The second edition of the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, KY, is set for October 30 through November 4, 2012. The show will once again be held at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.
 
In addition to world-class show jumping and the country's best and most competitive hunter divisions, the show will also feature one of the nation's longest running and most coveted national championships, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) Maclay National Championship.

Over the years the ASPCA Maclay Finals have been termed the "proving ground of champions" and the ultimate test for America's young riders. And in the case of this classic test of horsemanship skills, that's certainly more fact than hype.
 
During last year's ASPCA Maclay Finals, it was 17-year-old Sarah Milliren of Sapulpa, Okla., who took top honors. "It's so exciting, I'm so happy," beamed Milliren after leading the victory gallop. "For the second round I had moved down, so I knew I had to give it my all. I feel so honored to win this prestigious national championship."
 
"It's the culmination of a long year of competition, it's the final national championship, and with all of the history behind it, it's just a great event to be a part of," said top trainer Missy Clark, who, during the course of her stellar career as one of the nation's very best teachers, has sent nine different ASPCA Maclay National Champions to the ring. "If you look back at the names on the Maclay trophy, you see so many names of riders that have gone on to do great things in their careers. If you can get through the Maclay Finals, you can go on and do anything. If you win that class, you've got the goods; you've got the ingredients to do great things."
 
"Since its beginning in 1933, the ASPCA Maclay has been the most prestigious and coveted award for junior riders, and the ultimate test of horsemanship and partnership between horse and rider," said Valerie Angeli, senior director of equine and special projects for the ASPCA. "To ride in the Maclay is a huge accomplishment on its own, but-to win a Maclay class is truly exceptional, and to win or place in the championship finals elevates a young rider to celebrity rider status."
 
The ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Trophy contains the names of some of America's great riders. Previous winners include United States Equestrian Team superstar William Steinkraus in 1941 and his teammate and long time Chef D'Equipe of the U.S. team, Frank Chapot in 1948. World Cup Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Conrad Homfeld won the championship in 1967 and fellow Olympians Leslie Burr Howard (1972), Peter Wylde (1982) and Katharine Burdsall (1975) all got their start with a victory in the ASPCA Maclay Finals. The ASPCA's own Equine Welfare Ambassador, Brianne Goutal took home the coveted title during the 2005 show season, and Hayley Barnhill, also an ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassador, won the championship in 2010.


Probably, the most impressive name of all on the trophy is that of the legendary George Morris who led the victory gallop at Madison Square Garden in 1952. And this year, for the ASPCA Maclay National Championship, George Morris, along with California's legendary Hap Hansen will be the judges for this prestigious event. "It's an American heritage, a real tradition in our sport," Morris noted last year. "The purpose of this wonderful discipline of equitation is to encourage good horsemanship. Horsemanship is caring for your horse, whether you have a pony or an Olympic jumper."
 
"It is important to remember that in this competition, just like in any other, true champions are not only the best at what they do, their hearts are in the right place and they truly care," said Angeli. "The ASPCA Maclay is, and always has been about, not just mastering the finest skills in hunt seat equitation; it is about compassion, consideration and responsibility to the horses. Now more than ever we ask our ASPCA Maclay riders to put the welfare of their horses first and think about the many thousands of horses in this country who are not lucky enough to be properly loved and cared for," she noted. "After all, the ASPCA's history is about more than 145 years of protecting the horses who have served man so well throughout time."
 
And as Clark points out, the ASPCA Maclay Finals have always been an important stepping stone to future equestrian endeavors and success.
 
"It's a great developmental area for so many of our riders. If you use it as a tool as you move forward in your career, to perfect your riding, to learn about proper position, proper function, that enables you to go on and do so many other things," Clark went on to say. "I think it's an important event in our American system, and if you look back in history at some of the winners, and even the great riders that maybe didn't win, but competed well, you see that verified time and time again."
 
