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Thursday, 01 November 2012 14:00

Set the Holiday Season in Motion!

Written by Lisa Jackson

With the return of the Southern Lights holiday festival, presented by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc., the Southern Lights Stroll once again debuts as its opening night on Thursday, November 15. The only evening of the entire event when the public is allowed to experience a major portion of the lighted route on foot, visitors may choose to run, walk or stroll their way through thousands of dazzling holiday lights in the heart of horse country, on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park.

Now in its’ eleventh season, the Southern Lights Stroll has proven popular with casual walkers and families who bring out their children and pets to get photos and see the lights outside of a car, and with serious runners who come to compete in the 5K portion of the “stroll.”

John’s Run/Walk Shop has donated their services to the competitive 5K race, and awards will be given to winners. Additional activities include complimentary Mini Train Express rides, refreshments, prize drawings and more. A food drive for God’s Pantry and local animal shelters will be held in conjunction with this event. All participants are asked to bring non-perishable items to help the needy families of Central Kentucky and local animal shelters.

Pre-registration through November 10 is $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for kids 7-12. Registration after November 10 is $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for kids 7-12. Walk-up registration on November 15 begins at 5:00 pm, and the stroll begins at 6:45 pm. Check-in is at the park’s Visitor Information Center. The first 500 registered adults receive a free souvenir t-shirt and the first 200 registered kids receive a free holiday ornament compliments of Breyer.

All proceeds of Southern Lights and Southern Lights Stroll support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. The 2012 Shining Star Presenting Sponsor is Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc. and the Holly and Ivy Sponsors are Kerr Brothers Funeral Home and Café Press Inc. Additional sponsors are Pepsi, Breyer, Kentucky Utilities, SafetyTec, John’s Run/Walk Shop and the Mini Train Express Company. In September, the American Bus Association (ABA) selected Southern Lights a Top 100 event for 2013, which is an annual compendium of the best events for group travel in the United States and Canada.

Southern Lights is open from 5:30 pm to 10 pm nightly from November 16 to December 31, 2012. Indoor attractions will be open every night except November 22 and December 24 - 31. The cost is $15.00 per car Sunday through Thursday and $20.00 per car on Friday and Saturday. Contact the KHP Foundation for more information at (859) 255-5727, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or www.khpfoundation.org.

The registration form is downloadable here: http://khpfoundation.org/southern-lights-stroll.html.

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The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, fulfills its mission to enhance, expand and improve the Kentucky Horse Park by fundraising within the private sector. This partnership between private donors and the support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is what has enabled the incredible success of the Kentucky Horse Park. Since its inception in 1985, the KHP Foundation has raised more than $25 million, which has funded critical improvements such as new facilities, research projects, new horses, landscaping ventures, and much more.

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Friday, 05 October 2012 15:36

Standardbred Pacing Champion Won The West Retires to Kentucky Horse Park

Written by Lisa Jackson

Standardbred pacer Won The West will be welcomed to the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions on Saturday, October 6. This Two-Time Divisional and Breeders Crown Champion was retired in September as a leader in Standardbred racing with lifetime earnings of $3,939,836.

In honor of the horse’s arrival at the park, Mayor Jim Gray has declared October 6 “Won The West Day” in Lexington, KY, and his office has prepared a certificate that will be presented to the owners on Saturday.

Won The West made 109 lifetime starts in his career with 36 firsts, 24 seconds and 15 thirds. In 2009, he won the Breeders Crown in a stakes-record time of 1:47, and he won the same race again in 2010. This 8-year-old gelding was voted Older Pacer of the Year in 2009 and 2010 by the U.S. Harness Writers, and was twice awarded the Dan Patch trophy as top older pacing horse.

“The Kentucky Horse Park is honored to have Won The West join our Hall of Champions,” said John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park. “This exceptional horse is a star for the Standardbred industry, and we look forward to sharing him and his story with the throngs of visitors who enjoy the park each year. He will be a welcome addition to our champion line-up, and we thank his connections for entrusting his care to our team.”

