only a few years into its “Horse Capital of the World” campaign, Lexington might face a legal challenge over the designation.

        A horse-breeding community in central Florida has received a trademark on that slogan and may try to stop others from using it.

        Lexington has spent about $8,000 to post 40 signs proclaiming itself “Horse Capital of the World” on roads leading into the city.

        But if Lexington continues using the slogan on signs and other promotional material, “We'd have to turn that over to our trademark attorney,” said Richard Hancock, vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association.

        His group obtained the trademark for Ocala and Marion County, Fla.

        “No one else can use that term. It belongs to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders,” said Maria Hernandez, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington. The trademark was granted to Ocala and Marion County in June without any opposition, she said.

        Mr. Hancock said he applied for the trademark three years ago after hearing that Lexington had proposed adopting the phrase and getting a trademark on it.

        “We beat them to the punch,” Mr. Hancock said.

        Kentucky produces nearly 30 percent of all U.S. thoroughbreds and has dozens of top stallions, including Storm Cat, one of the most valuable with a stud fee of $500,000.

        Florida is the country's second-biggest producer of thoroughbreds, with about 10 percent of the U.S. foal crop.

        According to the latest figures available from the American Horse Council in Washington, Florida has almost twice as many horses, regardless of breed, as Kentucky's 150,000. For that matter, Texas and California have more horses than Florida, and Kentucky is a distant eighth.

        Lexington should apply for “Thoroughbred Capital of the World,” Mr. Hancock said. “I purposely left that one open.”

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