"The Alltech National Horse Show made an all-out effort to make sure that Maclay Sunday was an extraordinary day," said Mason Phelps, the President of the National Horse Show Association of America. "We were very happy with last year's event, but we're even more excited for 2012 as we make the small, but necessary changes to make Sunday even more exciting. Once again, we will be pulling out all of the stops to make sure this event is superb at every level."
 
Phelps also noted, "On Sunday at the Alltech National Horse Show, there is no charge at all for General Admission. So, with that in mind, we encourage everyone to come out the show. We hope, that in lieu of the free admission, that anyone visiting us on Sunday will take some time to stop by the ASPCA booth and find out about this great organization and make a contribution to their worthwhile efforts."
 
"Maclay Day" at the National has always been a pressure packed day of equestrian excellence.
 
"Maclay day is simply intense," Clark affirmed. "You've prepared harder, and in a more concentrated manner than you have for any other championship. Just like when you're preparing for the Super Bowl, you train harder, right?" she asked. "You're pretty much up all night in preparation, and then competition day is a full day of just intense concentration, with plenty of highs and some lows too. With the Maclay, there's really nothing like it. It's a year's worth of work all boiled down to one intense day of competition."
 
This year's highly competitive event, pitting America's top juniors in a head to head battle for horsemanship supremacy, takes place on the final Sunday of the Alltech National Horse Show on November 4th.
 
No matter the winner, that Sunday in November promises to be a very special day, as it has been every year since the inception in 1933.
 
"I have a friend who is in her 80's and has lived an amazingly adventurous and rich life, having traveled all around the world and done just about everything," Angeli said. "But when asked, she will tell you that one of her proudest accomplishments was riding in the Maclay at Madison Square Garden and competing against Jacqueline Bouvier (Kennedy) in the 1940's. The Maclay program is framed on her piano as you walk in the door and it states that "the purpose of the ASPCA Maclay competition is to reward young riders, through a serious of tests, for excellence in horsemanship and thoughtfulness to their mounts."
 
For information on the ASPCA Maclay and the Alltech National Horse Show, please visit the website at:  http://www.alltechnationalhorseshow.com/  
 
In addition to hosting the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals, the show will feature a complete schedule of 'AA'-rated hunter divisions, a big money Open Jumper division with a major Grand Prix, and as always, the signature event of the National Horse Show, the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals.
 
Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America's oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association's primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities.
 
For more information on the National Horse Show Association of America, Limited, please visit  www.nhs.org. 

Photos (top) Sarah Milliren, winner of the 2011 ASPCA Maclay Championship by Shawn McMillen, and (bottom) Mason Phelps, by Kenneth Kraus.

Lexington, Ky (August 13, 2012) The Alltech National Horse Show announced today that this year's show has added a variety of exhilarating American Saddlebred events to the agenda for the 2012 show, joining the top flight show jumpers and world-class hunters classes already on the schedule.
 
Following a successful debut last year, the second edition of the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky, is set for October 30 through November 4, 2012. The show will once again be held at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.
 
The Saddlebred Horse division at the Alltech National Horse Show will feature four sections: Amateur and Open classes for Five and Three Gaited Horses, Fine Harness Horses and Amateur classes for Three Gaited Park Horses.
 
In addition to those Saddlebred classes, in what should be a tremendous crowd pleasing favorite, the dynamic Roadster Horses will compete in one electrifying class for a huge prize money jackpot in the $25,000 Equine Services Roadster Cup sponsored by Walsh Harness and Equine Services LLC.
 
"High stepping and high jumping in Lexington!" said an animated National Horse Show Association President, Mason Phelps, Jr. "We are very excited about the American Saddlebreds returning to the National Horse Show. This is just another giant step forward in recreating the amazing excitement of the days of the National in New York. Part of the magic in those days was the variety of Show Jumping and the Saddlebreds, all in one session at the show," he said.
 
In addition to excellent prize money, many of the legendary and fancy old trophies from the days of the National Horse Show in New York will be up for grabs for the Saddlebreds at this year's Alltech National Horse Show.
 