Won The West was bred in New Jersey by Fair Winds Farm by Western Hanover out of Gabrielle by Dragon’s Lair, he was foaled in 2004. Won The West was purchased for $35,000 by trainer Brian Brown at the Harrisburg Yearling Sale. Brown purchased the colt for James Koehler’s Country Club Acres, Inc. of Findlay, Ohio; the Kantzer family’s Strollin Stable of Marion, Ohio; and, William Robinson of Findlay, Ohio.

With trainer Ron Burke added to the team in 2007, Won The West went on to be one of the highest-earning horses on the Standardbred racing circuit, beating some of the biggest names in racing such as Mister Big and winning the Canadian Pacing Derby, the Indiana Pacing Derby, the Bobby Quillin Memorial and the Dan Patch Invitational, as well as three American national stakes titles.

Won The West joins fellow Standardbred pacing champions Staying Together and Western Dreamer, and Standardbred trotting champion Mr. Muscleman, at the Hall of Champions.

The public is invited to welcome him to Kentucky at the Hall of Champions at the Won The West Welcome Ceremony at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 6. The welcome ceremony is open to the public, or guests may choose to stay and visit the rest of the park with regular visitor admission ($16 for adults, $8 for children 7-12, no charge for children 6 and under in the party).

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The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man's relationship with the horse. The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and hosted more than 825,000 visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2011. The park is home to the National Horse Center which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations. Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is The place to get close to horses. Open daily March 15 to Nov. 4, and Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 5 to March 15.

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Wednesday, 12 September 2012 11:38

Farm Machinery Consignment Auction Coming March 9

Written by Cindy Rullman

tractor 3 The 30th Annual Fayette County Farm Bureau Farm Machinery Consignment Auction will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. at the main entrance of the Kentucky Horse Park.

The auction is open to the public and draws a crowd of more than 1,600 potential buyers with an average of 1,300 pieces of lawn and garden equipment being consigned to the sale. This sale is the largest of its kind in Kentucky.

All of the proceeds from the sale go towards the Fayette County Farm Bureau Education Foundation helping provide scholarships to Fayette County high school students. To date the auction has helped 30 students and provided over $580,000 in scholarship monies.

lz81230 l 220006X2 The auction is put on by volunteers giving of their time for the benefit of Fayette County youth. It is also a great opportunity for them to connect with fellow farmers from other parts of the state. The sale provides an avenue for farmers to buy and sell used equipment making it more affordable for their farming practices.

For more information on the Farm Machinery Consignment Auction, or if you would be interested in volunteering, contact Carrie Johnson at (859) 253-0023 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Wednesday, 18 July 2012 15:07

Book Signing for "Flying Change" by Patrick Smithwick this Saturday

Written by Cindy Rullman

Flying Change Patrick Smithwick, author of "Racing My Father" will be here to sign his new book,
"Flying Change: A year of racing and family and steeplechasing"
Saturday, July 21, 11am to 1pm
Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop

Don't miss this chance to meet the author and pick up his book, which is described as, "This memoir of dueling ambitions is the tale of a man who decides in mid-life to call off all restraints, silence all naysayers, put his mind and body and courage to the test, and do what in his case-he has been away from the world of racing for twenty-five years-is the impossible: within a nine-month period get a horse to ride in the most difficult steeplechase race in the world, and then, ride that horse as if his life depends on it, which, literally, it does."

See you here!

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Monday, 09 July 2012 09:28

MEDIA ALERT - Press Conference and Painting Demonstration with Justin the Artistic Horse

Written by Cindy Rullman

WHO: Justin The Artistic Horse

WHAT: Painting Demonstration and Q & A with Justin The Artistic Horse and his Owner, Adonna Combs, in advance of the auction of one of his paintings.

WHEN: Thursday July 12, 10 am

WHERE: The American Saddlebred Museum’s Showplace For Saddlebreds, adjacent to the main Parking lot at the Kentucky Horse Park.

WHY: One of Justin’s original paintings will be selling at Noon on Saturday July 14 in the American Saddlebred Museum’s annual Equine Art, Antique and Rare Book Auction.

Justin is a seven year old Friesian who has said “no” to the show ring and instead opts to pursue his passion for painting.

