Lexington, KY June 14, 2008 Kentucky Horse Shows LLC, the management company for the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, is thrilled to announce that the Kentucky Horse Parks Walnut Ring will be resurfaced with Otto Sport- und Reitplatz GmbH footing surfaces. Otto Sport- und Reitplatz GmbH will provide the riding surfaces for the Outdoor Stadium Complex at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in September and October of 2010.
Otto Sport- und Reitplatz GmbH is based out of Altdorf, Germany, near Nuremberg. The companys new state-of-the-art surface will be installed in the Kentucky Horse Parks Outdoor Stadium, currently under construction, as well as two warm-up ring surfaces. The surface for the Walnut Ring and its warm-up ring, totaling nearly 90,000 square feet, is currently being installed at the park.
The Walnut Rings upgrade will be completed in time for the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, held at the park the weeks of July 30-August 3 and August 6-10, 2008. The new and improved Walnut Ring will also serve as the main hunter arena for the USEF National Pony Championships (Pony Finals) from August 13-17, the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show from August 20-24, and the KHJA Horse Show, which will be held the week of August 27-31, 2008.
Hugh Kincannon, manager of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, commented, We are thrilled to be working with the Kentucky Horse Park and Otto Sport to bring the same world-class footing to the Walnut Ring that will be used at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. This project will be completed in time for our upcoming summer series.
The Walnut Ring will be the site of seven Kentucky summer series grand prix classes and the $20,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby, scheduled for August 3 at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. It will also be the main hunter arena for the USEF National Pony Championships (Pony Finals) in August. We are truly excited to be able to offer the benefits of this truly exceptional arena surface to our competitors.
The footings renowned Otto Riding Arena Mat System includes special drainage features and safety properties, and the Otto perforated mats ensure that water can drain off quickly when faced with excessive rain fall and precipitation. The mats, which offer non-slip properties and the ability to absorb shock, are complemented with a special footing mixture that is ideal for equestrian competition. This system has been featured at the World Equestrian Games in Rome, Italy, in 1998 and in Aachen, Germany, in 2006, as well as in the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar.
John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park and President of the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc. stated, Our goal has always been to aggrandize the park into the finest equestrian facility on earth, and this fabulous new surface in our stadium will move us another step closer by providing our horses and riders with the safest, surest footing available anywhere in the world.
Featuring two grand prix competitions, one of which is AGA sanctioned, the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows will welcome top show jumpers in the $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix and the $40,000 RV Sales of Broward Kentucky Classic Grand Prix. Additionally, the shows will host two $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classics, which are part of the $215,000 Hagyard Challenge Series. All of these events wil be held in the Walnut Ring on the newly installed footing.
For more information on the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows or to download the prize list, please go to www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
2008 KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOWS FAST FACTS
Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Show July 30 August 3, 2008
Kentucky Summer Classic August 6 -10, 2008
What:
Two of the nations premier equestrian competitions, featuring two grand prix competitions, one of which is AGA sanctioned. A World Championship Hunter Rider recognized hunter competition. The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows offer two Hagyard Lexington Classics, which are part of the summer-long $215,000 Hagyard Challenge Series. The competitions are also qualifying events for the Washington International Horse Show Championships and the North American League finals.
Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.
When:
KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW JULY 30 AUGUST 3, 2008
A World Championship Hunter Rider Event
$20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
The $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
The $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix
KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC AUGUST 6 10, 2008
The $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
The $40,000 RV Sales of Broward Kentucky Classic Grand Prix
A Member Event of the AGA Grand Prix Series
Hours:
8am 5pm daily
Admission:
Admission is free to the public. The Kentucky Horse Park charges a $3.00 daily fee for parking.
VIP Seating:
Tables of six are available each week in the ringside spectator pavilion for both shows at a price of $1,000 per week. This will entitle table holders and their guests to exclusive seating in the pavilion, which provides daily continental breakfasts and complimentary lunches. Additionally, table holders receive a VIP parking pass and access to wireless internet service. Tables may be reserved by contacting Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Parking:
Horse Show Exhibitors may purchase a weekly parking pass at the main Horse Park entrance for $5.00.
Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located 8 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.
Information:
Before Show - Telephone: (859) 233-0492, Email: hakshows@earthlink.net
During Show - Telephone: (859) 254-3343, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling - Email Tom Blankenship at Tomb@kentuckyhorseshows.com
Prize List Advertising - Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com
Vendors - Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com
VIP Tables - Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com
Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
Ring Dimensions/Specs:
All outdoor competition arenas and schooling areas consist of a limesand base and mortar sand cushion. The Indoor Arena consists of sand and loam. The dimensions of the competition areas are as follows:
Stonelea: 135 x 285, Claiborne: 140 x 270
Murphy: 140 x 290, Indoor: 145 x 285
Walnut: 300 x 370
Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.
Hotels:
HOLIDAY INN NORTH-859 - 233-0512 - Approximately 4 miles
FOUR POINTS SHERATON 859-259-1311 Approximately 4 miles
LA QUINTA 859-231-7551 Approximately 4 miles
KNIGHTS INN 859-231-0255 Approximately 4 miles
EMBASSY SUITES 859-455-5000 Approximately 4 miles
MARRIOT GRIFFIN GATE 859-231-5100 Approximately 4 miles
RESIDENCE INN 859-231-6191 Approximately 5 miles
COURTYARD BY MARRIOT 859-253-4646 Approximately 5 miles
RAMADA INN 859-299-1261 Approximately 6 miles
RED ROOF INN 859-293-2626 Approximately 6 miles
HAMPTON INN 502-867-4888 Approximately 6 miles
SUPER EIGHT 502-863-4888 Approximately 6 miles
MICROTEL INN & SUITES - 502-868-8000 - Approximately 6 miles
Management:
Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC
P. O. Box 11428
Lexington, KY 40575-1428
859-233-0492 (phone)
859-233-0495 (fax)
email: hakshows@earthlink.net
website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
Media Contact:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
13833 Wellington Trace
Unit E-4 #221
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com