Misdee Miller, a fourth-generation horsewoman, who drives carriages and is a top Saddlebred competitor, riding out of Hillcroft, her Bourbon County, Kentucky horse farm, has been a major force behind the Saddlebreds returning to the Alltech National Horse Show. "I am thrilled that the American Saddlebreds will once again be part of the grand tradition of the ANHS. It is a show that is special and unique in that it combines top competition in a glamorous setting, and now that it is set to go in the heart of Saddlebred country, it will attract some of best horses and riders in the country who will be in top form for a great audience," she said.
 
James LaHood, coordinator of the Saddlebred competition, comes to the Alltech National Horse Show after previously managing the famed Lexington Junior League Horse Show for twenty-one years and for the past thirty-two years has managed the much celebrated Eastern States Exposition. LaHood is excited about the return of the American Saddlebred to the National. "The Saddlebred horses will go a long way in increasing national recognition with the inclusion of the their classes at the Alltech National Horse Show."
 
Last year's Alltech National Horse Show closed with great excitement, receiving unanimous approval from the horse show community. The Show was a great success with the thousands of attendees, in addition to nearly half a million viewers who watched the events unfold online.
 
More than 560 horses and 350 riders from nine countries, including nine Olympic veterans competed last year.
 
"With bigger prize money, an extra competition day and these exciting new classes," Phelps said, "we are very optimistic about the future."
 
The 2012 Alltech National Horse Show takes center stage on October 30 through November 4, 2012 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. In addition to the top rated hunters and the ASPCA Maclay National Championship, the show features world-class international, open, junior and amateur-owner jumpers competing for the biggest prize money on the United States indoor tour.
 
Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America's oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association's primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities.
 
For more information on the National Horse Show Association of America, Limited, please visit  www.nhs.org. 
 

Lexington, KY – July 23, 2012 – The 2012 Kentucky Summer Series will begin this Tuesday and run for two weeks, followed by the USEF Pony Finals, the Bluegrass Festival Classic, and the KHJA Horse Show. The Kentucky Summer Horse Show will be held July 25-29, 2012, and will be followed by the Kentucky Summer Classic, scheduled for July 31-5, 2012. The East Coast U.S. Junior Hunter Championship will run concurrently with the Kentucky Summer Horse Show from July 24 - July 25, with the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic.

Any members of the media that require special interviews or any special assistance, or those that wish to cover this event, please contact Phelps Media Group, Inc. International on the grounds at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Mason Phelps – 561-371-0118
Kendall Bierer – 561-309-9873

Or call the Kentucky Spring Horse Show Office
859-254-3343 (phone)
859-231-6097 (fax)

The East Coast U.S. Junior Hunter Championship will begin tomorrow, July 24, and run concurrently with the Kentucky Summer Horse Show on July 25,2012. This national championship will attract the very best Junior Hunters. In addition, the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic will be held July 25, 2012 in the Rolex Stadium.

Held at the renowned Kentucky Horse Park, the Kentucky Summer Horse Show will include the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by Hallway Feeds, one of the six events of the Hallway Feeds series, which will provide a $10,000 Bonus to the leading professional rider and $2,500 each to the leading Amateur and Junior riders. Jumper highlights for the Kentucky Summer Horse Show include the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic on Thursday, July 26, the $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix on Saturday, July 28, and the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics on Sunday, July 29. The Hagyard Lexington Classic is part of a seven-class series, culminating with a $50,000 Leading Riding Award. The 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series will also feature a high point Thoroughbred Award. Following the final event, a $10,000 prize will be presented to the high point Thoroughbred participating in the Series.

Throughout the summer, the Kentucky Summer Series will feature the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion, offering $30,000 in bonus money. Riders wearing the SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves with the SSG horse head logo clearly visible during all rounds of competition in designated events are eligible for the bonus.

