Tag Archives: Kentucky Horse park

Man o’ War Commemorative Mural Painted on The Village Idiot

Restaurant to Host Unveiling Party after Mural Completion

Lexington, Ky. (June 8, 2017) – The legendary Man o’ War, one of America’s original sporting heroes, will be depicted in larger-than-life fashion via a 30′ x 30′ mural in downtown Lexington. The mural is being painted by Agustin Zarate and is part of the Kentucky Horse Park’s Man o’ War Celebration, presented by Windstream, which includes a series of events to highlight the life of the great racehorse.

An unveiling party at The Village Idiot is slated for Thursday, June 29, at 4 p.m. to celebrate the completion of the mural, which was commissioned by LexArts and is sponsored by Mt. Brilliant Farm. The Village Idiot will offer food and drink specials, and the Kentucky Horse Park will provide complimentary tickets as door prizes at the event.

The Man o’ War mural will span the entire side of the two-story Village Idiot building and will commemorate the horse’s victory in the 1920 Belmont Stakes. Based on a historic photograph during his racing years, it will portray Man o’ War parading in front of the Belmont crowd following his historic feat.

“Agustin’s rendering of the Man o’ War mural is extremely impressive and I can’t wait to see the larger-than-life finished product,” said Kentucky Horse Park Executive Director Laura Prewitt. “Man o’ War was truly a remarkable horse, and I hope this mural will become a downtown fixture that raises awareness of his life and legacy from both locals and visitors.”

This is the first building mural project for Zarate, a native of Mexico City and a longtime Lexington resident. An experienced painter, muralist, graphic designer, and illustrator, Zarate has worked with various medium including oil, acrylic, watercolor, and airbrush.

Zarate was selected by LexArts and Mt. Brilliant from many local artists that submitted proposals for the Man o’ War project. He was chosen based on his authenticity in capturing the horse in all his racing greatness.

“There was a lot of interest from the artist community in painting a large scale tribute to the legacy of Man o’ War,” said LexArts Community Art Director Nathan Zamarron. “Dozens of artists from throughout Kentucky submitted talented designs with a wide variety of artist interpretations. Agustin Zarate was selected for his mastery of realism and understanding of the anatomy of the horse. We are confident the finished result will be a lasting icon and a treasured work of art for Lexington.”

A commemorative beer crafted by Alltech to enhance the Man o’ War Celebration will also have its release at the mural unveiling party. Called “The Mostest Wheat Ale” after Man o’ War’s nickname, the celebratory beer will be available at various locations throughout Lexington on tap this summer.

“We are happy to honor one of the most famous race horses of all time with a beer brewed for the celebration of Man o’ War,” said Pete Weiss, marketing manager of Alltech. “Mostest Wheat Ale tells the story of Man o’ War, and that he was the ‘mostest’ horse to ever run.”

The Kentucky Horse Park’s goal in its season-long Man o’ War Celebration is to celebrate the life of the legendary horse, as well as encourage people to visit the premier tourist destination, which is currently hosting a special exhibit entitled Man o’ War: The Mostest Horse That Ever Was.”

To learn about other events scheduled for the season-long Man o’ War Celebration, visit the Kentucky Horse Park’s website at www.kyhorsepark.com/featured-events/man-o-war-celebration-presented-windstream.

Contact: Lisa Jackson
(859) 259-4224
Lisa.Jackson@ky.gov
www.KyHorsePark.com

Kentucky Horse Park Withdraws from Consideration for Hosting 2022 World Equestrian Games

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – The Kentucky Horse Park Commission voted today to withdraw from consideration for hosting the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2022.

A press release from Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage stated that commission members were concerned about the staging of the games and the potential conflict that hosting the games would create with the long-term goals of the Kentucky Horse Park. They say this includes limitations on potential Horse Park-generate and revenue opportunities.

“We are committed to being good stewards of the Kentucky Horse Park,” said Tandy Patrick, chair of the Kentucky Horse Park Commission.  “We do not think it would be economically feasible for the park to host the 2022 games.”