The Equine Art, Antique and Rare Book Auction, now in its eighth year, is a consignment auction. The auction is a fundraiser for the American Saddlebred Museum and will be held at its Showplace for Saddlebreds at the Kentucky Horse Park on Saturday July 14 at Noon. Justin will give a painting demonstration for the general public and those interested in bidding on his painting immediately preceding Saturday’s auction at 11:00 am outside the Showplace for Saddlebreds.

Great photo and video ops will be available at the press conference, as Justin will demonstrate the many skills he has developed in his quest to become the nation’s foremost equine artist. He opens his containers of paint, grabs the brushes in his mouth and paints on a canvas, either on an easel or on the ground. His owner only selects the paint colors – Justin does the rest, including signing the painting with his hoof print. Adonna will be available for interviews.

HOW: Members of the media, please park in the Kentucky Horse Park’s main parking lot adjacent to the Showplace for Saddlebreds.

CONTACT: Tolley Graves, American Saddlebred Museum at the Kentucky Horse Park
4083 Iron Works Pkwy Lexington, KY 40511 859-259-2746 www.asbmuseum.org
859-259-2746 Ext. 304; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Tuesday, 03 July 2012 14:55

BreyerFest British Invasion Coming!

Written by Cindy Rullman

Breyer’s Annual Model Horse Collector Festival and Horse Fair Celebrates
Everything We Love About Horses and Cool Britannia!

Pequannock, NJ – Mark your calendars for BreyerFest British Invasion, Breyer Animal Creation’s 23rd annual festival for horse lovers this July 20-22, 2012 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. In honor of the London Olympics, this fun, family-friendly festival will celebrate everything we love about horses and Britain! From Will and Kate to the 2012 London Olympics; tea, tweed and Tatler; the Beatles and the Rolling Stones; Harry Potter and everything in between, BreyerFest British Invasion will be a fun frolic for all ages!

BreyerFest draws more than 7,000 horse lovers each year to Lexington for the three-day festival. A limited edition collectible Breyer model is included in the ticket price with every model.

Activities on-site include Shakespeare, dog agility, exciting live horse demonstrations, a Trade Fair and Breyer Store, a pop-up Bit of British store, a Craft and Activity Center with free crafts and face painting, contests, model horse displays and shows, meet and greets with our special equine guests, workshops and seminars. On Saturday evening, a Beatles Tribute band will rock the Alltech Arena!

BreyerFest 1434_Sprinkles BreyerFest 1434_CH_Sprinkles

This year, BreyerFest will feature favorite British breeds such as Dales and Fell Ponies, Hackneys, Cleveland Bays, Shires, and Gypsy Vanners! Special equine guests include some of the real horses that inspired the models! See the amazing transformation of Padré, once a wild mustang, into a halter horse capable of showing at Dressage at Devon! And watch the high-stepping American Saddlebred, CH Sprinkles (above), and 13-year-old Eleanor Rainbolt-Forbes who has taken the show world by storm.

BreyerFest 2012_Mariahs_Boon BreyerFest 2012_Mariahs_Boon_model

The BreyerFest British Invasion Celebration Horse is Moonlit Acres’ Mariah's Boon (above), an American Drum Horse. Each three-day ticket holder will receive a portrait model of Celebration Horse Mariah’s Boon. Boon will recreate the pomp and pageantry of the Queen’s Household Cavalry while Villa Vanner’s Taskin (below), demonstrates the magic of the Gypsy Vanner horse.

BreyerFest Taskin_Real Breyer 711150_Taskin_model

Audiences will also get a chance to see potential future Olympians because the FEI No. American Young Riders Championships will be hosted at the Horse Park during the same weekend. Watch top young riders aged 16-21 years from three countries competing in the Olympic disciplines to determine who the North American Champions will be in show jumping, three-day eventing, and dressage, as well as reining and endurance.

So mark your calendar, talk to your parents about their vacations and make your plans NOW to be in Kentucky for the biggest tea party of the year: BreyerFest British Invasion.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at www.BreyerHorses.com

There is always a great selection of Breyer Model Horses available in the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop!

