February 25, 2009 — Five months before its scheduled completion date, the Kentucky Horse Park has already booked events in the new indoor arena well into 2014.
“For the last decade we have needed a new indoor arena to stay competitive with the country’s growing demand for equestrian competition facilities and to enhance our ability to attract large events to the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” said John Nicholson, executive director of the park. “Our expectations were very high for this arena, so I am especially happy to report that five months before completion, those expectations have already been exceeded by the number of large events which have contracted with us and by several others which are pending.”
“It is gratifying to see that the investment in the Kentucky Horse Park is paying off with these new events that will help boost tourism in Kentucky,” said Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow. “This helps to confirm the important role the Kentucky Horse Park and our Commonwealth have in the equine industry.”
Beginning this July, first-time events scheduled for the new indoor arena include:
- American Vaulting Association National Vaulting Championship (July 9-12, 2009, estimated 150 competitors)
- North American Junior/Young Rider Championships (July 22-29, 2009, 200 competitors)
- WEG Reining Test Event (July 15-18, 2009, 75 competitors)
- WEG Vaulting Test Event (July 28-August 2, 2009, 150 competitors)
- National Reining Horse Association Tradition Futurity and East Coast Affiliate Championships (September 9-13, 2009, also contract agreements for 2011-2012, 600 competitors)
- Arabian Horse Association Sport Horse National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (September 21-27, 2009, also contract agreements for 2011-2014, 1,000 competitors)
- Kentucky Winter Indoor Hunter Jumper Show (November 13-15, 20-22, 2009 and yearly thereafter, 350 competitors each show)
- Kentucky Hunter Jumper Association Show (December 30, 2009-January 3, 2010, Jan 6-10, 2010 and yearly thereafter, 350 competitors each show)
- Kentucky Winter Indoor Hunter Jumper Show (January 29-31, 2010, February 5-7, 2010, March 5-7, 2010 and yearly thereafter, 350 competitors each show)
- Kentucky Winter Indoor Hunter Jumper Show (April 9-11, 2010, 600 competitors)
- Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championship (May 3-9, 2010, 1,500-2,000 competitors)
- Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (September 25-October 10, 2010, part of the whole facility rental)
- Carriage Association of America National Carriage Show (July 1-3, 2011, 400 attendees).
A number of events which already take place at the Kentucky Horse Park will return, but are contracted for the indoor arena for the first time. This has allowed the park to book additional events in the existing covered arena. These include:
- John Henry Memorial Equine Adoption Fair (June 27, 2009, 500 attendees)
- Clayton Woosely Hall of Fame Reining (July 23-26, 2009, 250 competitors)
- USEF Pony Finals (August 5-9, 2009, 1,500 competitors)
- Kentucky Fall Saddlebred Classic (September 30-October 3, 2009, 300 competitors)
- Don MacBeth Memorial Fund Celebrity Team Penning (October 19, 2009, 1,000-1,500 attendees)
- Kentucky Arabian Bluegrass Classic (April 9-11, 2010, 350 competitors)
Nearly all of these events are included with admission to the Kentucky Horse Park, which gives Kentuckians and other visitors to Kentucky more value for their ticket and more exposure for the world of horse sports.
For information on renting the new indoor arena at the Kentucky Horse Park for special events, contact Sheila Forbes at 859-259-4205 or Sheila.forbes@ky.gov.