The series will continue with the Kentucky Summer Classic held July 31-August 5. The $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic will be held on Thursday, August 2, and on Saturday, August 4, riders will compete in the Rolex Stadium in the $50,000 Rood and Riddle Grand Prix. The $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby will also return on Saturday, August 4.

The USEF Pony Finals will be held August 7 - 12. More than 600 qualifying ponies will compete for awards in Green and Regular pony sections, pony jumpers and the Pony Medal Finals.

The third show of the Kentucky Summer Series, the Bluegrass Festival Horse
Show is a WCHR Member event, where riders can earn points towards year-end awards. The $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals will return to Rolex Stadium, August 17-18. Spectators can also look forward to the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic on Friday, August 17 and the $40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix and Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics on Sunday, August 19.

Wrapping up the summer series will be the KHJA Horse Show held August 22- 26, 2012. The $10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake will run Friday, August 24, and will be followed on Sunday, August 26, by the $30,000 KHJA Grand Prix and the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics. The KHJA Horse Show will also host the final event of the Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby and the presentation of the leading rider awards.

Based at the renowned Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, host of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the Kentucky Summer Series offers equestrians a chance to compete at one of the top facilities in the world. For more information about the Kentucky Summer Series, please check the prize list on www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Photo Credit: The Kentucky Summer Series prize list is available online. Photo Courtesy of the Client. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.

KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW FAST FACTS

Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass
Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2012 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.

What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC\'s 2012 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions feature a USEF 5* Jumper Rating and \"AA\" Hunter rating. The Kentucky Horse Show Series is the host of the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award.

Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.

When:
U.S. JUNIOR HUNTER CHAMPIONSHIP - East Coast & HUNTERDON CUP
- July 24-25, 2012

KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 25-29, 2012
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$2,500 USHJA National Hunter Classic
$40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 31- August 5, 2012
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

2012 USEF PONY FINALS - August 8-12, 2012

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW - August 15-19, 2012
$100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals - August 17 - 18, 2012
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

KHJA HORSE SHOW - August 22-26, 2012
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

Hours:
8am – 5pm daily

Hats Off to Kentucky's Horse Industry Day is a celebration of the horse and its impact on the state of Kentucky. The day offers fun family activities including arts and crafts for children,  pony rides, interactive educational booths, thrilling equestrian competition, and it's all free! Hats Off Day is the only day of the year an entire family can enjoy the Kentucky Horse Park and all it has to offer, at no cost!

The horse industry in Kentucky generates 80,000 - 100,000 in direct and indirect jobs, and impacts our economy by an estimated 8 billion dollars!

In celebration of the horse, Kentuckians flock to the Kentucky Horse Park on Hats Off Day  for a free day of family fun and an opportunity to learn more about horses and the amazing things they do for our great state.

Events include children’s activities, free pony rides, educational booths, interactive equine stations, $50,000 Grand Prix Show Jumping, and much more!

The Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix, a challenging show jumping competition between top international horses and riders, is the featured evening entertainment of Hats Off Day and is taking place in the beautiful outdoor Rolex Stadium. A silent and live auction will benefit the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and the Kentucky Equine Humane Center.

2012 promises to be very exciting!  There’s something for everyone -- competition, great amenities and fantastic entertainment for the whole family. See the schedule of events

Lexington, KY - June 19, 2012 -  The Alltech National Horse Show, scheduled for October 30 through November 4, 2012 at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park announced today that the show's new website has officially launched at www.AlltechNationalHorseShow.com.  
 
The site will be a one-stop source for all of the news and vital up-to-date information for exhibitors, spectators, vendors, officials and for all fans of equestrian sport.
 
The prize list for this year's show will also be available at www.AlltechNationalHorseShow.com.
 
The new website features important exhibitor information, including all of the details regarding the ASPCA Maclay National Finals. Also, look for essential information regarding vendors, Taylor Harris Club table sales, program advertising and much more.
 
In addition, a link will send visitors to the highly popular Alltech National Horse Show merchandise store, featuring all of the latest gear and souvenirs.
 