About Breyer Animal Creations®

Breyer Animal Creations is a division of Reeves International (www.reevesintl.com), a family-owned, NJ-based toy manufacturer and distributor. Breyer, founded in 1950, celebrates the horse and other animals, dedicating itself to the creation of authentic and realistic model horses for play and collecting. Breyer is one of America’s iconic toys and its ‘portrait’ models of horse heroes and animals like Secretariat, Black Beauty, The Black Stallion and Lassie have inspired children of all ages to love animals. Breyer’s partnerships with publishers like Scholastic and Macmillan’s Children’s Publishing and studios like Universal (Seabiscuit); DreamWorks (Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron and Dreamer), and Touchstone Pictures (Hidalgo) have provided a platform to create new content and play forms for children inspiring a world of imagination and creativity. Visit us at www.breyerhorses.com or call 800-413-3348 to learn more about the model horse hobby and Breyer Animal Creations.

High resolution photos available. Contact Kathleen Fallon.
Reeves International (Breyer Animal Creations)
Kathleen Fallon 973-349-1704; Cell:917-592-5185
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Monday, 02 July 2012 13:05

Justin the Artistic Horse will Paint for Charity at Ky Horse Park

Written by Cindy Rullman

Everyone seeks to find his passion in life. This is the story of a horse who was successful in finding his. Read more in Ky Forward

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Friday, 29 June 2012 14:23

Colorado Wildfires - Donate to USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund

Written by Cindy Rullman

Dark Horse Header

June 29, 2012

A Call to Action: Colorado Wildfires - Donate Now to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund

From the USEF Communications Department

Lexington, KY - Fires blazing across the Colorado landscape have together burned more than 100,000 acres in the past few weeks. The Waldo Canyon and High Park fires near Colorado Springs and Fort Collins respectively have ravaged the natural beauty of the area, destroyed nearby homes, and left many displaced people wondering what to do next. For horse owners that uncertainty is even greater. Hundreds of horses have already been displaced and, while local Horse Parks, Fairgrounds, and Equestrian Centers have graciously opened up to evacuated horses, the cost of caring for those horses magnifies the stresses of an already trying time. Efforts to help are already underway but outside assistance is badly needed.

With the support of CEO John Long, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) asks that equestrians, equestrian fans, and all people who share a love for horses make a donation to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund. Cooler weather and calmer winds are helping firefighters in Colorado contain the blazes, but the cost of relocating, feeding, and caring for horses is a burden that local residents and humane societies will carry long after the fires have ceased to burn. With luck, many horses will be returning home soon, but some will have no home left to return to. With your help we can ensure that all affected horses are well cared for and help Colorado's devastated communities re-build.

To most effectively deliver aid the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund was established with the goal of getting horses the help they need, when they need it. "It is important to understand this fund is a dollar in and a dollar out," says John Long, "nothing is withheld." Any donation to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund is a timely and efficient benefit for horses and horse owners.

Donations may be made online by going to

www.usef.org/_AUAIFrames/DisasterRelief/DisasterRelief.aspx.

Having originated during the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund was formed to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of horses during trying times. Money donated to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund is used to prepare for disasters and assists equids of any breed who are victims of disasters including but not restricted to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, blizzards, and fires. Money donated to the fund is held by the USEF in an account restricted for this purpose. Money from the fund can only be disbursed upon the authorization of the USEF Chief Executive Officer.

If you wish to contribute by check, please make it out to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund and mail it to: The United States Equestrian Federation, 4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.

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Wednesday, 06 June 2012 13:29

Free Military Day on July 1, 2012 for Active Service Members; Discounts for Non-Active

Written by Cindy Rullman

Active service members and their families will be admitted to the Kentucky Horse Park free of charge on Sunday, July 1, from 9am to 5pm. Non-active military and their families will receive discounted admission.

In addition to all of the regular park activities, shows, and museums, special events will include an Arabian Horse Show, a Carriage Horse event, and special demonstrations by Australian horse whisperer Dan James.

Unique Horse Farm Tours, which departs from the Kentucky Horse Park to tour local horse farms, will offer free tours to any active duty member of the military that day (limited availability).

In addition, military members can also learn about the new equine activities and programs for veterans and their families at Central Kentucky Riding Hope, located at the Kentucky Horse Park.*

All branches of the U.S. military are invited! Just show military i.d. at the ticket booth for free park admission and at the gift shop for a discount on purchases. Non-active military, veterans and their families will receive $4 off adult admission ($12 with discount) and $2 off admission for children ages 7-12 ($6 with discount). Children ages 6 and under are always admitted free of charge.

