MEDIA ADVISORY
Cindy Rullman
859-259-4209
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The Black Stallion Show Media Opportunity
 
WHO:  The Kentucky Horse Park, Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, The Little Foundation, UKHealthcare Children’s Hospital, Kentucky Bank and Kentucky Thoroughbred Association.

WHAT:  Four thousand fourth graders from the Lexington and surrounding counties are currently reading Walter Farley’s book, “The Black Stallion,” through a partnership between the Kentucky Horse Park, The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and the Black Stallion Literacy Program.   Next, during a trip to the Kentucky Horse Park, the fourth graders will experience the book in a new way.  Notable scenes from the book will come to life as professional performers and horses from Arabian Nights (Orlando, Florida) will perform scenes from the childhood favorite and dazzle the audience with daredevil stunts in the Black Stallion Literacy Show.
 
WHEN:  Wednesdy. May 11, Noon 

WHERE: Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park
 
WHY:   The purpose is to inspire children to discover the joys of reading and the excitement of learning through the wonders of live horses and Walter Farley’s Black Stallion books.  
 
HOW:  Members of the media, while there will not be an official press conference for this, please park in the designated Press Conference area at the Alltech Arena.  Inside the main doors to the arena, look for a volunteer with a "Media" sign. 

There will be a press conference at 11am at The Farmhouse regarding the Alltech National Horse Show, so please plan to attend both. 
 

Eventing Riders Coming From Around the World
2010 WEG Gold Medal Team Entered in Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup
 

Lexington, KY—April 11, 2011—It comes as no surprise that the entry list for this year's Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, boasts the names of many of the best horses and riders from around the world. A field of entries containing Olympic veterans, past Rolex Kentucky Champions and World Equestrian Games (WEG) veterans will converge on the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, when the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, returns April 28-May 1.

This year, the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup will debut alongside the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and it will feature the world’s best reiners including the four members of the Gold Medal team from last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, all of whom are entered to compete.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is part of the HSBC FEI ClassicsTM and features the world’s best horses and riders vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing which is awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four Star Events in succession.

The only CCI4* in the Western Hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event features the 14th championship for the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Pinnacle Cup, signifying the zenith in Eventing competition in the United States. The event draws 50-100,000 spectators and is seen by millions more on worldwide telecasts including a 60-minute live broadcast on NBC in the United States that will air from 2-3:00 pm on May 1.

As always, spectators at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event can look forward to rooting on their favorite horse-and-rider combinations as they compete in the three phases of competition: dressage, cross-country and show jumping.

Those expected to compete during this year's Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event include:

• William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain, an Olympic Silver and Bronze Team Medalist, winner of the inaugural HSBC FEI ClassicTM Series, 2010 Alltech FEI WEG Team Gold and Individual Silver Medalist, and defending Rolex Kentucky Champion
• Mary King of Great Britain, a 2010 Alltech FEI WEG Team Gold Medalist
• Mark Todd of New Zealand, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and 2010 Alltech FEI WEG Team Bronze Medalist
• Clayton Fredericks of Australia, a 2008 Olympic Team Silver Medalist and 2006 WEG Individual Silver Medalist
• Karen O'Connor of the U.S, a three-time Olympic veteran, 1999 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* winner and two-time Rolex Kentucky CCI3* winner
• Phillip Dutton of the United States, a two-time Olympic team Gold Medalist for his native Australia and 2008 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* Champion
• Kim Severson of the United States, a three-time Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* Champion and 2004 Olympic Team Bronze and Individual Silver Medalist
• Boyd Martin of the United States, a 2010 Alltech FEI WEG team member
• Bruce “Buck” Davidson, Jr. of the United States, a 2010 Alltech FEI WEG team member
• Jil Walton of the United States, a 1992 Olympic veteran

The Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup includes a CRI5*, the sport’s highest level, as well as the first-ever World Championship Freestyle. The CRI5* offers $50,000US in prize money and will be the only Five Star Reining event in the western hemisphere in 2011.

