LEXINGTON, Ky, USA/Imphal, Manipur, India (January 20, 2012) The Secretariat of His Excellency Gurbachan Jagat, the Governor of Manipur, and the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, are pleased to announce that a unique gift of traditional Manipuri Polo (Sagol Kangjei) gear has been donated by His Excellency to the museum on behalf of the people of Manipur. The donation was arranged by Dr. R.K.Nimai Singh, Secretary to the Governor and L. Somi Roy, a film and media arts curator, of New York.

The gifts were designed and fabricated by Meisnam Khelen of Khurai Thongam Leikai, former captain of the Manipur Polo team following the most authentic process and materials. They include the traditional Manipuri wooden saddle, braided bridle, braided leather whip, a full set of traditional polo player's attire, two traditional polo mallets and a ball. Mr. Roy made an additional gift of traditional Manipuri darts (arambai) with peacock feathers, also made by Mr. Khelen.

The Governor of Manipur is pleased that he was able to donate the items on behalf of the people of Manipur. Even though Manipur is the origin of modern polo, most people do not know this and he expressed that this small gift will at least provide a window to the glorious polo tradition of Manipur to the outside world. He expressed his gratitude to the museum for accepting the gifts for display.

"We are extremely grateful to the governor and the people of Manipur not only for the significant donation of ethnographic materials related to the Manipuri Pony* and polo in Manipur, but also for allowing us to do our small part to raise awareness of these historically significant animals and the current threat of their extinction," said Bill Cooke, Director of the International Museum of the Horse.

The gifts will be displayed in the museum's permanent exhibit called "The Horse in Sport." An exploration of the contemporary uses of horse in recreational activities, the exhibit features sections devoted to rodeo, polo, Thoroughbred racing, Standardbred racing and more. The exhibit was renovated in the summer of 2010 and now features a major section devoted to eight disciplines of the World Equestrian Games, which the Kentucky Horse Park hosted in 2010. Manipuri sagol kangjei will be featured alongside English polo, tracing the origins and history of modern polo. Expected to open to the public in the Spring of 2012, the exhibition panel will display Manipuri sagol kangjei and English polo in traditional attire as well as video and photographic displays.
 
In addition, the museum will add the Manipuri Pony, or the Meitei Sagol, to its online exhibit "Horse Breeds of the World" and will highlight the breed's special characteristics, its importance in the region and culture of Manipur and its present endangered condition.
The governor's Secretariat and the International Museum of the Horse are pleased to acknowledge the contributions to this addition to the museum by Dr. Evelyn Knight, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Health Behaviour, University of Kentucky College of Public Health; Becky Ryder, Director of the Keeneland Library at the Keeneland Association Race Course in Lexington; Mary Molinaro, Associate Dean for Library Technologies at University of Kentucky Libraries; and Rachel Roberts, Digitisation Studio Manager at the British Library in London.

For more information and additional press materials, please contact Cindy Rullman, 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. and Dr. R. K. Nimai Singh 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. . 
 

*For more information on the Manipuri Pony click on http://tinyurl.com/6rb2bp2.

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Contact: Charlene Mingus                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tel. 859-281-1202

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

UK Healthcare’s Bluegrass International Cup at Polo in the Park

Benefiting Bluegrass Conservancy & The Fayette Alliance

May 19, 2011 – Lexington, KY

The location of the 5th annual Bluegrass International Cup at Polo in the Park presented by UK Healthcare has changed. It will now be held at the Kentucky Horse Park’s renowned John Henry field. The eventwill still be held on Saturday, July 16, 2011. The Bluegrass International Cup at Polo in the Park benefits the crucial efforts of Bluegrass Conservancy and the Fayette Alliance. Main tent patrons enjoy a delicious dinner by Dupree Catering and drinks as they watch an exciting polo match between Team U.S.A. and Team South Africa.  While tailgaters get a front row view of the polo match from the limited availability tailgating spots. Tailgaters should bring their own food and drink, as well as, blankets and chairs so they can stretch their feet out in the lawn. After the match, tailgaters are invited to join the main tent for an evening of dancing to the sensational beats of 24/7. Tickets are now available. Please visit PoloBenefit.com or call 859-255-4552 for more information or to purchase tickets.

Last year, over 800 guests enjoyed a fantastic evening of professional polo between South Africa and the United States, delicious food, and dancing. This year, over 1,000 guests are expected to enjoy the same good cheer and unique field sport while supporting farmland preservation and the work of Bluegrass Conservancy and The Fayette Alliance.

Founded in 1995, Bluegrass Conservancy is a private, nonprofit land trust working to protect the Inner Bluegrass Region of Kentucky through land conservation for future generations. We encourage the preservation of these lands through the use of conservation easements for agricultural viability, natural habitat, rural heritage, and scenic open space. Our service area includes but is not limited to Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Mercer, Scott, and Woodford counties. Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements between a landowner and a qualified land trust such as Bluegrass Conservancy. These flexible agreements are tailored to the landowner’s objectives and property in order to preserve the land for agriculture and/or other open space activities in perpetuity, thereby protecting the land’s conservation values. A landowner donating a conservation easement to Bluegrass Conservancy may be eligible for significant income tax and estate tax savings. Our land trust currently holds 74 conservation easements permanently protecting 11,279 acres.

The Fayette Alliance is Lexington’s ONLY land-use advocacy organization that regularly educates and lobbies local government for a sustainable Lexington that benefits all of us. We believe that preserving and promoting our signature Bluegrass landscape and its related agricultural industries, creating a dynamic and equitable city through responsible development, and improving our infrastructure and environment are key to achieving success here in Lexington-Fayette County. We are an alliance of citizens from the entire community. As a united voice for sustainable growth, we only weigh-in on those land-use issues that have countywide significance. Together we chart our future, and positively impact local zoning and policy decisions—the very building blocks of our community.

To learn more about these organizations, please visit www.bluegrassconservancy.org and www.fayettealliance.com.