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This year marks the 30th anniversary that the Kentucky Horse Park began operations and welcomed its first visitors to the equine facility.  It was the first in the US and as such was uncharted territory for a new venture to attract persons to KY.  The Kentucky Horse Park has become a tremendous attraction for not only Kentucky and the entire Midwest - but for the world as well.  The horse park is booked through the end of 2010.  And is turns down the opportunity to host approximately 25 equestrian events a year.

In preparation for hosting the 2010 World Equestrian Games, there is currently an ongoing $63 expansion project which includes a $49 million 6000 person indoor arena, and a $24 million outdoor facility that will accommodate 8000-10000 persons.

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The Paris Kentucky farm, Stonerside Stables, has recently been purchased by a company called Darley, which is owned by Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed.  The Paris horse farm was owned by the National Football League’s Houston Texans owner, Bob McNair.  Stonerside Stables has approximately 2000 acres and included in the purchase are approximately 80 horses that are currently in training at the farm, as well as 170 broodmares, yearlings and weanlings.

This is the next step of the Dubai ruler to acquire more of an interest in the horse and horse farm industry in Kentucky.  He acquired control of the Fasig-Tipton auction company in April of 2008.  The spokesman for the Sheikh has stated that there are no plans to make adustments to the horse farm operation and

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The Walnut Way Equine Extravaganza was held at Walnut Way farm in Shelby County KY at the end of June and was hosted by Marilyn Macfarlane (the farm owner).  For those that weren’t able to attend, the event enjoyed a crowd of approximately 100 attendees, and saw a variety of interesting equine performances which included traditional Arabian dress for both horse as well as the rider, young riders showing their equine prowess, barrel racing, tandem riding, western discipline, and gaited styles of riding (3, and 5 gait).

The show was done by the Walnut Wylde Wryders which are the horse farm’s youth members and is an annual event at the Shelby County horse farm and it is used as a fund raiser to raise money for charity.  Approximately $400 was raised from the

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The winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby, Big Brown, will be residing at a local Kentucky horse farm located in Midway KY called 3 Chimneys Farm.  That is certainly to draw some horse enthusiasts and spectators alike that want to get a closer look at the champion.

Three Chimneys Farm is no stranger to crowds though.  This Midway Kentucky veteran currently gets anywhere from 20 to 25 thousand visitors each year from various persons.  Tours to visit the horse farm are available several days each week - but by appointment only.  Tip:  Make reservations early.  Three Chimneys Farms can often be completely full for its tours for months.  If you would like to make reservations for a tour, you can call (859)-873-7053.

To give some background on the horse farm:  3

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The proposed Shelbyville Kentucky horse arena located on Dover Road passed another hurdle for approval.  The local Shelbyville KY government entity Triple S Board of Adjustment & Appeals determined that there were 9 conditions to go with the conditional use permit for Rocky Fork Feeders to construct the arena.

The 9 conditions are:

1.  The facility will only be utilized by the Kentucky Cutting Horse Association & its affiliates.

2.  The horse arena will be used on weekends, and holidays only.  Hours are limited to 9 am through 9 pm each day.

3.  The proposed entrance to access the farm site must be relocated & approved by the Shelby County Road Department and comply with their requirements and specs.

4.  Any outdoor lighting at the facility must

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The KY Horse Park will be hosting Family Fun Fest Friday June 5 through Sunday June 8. Lots of activities for everyone which include door prize drawings, hands on learning experiences with horses, free trolley rides (for children 12 & under), a coloring contest, painting and decorating horseshoes, and more.

Be sure to come out and check out some of the fun at the Kentucky Horse Park. (Besides, it would be a good time to at least see some of the ongoing construction that is readying for the 2010 World Equestrian Games.)

The cost is $15 per adult, and its free for children 12 and under. For more information, call (859)-233-4303.

Approximately one and a half years ago in September 2006, 11 pupils made up the first inaugural class of the North American Racing Academy.  On Sunday Tuesday May 20, 2008 8 of those 11 students took part in the High Hope Steeplechase fund raiser at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.  It was their first “real” race, and the first step toward the jockeys beginning their careers as horse professionals.

The winner of the High Hope Steeplechase was a Lexington Kentucky native, Jessica Oldham Stith.  She comes from a long line of persons with jockey experience, including both of her parents (mother & father), as well as her grandfather.  She honored her family lineage by wearing her families colors on her silks for the race.  Congratulations Jessica and the

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The long awaited Farms Bill was approved in a overwhelming vote by the Senate.  This bill is a 5 year plan that President Bush has promised to veto.  However, the vote came back 318 in favor versus 106 against - which gives this farms bill the momentum and strength to override a veto by the President (the bill received more than 2/3 majority in favor of it).

The farms bill is now estimated at $289 billion over the course of 5 years.  And if enough farms continued to participate in the program, the cost could escalate to an estimated $700 billion over 10 years.  Critics point to the farms bill over burdening the American tax payer, while those in favor champion its cause as reinvesting in our heartland.

Approximately 2/3 of the cost in the 1st five years

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Well, its official:  the proposed Kentucky Horse Park hotel is dead - at least for now.  For those that read the earlier Kentucky Horse Park Hotel article, you will recall the hotel was being funded primarily through the sale of bonds.  Those bonds needed to be sold before an April 15 2008 deadline, to ensure that the proposed KY horse park hotel would be completed in time for the 2010 World Equestrian Games.  [Officials at the horse park do NOT want any construction taking place at the horse park during the 2010 WEG.]

The bottom line: the bonds weren’t sold in time for the April 15th deadline, and as such the deal will not be allowed to proceed.

Kentucky horse park officials have stated that the proposed failed hotel deal should not have any impact on

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Here’s a little snippet that should be of interest to some of our readers:

The Horse Farms Worker’s Educational Fund is now taking applications for college scholarships (or technical programs) from those persons that are recent high school graduates.

To qualify, the student applying must be the child of a parent (or parents) that work full time on one of the Central Kentucky Thoroughbred horse farms for a minimum for 3 years time.

The deadline to apply for the horse farms scholarship is July 1, 2008.  If you would like an application, please call (859) 269-1719.

Good luck to all of the Kentucky horse farms scholarship applicants!