Scheduling details, directions to and from the ANHS Horse Show, hotel lists, sponsorship and sponsor links, press releases, who's who at the ANHS and links to comprehensive information about the venue at the Kentucky Horse Park are also available at: www.AlltechNationalHorseShow.com.
 
The new website also offers visitors a link will take them back in time and a chance to read up on the long and glorious history of the National Horse Show.
 
The 2012 Alltech National Horse Show takes center stage on October 30 through November 4, 2012 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. In addition to the top rated hunters and the ASPCA Maclay National Championship, the show features world-class international, open, junior and amateur-owner jumpers competing for the biggest prize money on the United States indoor tour.
 
Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America's oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association's primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities.
 
For more information on the National Horse Show Association of America, Limited, please visit www.nhs.org.
 
 
 
Photo Credit: Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui competing at last year's Alltech National Horse Show. Photo ©Shawn McMillen This photograph may only be used in relation to this PMG press release.
 
 
2012 Alltech National Horse Show - Fast Facts

What:
The Alltech National Horse Show is a weeklong championship event featuring "AA"-rated hunters, open jumpers, junior/amateur jumpers, and the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals. The event will run October 30 through November 4, 2012, indoors in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™.

Parking:
The Kentucky Horse Park has waived the normal parking fee during the Alltech National Horse Show. Parking is free. While dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash, no dogs are allowed in the Alltech Arena during the ANHS

Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located at 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511. The KHP is 8 miles northeast of Lexington at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.

Information:
Carolyn Vincent
National Horse Show
PO Box 386
Greenvale, NY 11548

Telephone:
Phone: (516) 484-1865
Fax: (516) 484-1982

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

Website:  www.AlltechNationalHorseShow.com

Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry and home furnishings are located in the Alltech Arena.

Additional Contacts:
Vendors  - Matt Morrissey at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 941 915-3457
VIP Table Sales - Kiki Umla at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 904-607-5541
Advertising - Steve Williams at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 310 403-2110
Sponsorship - Mason Phelps at  mpjr@phelpsmediagroup.comor 561-753-3389 or Susie Webb at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 301-520-6162

Hotels:
CLARION HOTEL (formerly Holiday Inn North) - 859 - 233-0512 - Approximately 4 miles
FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES BY MARRIOTT - 859 -977-5870 - Approximately 4 miles
FOUR POINTS SHERATON - 859-259-1311 - Approximately 4 miles
LA QUINTA - 859-231-7551 - Approximately 4 miles
KNIGHTS INN - 859-231-0232 - 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
HOLIDAY INN GEORGETOWN - 502-570-0220 - Approximately 6 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
 
For further information on housing in the Lexington area, we invite you to visit:
www.visitlex.com and  www.georgetownky.com

Management:
Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC
P. O. Box 11428
Lexington, KY 40575-1428
859-233-0492 (phone)
859-233-0495 (fax)
email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
 
Horse Show Secretary:
Cindy Bozan
859-233-0492
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.     
ALLTECH MEDIA CONTACT:  Katie Gehrt
North American PR and Advertising Manager
Alltech Corporate Headquarters
3031 Catnip Hill Pike
Nicholasville, Kentucky
Telephone: (859) 881-3589
Mobile: (859) 553-6312
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web site : www.alltech.com

ALLTECH NATIONAL HORSE SHOW MEDIA CONTACT:    
Re: News and Information:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.phelpsmediagroup.com     
 
Re: Media Credentialing:
Classic Communications
38 Mechanic Street - Suite 101
Foxboro, MA 02035
508-698-6810 (phone)
508-698-6811 (fax)  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    www.classic-communications.com

World’s Best Horses and Riders Coming to Kentucky for America’s Only Four Star Event

Lexington, KY—April 04, 2012—A record 73 horses are entered to compete in this year's Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, which returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, April 26-29.