The World Championship Freestyle marks the first time that the title of “World Champion” will be awarded in Freestyle Reining, a consistent crowd favorite. The event’s $25,000US prize money also marks the largest purse for a Reining Freestyle anywhere in the world.
Heading the list of entries are the four riders who led the United States to the team Gold Medal at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games:

• Tom McCutcheon, who also won the individual Gold Medal
• Craig Schmersal, who also won the individual Silver Medal
• Tim McQuay
• Shawn Flarida

"In 2010, the world turned its attention to the Kentucky Horse Park for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games," said Christina Gray, Director of Competition for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. "We are ready for that attention again as we welcome back riders who participated in the Games as well as an impressive roster of Olympians, past Champions and legends in the sports of Reining and Three-Day Eventing."

Further information on the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Bridgestone, is available at the Rolex Kentucky website at www.rk3de.org and for the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup visit www.KentuckyReining.com.

Follow Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone and the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup online at:
www.facebook.com/RolexKentucky
www.twitter.com/RolexKentucky
www.youtube.com/RolexKentucky
www.facebook.com/KentuckyReining
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www.youtube.com/KentuckyReining

NBC Sports to Feature Live Telecast of Rolex Equestrian Championships Presented by Land Rover

Lexington, KY- Mark your calendar, plan the party and get the big screen ready! For the first time in its history, the Rolex Equestrian Championships presented by Land Rover will air LIVE on NBC Sports, Sunday, May 1, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT.
 
With the support of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and Equestrian Events, Inc., organizer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, NBC Sports will broadcast the final show jumping rounds LIVE, alongside taped highlights of the dressage and cross-country phases. One of the world's most prestigious equestrian competitions and America's only CCI4*, Rolex Kentucky returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, April 28-May 1. The event attracts tens of thousands of spectators and millions of viewers on telecasts worldwide.
 
"Those final rounds during show jumping are full of suspense and excitement - you just never know when rails will fall," said Lisa Ball, President of Equestrian Events, Inc. "We are thrilled that fans across the nation will be able to share in that excitement along with the thousands of fans here at the Kentucky Horse Park."
 
The 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event will crown the 14th USEF National CCI4* Champion, and is the only North American leg of the HSBC FEI ClassicsTM  Series. The world's best horses and riders will compete for their share of $250,000 in prize money as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing which is awarded to any rider who wins Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley, consecutively. (The term "consecutively" shall not be limited to wins which occur within the same competition year or same calendar year.)
 
Past winners of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event include United States Olympic Medalists David and Karen O'Connor, Kim Severson and Phillip Dutton, New Zealand's Blyth Tait and Nick Larkin, Pippa Funnell and William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain and Andrew Hoy, Clayton Fredericks and Lucinda Fredericks of Australia.
 
To find out more about tailgating and ticketing packages available for the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, visit www.rk3de.org. Tickets may be ordered online, or by printing the ticket order form from the website and returning it via mail or fax 859-254-5116 to Equestrian Events, Inc. Tickets may also be ordered by calling 859-254-8123. Advance ticket sales close on April 10!
 
ENDS
 
Equestrian Events, Inc., (EEI) is a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park.  Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event which quickly evolved into what is today the only four star three-day event in the Western Hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone.

You can spend your lunchtime doing something good for yourself and for unborn babies by joining us for a walk around the Kentucky Horse Park to raise money for the March of Dimes:

The prestigious National Horse Show is moving to the Kentucky Horse Park!  Read the article in the Lexinton Herald-Leader!  National Horse Show Moving to KHP!

Media Contact: Mason Phelps
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389  fax 561.753.3386
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Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC Announces 2011 Dates for Spring Competitions

Lexington, KY - February 1, 2011 - Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, one of the leading horse show management companies in the nation, is pleased to announce the dates for the 2011 Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. With two weeks of exciting hunter/jumper shows at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows are always a highlight event. The first week of competition, the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, will be held from May 11-15, and the Kentucky Spring Classic will follow during the week of May 18-22, 2011.

This stellar horse show series attracts top riders from across the country to participate in their exciting jumper classes and grand prix events. With two grand prix events each week, show jumping riders have the opportunity to compete for over $340,000 dollars in prize money.

Each week the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows will feature the $31,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, CSI 2*, where riders will have the opportunity to compete for the Hagyard Leading Rider Bonus. These two classes will kick-off the Hagyard Challenge Series, consisting of seven grand prix classes held during the 2011 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final Hagyard event the Hagyard Leading Rider Bonus will be awarded to the year's top rider following the completion of this exciting event.

