Lexington, KY – July 23, 2012 – The 2012 Kentucky Summer Series will begin this Tuesday and run for two weeks, followed by the USEF Pony Finals, the Bluegrass Festival Classic, and the KHJA Horse Show. The Kentucky Summer Horse Show will be held July 25-29, 2012, and will be followed by the Kentucky Summer Classic, scheduled for July 31-5, 2012. The East Coast U.S. Junior Hunter Championship will run concurrently with the Kentucky Summer Horse Show from July 24 - July 25, with the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic.

Any members of the media that require special interviews or any special assistance, or those that wish to cover this event, please contact Phelps Media Group, Inc. International on the grounds at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Mason Phelps – 561-371-0118
Kendall Bierer – 561-309-9873

Or call the Kentucky Spring Horse Show Office
859-254-3343 (phone)
859-231-6097 (fax)

The East Coast U.S. Junior Hunter Championship will begin tomorrow, July 24, and run concurrently with the Kentucky Summer Horse Show on July 25,2012. This national championship will attract the very best Junior Hunters. In addition, the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic will be held July 25, 2012 in the Rolex Stadium.

Held at the renowned Kentucky Horse Park, the Kentucky Summer Horse Show will include the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by Hallway Feeds, one of the six events of the Hallway Feeds series, which will provide a $10,000 Bonus to the leading professional rider and $2,500 each to the leading Amateur and Junior riders. Jumper highlights for the Kentucky Summer Horse Show include the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic on Thursday, July 26, the $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix on Saturday, July 28, and the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics on Sunday, July 29. The Hagyard Lexington Classic is part of a seven-class series, culminating with a $50,000 Leading Riding Award. The 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series will also feature a high point Thoroughbred Award. Following the final event, a $10,000 prize will be presented to the high point Thoroughbred participating in the Series.

Throughout the summer, the Kentucky Summer Series will feature the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion, offering $30,000 in bonus money. Riders wearing the SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves with the SSG horse head logo clearly visible during all rounds of competition in designated events are eligible for the bonus.

The series will continue with the Kentucky Summer Classic held July 31-August 5. The $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic will be held on Thursday, August 2, and on Saturday, August 4, riders will compete in the Rolex Stadium in the $50,000 Rood and Riddle Grand Prix. The $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby will also return on Saturday, August 4.

The USEF Pony Finals will be held August 7 - 12. More than 600 qualifying ponies will compete for awards in Green and Regular pony sections, pony jumpers and the Pony Medal Finals.

The third show of the Kentucky Summer Series, the Bluegrass Festival Horse
Show is a WCHR Member event, where riders can earn points towards year-end awards. The $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals will return to Rolex Stadium, August 17-18. Spectators can also look forward to the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic on Friday, August 17 and the $40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix and Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics on Sunday, August 19.

Wrapping up the summer series will be the KHJA Horse Show held August 22- 26, 2012. The $10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake will run Friday, August 24, and will be followed on Sunday, August 26, by the $30,000 KHJA Grand Prix and the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics. The KHJA Horse Show will also host the final event of the Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby and the presentation of the leading rider awards.

Based at the renowned Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, host of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the Kentucky Summer Series offers equestrians a chance to compete at one of the top facilities in the world. For more information about the Kentucky Summer Series, please check the prize list on www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Photo Credit: The Kentucky Summer Series prize list is available online. Photo Courtesy of the Client. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.

KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW FAST FACTS

Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass
Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2012 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.

What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC\'s 2012 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions feature a USEF 5* Jumper Rating and \"AA\" Hunter rating. The Kentucky Horse Show Series is the host of the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award.

Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.

When:
U.S. JUNIOR HUNTER CHAMPIONSHIP - East Coast & HUNTERDON CUP
- July 24-25, 2012

KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 25-29, 2012
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$2,500 USHJA National Hunter Classic
$40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 31- August 5, 2012
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

2012 USEF PONY FINALS - August 8-12, 2012

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW - August 15-19, 2012
$100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals - August 17 - 18, 2012
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

KHJA HORSE SHOW - August 22-26, 2012
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

Hours:
8am – 5pm daily

Written by: Rebecca Walton
Client: Kentucky Horse Shows LLC
Release Date: 2011-12-12

Lexington, KY – December 12, 2011 – On December 6, 2011, Hugh Kincannon of Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, was recognized at the United States Hunter Jumper Association’s Evening of Equestrians Awards Dinner. Kincannon received the President’s Distinguished Service Award for his management of USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, the USEF Pony Finals, and the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. The USHJA presented the award to Kincannon for his dedication to these events, and his efforts to always go above and beyond to make them a success.

In 2006, USHJA created a new award category, the USHJA President's Distinguished Service Awards. These awards were developed by the President and staff to recognize and honor the dedication and service by members to USHJA and our sport. The staff and President reviewed the programs of USHJA, as well as the work involved in developing and implementing them, and those individuals who have gone beyond the call of duty to bring our sport to a new level and to benefit our membership.

These awards are presented annually at the USHJA Evening of Equestrians Awards Dinner. The recipients of these awards remain a surprise until the night of the presentations. Kincannon was not able to attend the event and Marion Maybank accepted the award on his behalf.

“Receiving this award is very gratifying,” noted Kincannon. “We’re very happy to have the opportunity to be involved with those very special events. A large part of it is the fact that we have the best place to do those events, the Kentucky Horse Park. I think it’s a combination of many factors that makes my job so much easier. It includes my talented staff, the facility, and the cooperation of the groups for whom we are producing those events.”

Kincannon is the founder of Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, one of the leading horse show management companies in the nation, and is pleased to announce the dates for the 2012 horse show season. Featuring “AA”-rated hunter/jumper competition throughout the spring and summer at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, these events draw the country’s top horse and rider combinations each year.

For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Photo Credit: Hugh Kincannon received the USHJA’s President’s Distinguished Service Award. Photo By: Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.