“We have had an open dialogue with the public through several visioning sessions and we’re hearing good ideas about long-term strategic growth at the park,” said Don Parkinson, secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.  “Additionally, a recent survey of the park’s assets found $12 million in deferred maintenance expenses, and we recognize the need for immediate and near-term investments in our facilities.”

© LEX18.com

Horses Dress Up for Halloween at the Kentucky Horse Park

HalloWhinny Is the Best Way to Enjoy Halloween in Kentucky This October

It’s not Halloween in Kentucky without seeing horses dressed in costume and there is no better place to see that than HalloWhinny at the Kentucky Horse Park. With employees and past equine guests returning to participate, the park will provide two presentations of HalloWhinny at the Breeds Barn, on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 29-30, at 2 p.m. each day.

During this popular, annual Halloween show, horses and their riders are likely to show up as just about any kind of human/horse costume.  Guests will experience fun at HalloWhinny and see some creative costumes, with performances set to music, possibly even Superman, a creepy ghost, a hippy chick, the Wicked Witch, Harry Potter, Beauty and the Beast or any number of spooky or fun characters.

Joining the staff, volunteers and horses from the Breeds Barn, the Hall of Champions and the Big Barn will be Patrick the Miniature Horse, retired race horses from Ohio Standardbreds and Friends, and American Miniature horses from Stampede of Love (scheduled to appear but subject to change).

For more information about HalloWhinny at the Breeds Barn or the other Halloween happenings at the park this October, contact the Kentucky Horse Park at 859-233-4303 or 800-678-8813 or visit http://www.kyhorsepark.com/news/park-haunted-halloween-happenings.

Kentucky Horse Park Conjures Up New Tour to Thrill Guests This October

Cemetery Crawl: History & Mystery of the Kentucky Horse Park Tours Park’s Little-Known Places

The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse has created a new, limited cemetery tour to share some of the fascinating stories of the park’s historic grounds. Never told before, the Cemetery Crawl: History and Mystery of the Kentucky Horse Park tour takes visitors around the grounds by shuttle on each Friday night in October, at 5 p.m.

Touring little-known, or often overlooked, areas of the park, guests will see cemeteries and historic sites, and hear related historic references, as well as some lasting spooky tales appropriate for the Halloween season. The tour will include the Man o’ War – Isaac Burns Murphy Memorial, the burial site of one of Thoroughbred racing’s greatest jockeys and one of Kentucky’s most famous sons.

The Kentucky Horse Park has served as the home for multiple horse farms for more than 200 years. Families have come and gone, Thoroughbreds and trotters have been raised and trained here, men have participated in duels here, and residents have created long-lasting structures that are still used on the park today.  Men, women, children and horses are buried throughout the park contributing their stories and shaping the land that plays such a unique and important role in Kentucky’s historic equine heritage.

Reservations are required for the Cemetery Crawl tours, and space is limited each night for the approximately two-hour tour, Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28. Reservations can be made by calling 859/259-4213.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and students (up to age 17).  Tours are recommended for ages 12 and up. To learn more about the Cemetery Crawl, visit www.kyhorsepark.com/news/cemetery-crawl-conjured-kentucky-horse-park, and to learn about other Halloween happenings at the park, visit www.kyhorsepark.com/news/park-haunted-halloween-happenings.

Kentucky Horse Park Hours Adjusted for Holidays

Park Closed Dec. 24-25, 31, Jan. 1; Southern Lights Open Nightly through Dec. 31

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 7, 2015) – The Kentucky Horse Park will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Thursday and Friday, Dec. 24-25), and again New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (Thursday and Friday, Dec. 31 – Jan. 1). The park is normally closed on Mondays and Tuesdays during the winter season, so the park will also be closed as scheduled on Dec. 21-22 and 28-29.

The park will be open Wednesday, Dec. 23, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 26-27, and Wednesday, Dec. 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will reopen in 2016 on Saturday, Jan. 2, with the regular winter schedule of Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Kentucky Horse Park’s Bit & Bridle Restaurant will be closed for the holidays starting Dec. 14, reopening Wednesday, Jan. 6.