An international field of past Rolex Kentucky champions and Olympic veterans includes some of the sport’s biggest names from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

Written by: Kendall Bierer
http://www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
Release Date: 2012-03-22

Lexington, KY – March 22, 2012 – The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows is quickly approaching, and one of the highlight events that will kick-off the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows is the 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series, sponsored by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. The Hagyard Challenge Series consists of seven grand prix classes to be held during the 2012 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final event, a cash prize will be awarded to the rider accumulating the most points throughout the series.

The Kentucky Spring Horse Show, held May 9-13, 2012, features the lead-off event on May 11, 2012, with the $50,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, CSI 2*. This event will also be a US Show Jumping Team Observation Event, and will feature the country’s top horse and rider combinations vying for the top honors. The Kentucky Spring Classic, May 16-20, 2012, will host the second $32,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, CSI 2* on May 17.

Later in the year, four more Hagyard Lexington Classic grand prix events will be held during the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show, and the KHJA Horse Show. The Series concludes with the $50,000 World Cup Qualifier held on September 21, 2012, during the Kentucky National Horse Show. Following that exciting competition, the winner for the Leading Rider Award will be announced and presented with the prize by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.

“The Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is pleased to be continuing its sponsorship of the Hagyard Challenge Series in 2012. We enjoy being able to support competition at the highest level of the show jumping sport,” said Dr. Stuart Brown, President of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. “As a Lexington-based company, we are happy that we can encourage riders to stay in the area and compete throughout the spring and summer through the Leading Rider Bonus. The Hagyard Challenge Series offers a wonderful opportunity for the Bluegrass community to come out and enjoy the exciting sport of show jumping at a beautiful venue.”

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and well-being of the horse for more than 130 years.

The facility at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers 13 Digital Radiology systems, 1.5 Tesla Siemens Open MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy, a high speed treadmill, an on-site laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, full surgical services, 24-hour ambulance and emergency services, and Hyperbaric Medicine. The institute has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 133 years and is currently composed of over 60 experienced veterinarians, with 12 board certifications in specialty areas of Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, and Theriogenology.

For more information about the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, please visit http://hagyard.com.

For more information about the Kentucky Horse Shows or to download a copy of the prize list, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Photo Credit: McLain Ward, winner of the 2011 Hagyard Challenge Series’ $45,000 Leading Rider Bonus. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG. Photo may only be used in relation to this PMG press release.

KENTUCKY HORSE SHOWS 2012 HORSE SHOW SERIES FAST FACTS

Events: 2012 Kentucky Spring Horse Shows

What:
The Kentucky Horse Shows 2012 series includes two weeks of top competition during the month of May. These premier hunter/jumper competitions feature a USEF 5* Jumper Rating and a "AA" Hunter rating. The Kentucky Horse Show Series is the host of the Hagyard Challenge Series and Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series.

Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.

When:
KENTUCKY SPRING HORSE SHOW CSI3* - May 9-13, 2012

$35,000 Welcome Cup
$50,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic(US Show Jumping Team Observation Event) $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix(US Show Jumping Team Observation Event)
$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby


KENTUCKY SPRING CLASSIC CSI2* - May 16-20, 2012
$32,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix sponsored by Audi of Lexington
WCHR recognized hunter competition
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, Johnson Horse Transportation, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance and Sleepy P Ranch.

Hours:
8am – 5pm daily

Media Accreditation/Press Credentials
Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Bridgestone
April 26-29, 2012
and
Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup
April 27-28, 2012

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION

The Competitions
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, April 26-29, 2012 will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, along with the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup. The event draws anywhere from 50-100,000 spectators and is seen by millions more on worldwide telecasts including a live telecast on NBC in the United States.
 
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event features the 15th Rolex USEF Four Star Championship for the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Pinnacle Cup, and is part of the HSBC FEI ClassicsTM.  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. 2012 will serve as a selection trial for the London Olympics held in the Summer.
 
