Trophies, Memorabilia from Rubin Family Estate being Donated to the Park

LEXINGTON, KY (March 9, 2007)  On the occasion of racing legend John Henry’s 32nd birthday, the Kentucky Horse Park announced that it will soon receive the grand horse’s racing collection from the Rubin family estate.

At John Henry’s birthday party this afternoon at the park, John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park declared, “More than two decades ago, Sam and Dorothy Rubin of Dotsam Stables gave the Kentucky Horse Park one of its greatest blessings when they sent John Henry to live here.  Now I have the very happy duty of announcing that the heirs of the Rubin family estate have also done something wonderful for our park by donating the family’s cherished collection of John Henry’s racing memorabilia to our International Museum of the Horse.  It has been our great privilege to be John Henry’s stewards all these years, and now we’ll have this fine collection on permanent display in our museum to tell the story of his unparalleled racing accomplishments.”

The first portion of the collection is expected be shipped to the Kentucky Horse Park in the near future.  It is undetermined at this time when the collection will go on display for the public.

For more information, please contact Bill Cooke, Director of the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate, at 859-259-4231 or email bill.cooke@ky.gov.

John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park noted, “It’s interesting that in the midst of the sorrow so many of us recently experienced for Barbaro and his team, our park received phone calls and email from some of Barbaro’s grieving fans who just needed to know that John Henry was still okay. It seemed to comfort them and ease their heartache in the wake of that tragedy to know that another deeply loved and respected racehorse was still alive and well. I think John Henry represents the way we all want every horse to live out its life… healthy, loved, respected, cared for, inspiring their fans and finishing well as very, very old horses.”
 
He continued, “Again this year, we ask that John Henry’s fans honor his life and achievements by making a donation to an equine rescue organization.

According to The Blood-Horse magazine’s Thoroughbred Champions: Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century, the two greatest living, money-earning Thoroughbred racehorses are John Henry and Cigar, both of whom reside at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Park Hours and Rates: From March 15 through October 31, the park is open seven days a week.  Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for children 7-12.  Children six and under are always admitted free of charge.  Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate - and the American Saddlebred Museum.

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The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse.  The park is an agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet that hosted nearly 900,000 visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 100 special events and horse shows in 2006.  The park is home to the National Horse Center which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations.   Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is the place to get close to horses.   Open daily March 15 to October 31, and Wednesday through Sunday, November 1 to March 14.

CINDY RULLMAN

Marketing and Public Relations Dept.

KENTUCKY HORSE PARK

4089 Iron Works Pkwy, Lexington, KY  40511

859-259-4209 ext 209  fax 859-233-9924

Did you know... America's most beloved living racehorse, John Henry, will celebrate his 32nd birthday with a party on March 9 at the Kentucky Horse Park

KENTUCKY HORSE PARK
Home of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010
4089 Iron Works Pkwy, Lexington, KY 40511 859-233-4303 www.kyhorsepark.com