The Showplace for Saddlebreds, the American Saddlebred Museum and Gift Shop, will be closed the same days as the Kentucky Horse Park.

The special holiday driving event, Southern Lights, is open every night from now until Dec. 31, 2015 from 5:30-10 p.m. The Holiday Festival attractions inside the park are open through Wednesday, Dec. 23. Only the lighted driving portion will be open from Dec. 24-31. The cost is $15 per car Monday through Thursday evenings and $25 per car on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights through Dec. 20, and then $15 every night until Dec. 31.

Information about the Kentucky Horse Park is available at 859-233-4303, 800-678-8813 or www.KyHorsePark.com. Information about Southern Lights is available through the KHP Foundation at 859-255-5727 or at www.SouthernLightsKy.org.

Lisa Jackson
Kentucky Horse Park
859-259-4224
Lisa.Jackson@ky.gov

Southern Lights Holiday Festival Returns

Family-Favorite Event Runs Nov. 20 – Dec. 31 at Kentucky Horse Park

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 12, 2015) – A family tradition in Kentucky, the Southern Lights holiday festival, presented by Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Inc., returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Nov. 20 – Dec. 31. More than 125,000 individuals in more than 30,000 vehicles attend Southern Lights annually from Kentucky and beyond, making Southern Lights a premier holiday event in the region and nation.

With all the family-friendly activities offered, Southern Lights has grown into a well-known Bluegrass tradition over the last 22 years. Kids of all ages delight in the holiday driving tour. Visitors take in the “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” Keeneland race track, the spires of Churchill Downs and a wide variety of holiday, equine-themed and pop culture iconic displays, comprising thousands of twinkling lights.

Following the driving tour, families are encouraged to park their vehicles and walk into the park’s main campus to visit the Holiday Festival attractions. This non-driving portion of Southern Lights features the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop, holiday craft merchants, seasonal entertainment, an exotic petting zoo, pony and camel rides, the Mini Train Express, model train and dollhouse displays, and photos with Santa. The Bit & Bridle Restaurant will be serving holiday fare as will other food vendors, including Papa John’s, Original Kettle Corn, High Horizons Coffee, and Bluegrass Concessions.

The Southern Lights driving route is open 5:30-10 p.m. nightly. The Holiday Festival attractions will be open every night except Nov. 26 and Dec. 24-31. Guests are encouraged to take advantage of shorter lines and lower prices by visiting Southern Lights Monday through Thursday evenings this year.

The cost per passenger car (up to 7 passengers) is $15 Monday through Thursday evenings and $25 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The cost for an extended van, RV or limousine (up to 15 passengers) is $35, a minibus (up to 25 passengers) is $60, a school bus is $75 and a motorcoach is $125. Companies and organizations may pre-purchase discounted admission tickets to Southern Lights by contacting the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. No discounts will be available at the admission gate.

All proceeds from Southern Lights support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. The 2015 Southern Lights Shining Star Presenting Sponsor is Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Inc.; the Holly & Ivy Sponsor is Kerr Brothers Funeral Homes; the Ribbons & Bows Sponsors are Central Bank, Kentucky Utilities and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives; and the Thirsty Thursday Sponsor is Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated.

Breyer Nights, with giveaways by Breyer Model Horses, will be Monday – Thursday, Nov. 30 – Dec. 3; Toyota Night at Southern Lights will be Wednesday, Dec. 9; Military Night will be Wednesday, Dec. 16, allowing all active and retired military and their families one free car admission by showing a military I.D. at the gate; and Thirsty Thursdays, with giveaways from the Coca Cola Bottling Company, will be every Thursday night during Southern Lights.

Information on Southern Lights may be obtained by contacting the KHP Foundation at 859- 255-5727 or at foundation@khpfoundation.org, or by visiting www.SouthernLightsKy.org or www.KyHorsePark.com.