The only Four Star Event in the Western Hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is the premier competition for the top horses and riders in the Olympic sport of Eventing. This year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event features selection trials to choose the U.S. Eventing Team for the 2012 London Olympic Games.  The nation’s best horses and riders will be competing in the hopes of earning places on the team for this summer’s Olympics.
 
The Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, April 27-28, is the only Three Star Reining competition in the world in 2012, and is a qualifier for the FEI World Reining Championship.  It is expected to draw horses and riders from around the globe, vying for their share of $100,000 in prize money as they compete in the CRI3*, along with the popular $25,000 World Freestyle Championship. 
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For further information, please contact:
Marty Bauman, Press Chief, 508-698-6810, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lexington, KY — October 17, 2011— Ticket packages for the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Bridgestone, and Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, April 26-29 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, are on sale now.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, part of the HSBC FEI ClassicsTM, is one of only six Four Star Three-Day Events in the world and the only one in the Western Hemisphere. Many of the world’s best riders will be competing with the hopes of qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics. This is a rare opportunity to watch riders compete in Olympic level competition before the London Olympic Games begin!

The Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup is the ultimate destination for Reining in the United States. A qualifier for the FEI World Reining Championship, the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup is expected to draw horses and riders from across the globe competing for $100,000 in prize money.

“2012 promises to be one of the most exciting events we’ve ever had,” said Lisa Ball, President of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup. “An Olympic year always adds a new level of excitement and this coming year will be no exception. And with the incredible success of last year’s inaugural Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, I recommend that all our fans act quickly and order their tickets right away!”

“Rolex Kentucky,” commonly known as the nation’s premier Three-Day Event, is one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions 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.

Spectators can receive ringside hospitality packages for a custom world-class experience. Featuring prime locations and hospitality amenities, these packages include the “Patron Plus” and “Patron Club” options, both of which include admission to the Kentucky Horse Park, the International Trade Fair and all four days of competition. Also included are closed circuit televisions, dressage and stadium jumping commentary, a keepsake pin, and an official event program.

Advance sale ticket packages include four-day, three-day (Fri-Sat-Sun)and single day general admissions, as well as group sales and reserved grandstand seating. All general admission tickets include parking, admission to the Kentucky Horse Park and International Trade Fair. Reserved grandstand seating is sold separately from admission.

Once again this year, spectators may purchase reserved tailgating spaces along portions of the famed Cross-Country Course at the Kentucky Horse Park. The purchase of a tailgating space provides a reserved location for a passenger vehicle plus general admission for up to six people. Standard and Premium tailgating spaces are available at costs of $275 and $325. Tailgaters may bring their own food or there will also be concessions stands near the tailgating locations. Given the popularity of the tailgating when it debuted at last year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, it is sure to sell out and those interested are urged to reserve their spaces today.

The Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup features the only Five Star Reining competition in the world in 2012 and the incredibly popular World Freestyle Championship. Action begins on Friday night with the CRI5* with riders guiding their horses through prescribed turns, sliding stops and flying lead changes in pursuit of $100,000 prize money.

On Saturday evening, riders will seek the title of World Freestyle Champion and their share of $25,000 in prize money as they entertain spectators with choreographed musical performances that electrified the Alltech Arena crowd during last year’s inaugural championship.

Advance tickets for the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup are $12 per person for Friday’s CRI5* and $20 per person for Saturday’s World Freestyle Championship. Hospitality options include the opportunity to purchase the use of luxury suites in the Alltech Arena for both nights of competition.

For more information, or to purchase tickets to the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Bridgestone, please visit the Rolex Kentucky website at www.rk3de.org. For more information on the 2012 Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, or to purchase tickets, please go to www.KentuckyReining.com.

As of November 1, tickets may be ordered directly online, or by printing the ticket order form and returning it via mail or fax (859)-254-5116 to Equestrian Events, Inc. Tickets may also be ordered by calling 859-254-8123. To receive a printed ticket brochure, please send your name and mailing address to 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. .

Follow the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone and the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup online at:
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