The Kentucky Spring Horse Show will also feature the $55,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix on May 15 and the Kentucky Spring Classic will feature the $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix to be held on Saturday, May 21. Both of these classes will be held in the spacious Outdoor Stadium that hosted the show jumping events for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™.

The show series offers top-notch rated hunter divisions with high-tech surfaces designed by the German company OTTO Sport-und Reitplatz GmbH. The first week of competition, the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, is a World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) recognized hunter competition. The WCHR is an awards program started by the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation, and the awards are presented, on both a national and regional level, to Pony, Junior, Amateur, Professional, Adult and Children's hunter riders who accumulate the most points at WCHR designated horse shows throughout the year.

The Kentucky Spring Horse Show will also feature the USHJA International Hunter Derby being held Saturday, May 14, in the Main Stadium.

While competing at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, exhibitors and their families can also explore downtown Lexington, which features fine dining and shopping. The beautiful Lexington area offers numerous hotel accommodations near the horse show facilities and the main downtown area.

For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

PHOTO: Pablo Barrios dominated the 2010 Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

February and March Calendar of Events:

• • Now-Mar: Indoor Polo
  • Feb 5-6: Snowball Mounted Games Series
  • Feb 12: Absolute Action Mixed Martial Arts Live Event
  • Feb 12-13: Horses and Hot Chocolate mounted games
  • Feb 18-Dec 31: Celebrities: Saddlebreds and Personalities from the Silver Screen, Cinema and History exhibition in American Saddlebred Museum
  • Feb 19: Snowbird Dressage
  • Feb 20: Horses and Hot Chocolate mounted games
  • Feb 26-27: New Home and Remodeling Marketplace
  • Feb 28-Mar 3: American Farriers Association Forging Competition
  • Mar 5-6: Keeneland Pony Club Mounted Games
  • Mar 12-13: Champagne Run Hunter Jumper Show
  • Mar 15-May 30: Vavra's Vision: The Equine Images of Robert Vavra exhibition in International Museum of the Horse
  • Mar 19: Snowbird Dressage
  • Mar 12: Fayette County Farm Bureau Auction
  • Mar 19-20: Bluegrass Mounted Games
  • Mar 22-23: USEF Dressage Judges Clinic
  • Mar 25-27: Universal Rodeo
  • Mar 26: MidSouth Pony Club Games Rally
  • Mar 26: Paul Frazer Memorial Combined Tests and Dressage Show
  • Mar 31-Apr 3: Bluegrass Classic Arabian Show

Other equine interests:

• Cross-country schooling sessions on KHP's world-famous course

• Original licensed Secretariat jewelry by Jane Heart available at KHP Gift Shop!

• Follow the Kentucky Horse Park on Facebook and Twitter!

MEDIA ADVISORY
Marty Bauman, Classic Communications
508-698-6810
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2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event
Presented by Bridgestone

Who: Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, Kentucky Horse Park Executive Director John Nicholson, United States Equestrian Federation CEO John Long, and Equestrian Events, Inc. President Lisa Ball

International Reining and World Championship Freestyle to Be Held During 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Bridgestone

Lexington, Kentucky, USA – February 9, 2011– Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) have announced that the Kentucky Reining Cup, which includes international Reining and the first-ever World Championship Freestyle, will be held in addition to this year’s event at the Kentucky Horse Park, April 28-May 1.

One of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions and the only CCI**** in the Western Hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, annually attracts 50-100,000 spectators and millions of viewers on international telecasts including a 60-minute domestic broadcast on NBC.

The Kentucky Reining Cup competition, currently pending final approval by the FEI (International Equestrian Federation), will be managed by HorsePower, Inc., Reining’s leading event production firm, and will include a Five Star Reining competition, known as a CRI5* (Concours de Reining International), the sport’s highest level, as well as the first-ever World Championship Freestyle.  The CRI5* will offer $50,000US in prize money and will be the only Five Star Reining event in the western hemisphere in 2011.

The World Championship Freestyle, expected to draw competitors from around the world, will mark the first time that the title of “World Champion” will be awarded in Freestyle Reining, a consistent crowd favorite.  The event’s $25,000US prize money will also mark the largest purse for a Reining Freestyle anywhere in the world.

“It was always our belief that one of the legacies of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games would be that new international events would come to Kentucky,” said Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear.  “It is with great pride that we welcome this elite competition to Kentucky and host it alongside what is already one of our favorite events, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.  The long-time international success of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day event opened the door for the Kentucky Horse Park to garner the bid for the 2010 FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games and presents us with another opportunity to broaden our international appeal.”