For more information call 859-259-4200.

*Watch a video about Horses for Heroes

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Wednesday, 09 May 2012 12:35

KHP FOUNDATION NAMED A FINALIST IN TOYOTA’S 2012 100 CARS FOR GOOD PROGRAM

Written by Cindy Rullman

Laura Klumb
Kentucky Horse Park Foundation
859-255-5727
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Toyota Donating 100 Cars to 100 Nonprofits in 100 Days – Public to Choose the Winners on Facebook. Kentucky Horse Park Foundation Needs Toyota Tundra Truck to Help Care for Park’s Horses and Maintain the Park

Lexington, Kentucky – May 9, 2012 – The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation announced today that it has been selected as one of 500 nonprofit finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, a major philanthropic initiative in which the automaker is giving 100 cars to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 days. The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation was selected as a finalist from more than 4,000 applications nationwide.

Each day, beginning May 14, 2012, 100 Cars for Good will profile five finalists at www.100carsforgood.com. Individual members of the public will be able to vote for whichever nonprofit they think can do the most good with a new vehicle. The nonprofit with the most votes at the end of each day will win one of six Toyota models. Runners-up will each receive a $1,000 cash grant from Toyota.

The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation will be up for consideration on Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 10 a.m. EDT to 11:59 p.m. EDT.

"Everyone at the Kentucky Horse Park is thrilled that the Foundation has been selected as a finalist for the 2012 100 Cars for Good program," said Laura Klumb, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. "We’re grateful for this incredible opportunity to showcase the Kentucky Horse Park and hopefully win a new truck for the park! We hope everyone will help us spread the word now and, of course, will make time to visit www.100carsforgood.com on Sunday, May 20, to vote for us. A new truck would really be a game changer for our ability to care for the 130 horses living at the park and keep our park looking beautiful for our 1 million annual guests."

"At Toyota, we appreciate what a significant impact a new car can have for nonprofits nationwide," noted Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. "Toyota has donated more than half a billion dollars to nonprofits across the U.S. over the past 20 years, and 100 Cars for Good allows us to expand that commitment to local communities in important new ways. The 500 finalists are an extraordinary group, and we look forward to the public learning more about them."

100 Cars for Good is the first initiative to directly engage the public to determine how Toyota’s philanthropic donations are awarded.

For more information on the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and its efforts to win one of Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good, please visit the Kentucky Horse Park’s website at www.kyhorsepark.com. You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter at https://www.facebook.com/kyhorsepark or http://twitter.com/#!/KyHorsePark. For complete information on 100 Cars for Good and profiles of all 500 finalists, please visit www.100carsforgood.com.

Local residents are encouraged to support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and its quest for a new Toyota Tundra truck. If the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation receives the most votes and is awarded the vehicle, it will be used daily at the park to take feed and hay to the 130 horses living on its over 1200 acres, to repair and maintain the park’s 33 miles of white fences, and keep the park’s grounds safe and beautiful for the guests visiting year-round.

A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services.

About the Kentucky Horse Park
The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man's relationship with the horse. The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and hosted more than 825,000 visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2011. The park is home to the National Horse Center which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations. Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is The place to get close to horses. Open daily March 15 to Nov. 4, and Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 5 to March 15.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants in eight states. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design facilities. Toyota's annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from U.S. suppliers totals more than $23 billion.

Toyota is deeply committed to being a great community partner and is focused on supporting programs in ways that achieve long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, with a particular concentration on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than half a billion dollars to philanthropic programs across the U.S.

For more information on Toyota, please visit www.toyota.com.

About Toyota Financial Services (TFS)
TFS is the finance and insurance brand for Toyota and Lexus in the U.S., offering retail auto financing and leasing through Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (TMCC) and Toyota Lease Trust and extended service contracts and other payment protection products through Toyota Motor Insurance Services (TMIS). TFS employs 3,300 associates nationwide, and has managed assets totaling more than $91 billion. It is part of a worldwide network of comprehensive financial services offered by Toyota Financial Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation.

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