CONTACT:  Jessica Oldham Stith, High Hope Steeplechase: 859-967-9444; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.          Website: www.highhopesteeplechase.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lexington, KY, Friday, May 11, 2011 – The 45th running of the High Hope Steeplechase returns to the Kentucky Horse Park this coming Sunday, May 20th.  

High Hope Steeplechase remains area horse lovers’ only chance to enjoy the beauty and excitement of live Steeplechase racing in a family fun ambience complete with activities and entertainment for all ages in a country fair setting. 

Be sure to join us this year as High Hope Steeplechase and the Susan G Komen Foundation team up for the inaugural running of the Sportswomen’s Challenge Race for the Cure. 

This will be a one mile flat race for lady riders and their trusted sport horses, each sponsored by and carrying the racing silks of many well-known local thoroughbred farms.  

In addition to four top-tier jump races worth a total of $70,000 in purses, High Hope Steeplechase Day will also features great fun for the entire family, including:

• Kids’ Playground and Activities – including the annual kids Stick Horse Derby, face painting, clowns and much more.
• Terrier Races
• Equine Demonstrations
• Tailgating
• Great Food and Arts and Craft booths. 

Also on High Hope Day… the 4rd running of the “Catch a Riding Star” flat race featuring student-jockeys currently enrolled in the North American Racing Academy. 

Launched in 2006 by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System under the guidance of Hall of Fame and two-time Kentucky Winning jockey Chris McCarron, NARA is now part of Bluegrass Community and Technical College. 

NARA Graduates have gone on to win over 750 races and have purse earnings of over $10 million.

McCarron and many of the students will be on hand when High Hope Steeplechase is previewed during the May 17th Thursday Night Live festival at the 5/3 Bank Pavilion in downtown Lexington (http://www.downtownlex.com/thursday-night-live-concerts). 

High Hope staff will also be on hand to sell tickets for High Hope day. 

Proceeds from High Hope Steeplechase day will benefit Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and, this year, Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital.  To date, High Hope Steeplechase has helped raise over $1.5 million for worthy causes.

Tickets Information:

Track Side Parking ($25) 
Park on the top side of the steeplechase course beside the rail. Includes admission for everyone in the car and a program. Tailgating invited. 
Box ($125)
A box for 8 people overlooking the finish to High Hope. Includes table and 8 chairs, admission and parking.
Member's Pavilion ($75 single $125 couple)
Buffet lunch, drinks & admission
Preferred Tailgating ($225 - 250)
Corporate Tent ($2000)
20' x 20' tent close to the finish line of High Hope - includes two 8' tables and 40 chairs. Admission for 40 people and preferred parking. Great way to entertain friends and clients.

For tickets, information or to volunteer please contact the High Hope Steeplechase office at (859) 967-9444; email at 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. or visit us online at www.highhopesteeplechase.com.
 

Celebrities Join Freestyle Field for Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup Jockey Chris McCarron, Olympic Eventers Gina Miles, David and Karen O’Connor to Take On World’s Best in Saturday’s World Championship Freestyle Country Music Legend Lyle Lovett Entered to Compete on Friday
 
Lexington, KY –  April 20, 2012 – Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron and Olympic Eventing riders Gina Miles, David and Karen O’Connor will compete with some of the world’s leading Reining riders in the $25,000 World Championship Freestyle Reining at the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 6, 2012) - The Kentucky Horse Park will welcome 900 first-graders to the park April 10 at 10:15 a.m. to watch a re-enactment of the famous 1938 Seabiscuit - War Admiral match race in the Pimlico Special.  Live Thoroughbreds, period costumes, music from the era, antique cars, and real jockeys - including Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron - will add to the experience.

The event will be the highlight of a reading program created by the Kentucky Horse Park Literacy Program. The students have been participating in the program since earlier this year when a live horse from the Kentucky Horse Park delivered Seabiscuit books to area schools.  When the students received their books, they also got to try on real jockey silks and goggles, put their heads through photo boards and pretended to be jockeys on the home stretch.

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.