Lisa Jackson
Kentucky Horse Park
859-259-4224
Lisa.Jackson@ky.gov

Laura Klumb
859-255-5727
Laura.Klumb@khpfoundation.org

Southern Lights Stroll Sets the Holiday Season in Motion

Run, Walk or Stroll through Annual Holiday Display in Heart of Horse Country

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 9, 2015) – To celebrate the return of the Southern Lights holiday festival, presented by Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Inc., the Southern Lights Stroll will take place on Thursday, Nov. 19. On the only evening of Southern Lights when the public is allowed to experience a major portion of the lighted route on foot, visitors may choose to run, walk or stroll their way through thousands of dazzling holiday lights on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park.

Now in its 14th season, the Southern Lights Stroll has proven popular, from casual walkers and families who bring children and dogs to get photos and see the lights outside of a car, to serious runners who compete in the 5k portion of the Southern Lights Stroll.

This year’s stroll will feature chip timing for the competitive 5k race, and awards will be given to winners in various age categories. Additional activities include complimentary Mini Train Express rides, refreshments, prize drawings and more. A food drive for God’s Pantry Food Bank and a local animal shelter will be held in conjunction with this event. All participants are asked to bring nonperishable items to help local families and animals in need.

Registration for the competitive 5k race is $30 for adults and $15 for children ages 7-12. Registration for the stroll/walk is $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 7-12. There is no charge for children 6 and under. Online registration, available through Nov. 17, is available at www.runsignup.com/Race/KY/Lexington/SouthernLightsStroll5k.

The competitive 5k race begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the recreational stroll at 6:35 p.m. Check-in is at the park’s Visitor Center. The first 1,000 registered adults receive a free souvenir T-shirt, and the first 350 registered children receive a free holiday souvenir. To receive a t-shirt, children must register as an adult.

All proceeds from the Southern Lights Stroll support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. The 2015 Shining Star Presenting Sponsor is Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Inc.; the Holly & Ivy Sponsor is Kerr Brothers Funeral Homes; the Ribbons & Bows Sponsors are Central Bank, Kentucky Utilities and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives; and, the Thirsty Thursday sponsor is Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated. Additional sponsors for the stroll include Xerox, Chick-Fil-A, the Mini Train Express and SafetyTec.

Information on Southern Lights may be obtained by contacting the KHP Foundation at 859- 255-5727 or at foundation@khpfoundation.org, or by visiting www.SouthernLightsKy.org or www.KyHorsePark.com.

Lisa Jackson
Kentucky Horse Park
859-259-4224
Lisa.Jackson@ky.gov

Laura Klumb
859-255-5727
Laura.Klumb@khpfoundation.org

Celebrate Halloween with Horses at the Kentucky Horse Park

HalloWhinny Is the Best Way to Enjoy Halloween in Kentucky on October 31

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 26, 2015) – Even after 400 Breeds Barn Shows, 600 Hall of Champions Presentations and close to 700 trolley rides, the season’s not over before HalloWhinny! A record number of participants this year will allow the Kentucky Horse Park to provide two presentations of HalloWhinny, its annual Halloween show at the Breeds Barn, on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

During this popular, season-ending show, park horses and their riders are likely to show up as just about any kind of human/horse costume. Guests will experience fun at HalloWhinny and see some creative costumes with performances set to music.

Joining the staff, volunteers and horses from the Hall of Champions, Breeds Barn and Big Barn will be Patrick the Miniature Horse, retired race horses from Ohio Standardbreds and Friends, and miniature horses from Stampede of Love (scheduled to appear but subject to change).

We don’t want to spoil the surprise, but we’ve overheard whispered whinnies that mention names like Beauty and the Beast, Minions, Harry Potter, Batman & Robin, Tigger and Winnie the Pooh, Jurassic Park and The Lone Ranger and Tonto.

For more information about the HalloWhinny at the Breeds Barn, contact the Kentucky Horse Park at 859-233-4303 or 800-678-8813 or info@kyhorsepark.com or visit www.KyHorsePark.com.