"Lexington has long been recognized as the 'Horse Capital of the World' and the addition of this new elite Reining competition is sure to reinforce that position," Lexington Mayor Jim Gray said. "Kentucky's investment in new facilities at the Kentucky Horse Park were excellent venues for last year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. This investment is paying off in attracting new events here that bring new tourism dollars to our city. This is great news for Lexington.”

“Given the overwhelming success of last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games which featured World Championships in eight FEI disciplines, it makes perfect sense to host a major competition in another popular discipline during the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event,” said John Long, CEO of the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF).  “The chance to see the highest level of Eventing and Reining is sure to draw even more people to Kentucky and add to the excitement of what is already one of the world’s premier equestrian events.”

“The Rolex Stadium and the Alltech Arena were the sites of some of the most exciting equestrian competition the world has witnessed during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games,” said John Nicholson, Kentucky Horse Park Executive Director.  “Having them both host major international competitions during April’s Rolex Kentucky event is sure to bring back much of the excitement of last year’s Games.”

“Reining is a tremendous crowd favorite and is sure to be a huge hit with the fans who attend the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event,” said EEI President Lisa Ball.  “Reining’s fast-paced action gets the crowd actively involved and the Freestyle is one of the most entertaining events in all of equestrian sport.  I think this is the perfect attraction to have at the Kentucky Horse Park during our event.”

Born of the required work of a ranch-type horse, the sport of Reining traces its origins to the American West.  Agility, bursts of power and speed, and a gentle and calm demeanor were all essential traits of a preferred ranch horse.  Evolved to the confines of a competition arena and developed into a crowd-pleasing and thrilling competition, FEI Reining can now be found in more than 40 nations worldwide and on six continents.

The Reining events during Rolex Kentucky will build on the momentum of two highly-successful Reining events held at the Kentucky Horse Park in the last two years—the 2009 World Equestrian Games (WEG) Test Event and the overwhelmingly successful Reining competition at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  Running during what is regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events is sure to help Reining solidify its place as a major FEI discipline on the international scene.

Reining events will be integrated into the schedule of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event at times that will allow equestrian fans to enjoy both Eventing and Reining during a single trip to the Kentucky Horse Park.

Selected to produce the Reining events because of its international reputation and experience, HorsePower, Inc. is the leading event production firm in the Reining industry with a focus on global development for the sport.  Based in Denver, Colorado, HorsePower, Inc. is led by veteran FEI Reining show manager, Brad Ettleman, who also served as director for the 2010 FEI Reining World Championships at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

“The 2011 Kentucky Reining Cup will be a major addition to the FEI Reining schedule and we at HorsePower, Inc. are thrilled to be part of this exciting event running concurrently with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event,” said Ettleman.  “After the WEG test event in 2009 and the WEG Championship in 2010, competitors will once again travel to the Kentucky Horse Park to compete in the fantastic Alltech Arena, where so many fond memories were made last year – it is sure to become a long lasting tradition.”

Tickets will be available for the Friday night CRI5* beginning at 6:00 PM for only $10 and the Saturday night freestyle competition set to begin at 5:30 PM for only $20 in advance.  A limited number of sponsor and patron opportunities are available for the entire event, each offering international reach into equestrian markets. Tickets may be purchased online beginning at 3:00 PM on Wednesday February 9, 2011 via www.kentuckyreining.com.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is part of the HSBC FEI ClassicsTM and features the Rolex USEF CCI**** Championship for the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Pinnacle Cup.  The world’s best horses and riders compete for their share of $250,000 in prize money as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing which is awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four Star Events in succession.

Further information on the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Bridgestone, tailgating and ticket packages are available at the Rolex Kentucky website at www.rk3de.orgor Kentucky Reining Cup website at www.kentuckyreining.com.  Tickets may also be ordered by calling 859-254-8123.  For further information please call 859-254-8123 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Follow Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone and the Kentucky Reining Cup online at:
www.facebook.com/RolexKentucky
www.twitter.com/RolexKentucky
www.youtube.com/RolexKentucky
www.facebook.com/KentuckyReining
www.twitter.com/KentuckyReining
www.youtube.com/KentuckyReining