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!

Cigar, who was named "Horse of the Decade,"  is a resident of our Hall of Champions.  He earned nearly $10 million on the racetrack and is ranked as the 18th greatest racehorse of the 20th century. 

MEDIA ALERT
Contact Cindy Rullman
859-259-4209
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

WHO:  John and Elizabeth Fort of Peachtree Racing Stable, Inc. and the Kentucky Horse Park

WHAT:  Memorial service for Kentucky Derby contender and stallion Invisible Ink

WHEN:  Friday, September 16, 2011, at 11am

WHERE:  Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions

WHY:  Invisible Ink was not the type of horse who would normally be buried at the Hall of Champions alongside some of the greatest of the racing industry’s stars.  However, the Kentucky Horse Park agreed with his owners, John and Elizabeth Fort, that Invisible Ink earned a place there, to stand as a permanent reminder that the heart of a champion beats in every horse, regardless of breed, discipline, or success on the racetrack or in the show ring.  All a horse needs is someone to believe in him. 

Beautifully bred Invisible Ink (Thunder Gulch-Conquistress, by Conquistador Cielo) stole the hearts of many who don’t normally follow Thoroughbred racing by winning a much-publicized battle against a life-threatening illness as a 2-year-old, thanks to the valiant efforts of his owners and a team of people who wouldn’t give up on him.  He went on to earn the respect of the Thoroughbred industry when he came back from that illness to place second in the Kentucky Derby (G1).  His career earnings were $465,088.

While John Fort admits that Invisible Ink may not have been an outstanding racehorse, he “has been a very special horse to us and to literally thousands of other people across the nation. I know because I have received their e-mails and phone calls. You're lucky in this business to come across a horse like Invisible Ink."  Even Paul Harvey told Invisible Ink’s story on is radio broadcast.

Invisible Ink died in Pennsylvania on July 7.  He will be buried at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions this week and remembered in a public memorial service.
 
Read more about Invisible Ink’s story in a beautiful tribute by Steve Haskin: http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse-racing-steve-haskin/archive/2011/07/07/the-loss-of-a-thoroughbred.aspx

HOW:  Media availability with John and Elizabeth Fort and John Nicholson. Members of the media should park in the main parking lot at the Visitor Center.  Golf cart shuttles will be available from there to the Hall of Champions beginning at 10:30am.  The public is invited to attend.

Editor's note:  Photos of Invisible Ink are available for use by the media by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  Photos above (c) Louise Reinagel.

Press Conference for High Hope Steeplechase

Who:  Hall of Fame Jockey and founder/director of the North American Racing Academy (NARA) Chris McCarron; leading Thoroughbred and steeplechase owner Ken Ramsey; Remi Bellocq, chairperson of the High Hope Steeplechase Committee

What:  A press conference announcing the return of High Hope Steeplechase on May 22, 2011, following a one-year hiatus to accommodate the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.