The Kentucky Horse Park is open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Nov. 1. Admission is $16 for adults and $8 for children, and includes the Next Day Free. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the “Showplace for Saddlebreds” – The American Saddlebred Museum & Gift Shop.

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 Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and hosted more than 800,000 visitors and campers, as well as 18,400 competition horses in approximately 200 special events and horse shows in 2014. 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. Information about the park’s programs and activities can be found online at www.KyHorsePark.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and Periscope.

Lisa Jackson
Kentucky Horse Park
859-259-4224
Lisa.Jackson@ky.gov

Equine Sculpture Gallops onto Kentucky Horse Park

Artist Adrian Landon Installs Moving Sculpture at Park

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 23, 2015) – With a 10-foot wide steel and stainless steel body, 100 bearings, 30 feet of chain, 23 articulating joints and one small motor, a new Mechanical Horse sculpture welcomes visitors to the Kentucky Horse Park.

The sculpture was recently installed by New York sculptor Adrian Landon and is the newest exhibit secured by the International Museum of the Horse for guests visiting the park for events such as the CP National Horse Show, the Breeders’ Cup Festival and the Breeders’ Cup.

The Mechanical Horse sculpture, on display through October 2016, is located at the park’s Visitor Center.

Landon has a large portfolio of work with metal as his preferred medium. He feels that his work with horses is among his most passionate.

“There is something truly epic in representing horses in metal and my passions for both things come together quite well,” Landon says on his website.

For more information about the Mechanical Horse or the International Museum of the Horse, contact the Kentucky Horse Park at 859-233-4303 or 800-678-8813 or info@kyhorsepark.com or visit www.KyHorsePark.com.

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 Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and hosted more than 800,000 visitors and campers, as well as 18,400 competition horses in approximately 200 special events and horse shows in 2014. 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. Information about the park’s programs and activities can be found online at www.KyHorsePark.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and Periscope.

Lisa Jackson
Kentucky Horse Park
859-259-4224
Lisa.Jackson@ky.gov

Cigar Memorial Statue to Be Unveiled at Hall of Champions

Bronze Sculpture Features Cigar and Jockey Jerry Bailey Winning 1995 Breeders’ Cup Classic

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2015) – The Kentucky Horse Park will unveil a new memorial statue dedicated to the great Thoroughbred champion Cigar on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 3 p.m. Created by artist Douwe “Dow” Blumberg, the statue will be placed at Cigar’s gravesite at the Hall of Champions and features Cigar with jockey Jerry Bailey winning the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

One of the world’s top Thoroughbred racehorses, Cigar died Oct. 7, 2014, at age 24. In May 1999, Cigar came to the Kentucky Horse Park to live out his retirement. He was voted Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year in both 1995 and 1996. In August 2002 he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Cigar was also voted the Racehorse of the Decade of the 1990s.

Blumberg is a Kentucky artist and former professional horse trainer. Originally from Los Angeles, California, he now resides north of Lexington. His works include New York City’s new America’s Response Monument and the Flight 5191 memorial in Lexington.

Thanks to support from all over the world, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation was able to commission the statue. Additional contributions are being accepted to complete the Cigar Memorial. Contributions may be sent to the Cigar Memorial Fund at the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511, or made by phone at 859-255-5727, or online at www.khpfoundation.org.

For more information about the Cigar Memorial Statue unveiling or Cigar, contact the Kentucky Horse Park at 859-233-4303 or 800-678-8813 or info@kyhorsepark.com or visit www.KyHorsePark.com.

The Kentucky Horse Park is open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Nov. 1. Admission is $16 for adults and $8 for children, and includes the Next Day Free. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate; and the “Showplace for Saddlebreds” – The American Saddlebred Museum & Gift Shop.

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 Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and hosted more than 800,000 visitors and campers, as well as 18,400 competition horses in approximately 200 special events and horse shows in 2014. 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. Information about the park’s programs and activities can be found online at www.KyHorsePark.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and Periscope.

Lisa Jackson
Kentucky Horse Park
859-259-4224
Lisa.Jackson@ky.gov