Tag Archives: Kentucky Horse park

Community/Charity, Racing

Isaac Burns Murphy Legacy Honored at Kentucky Horse Park

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Park Pays Tribute to 19th-Century Jockey, Kentucky’s African-American Horsemen

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 19, 2015) – As part of a celebration taking place in Lexington in October honoring the great 19th-century jockey Isaac Burns Murphy, the Kentucky Horse Park will unveil a newly engraved headstone for Murphy as well as tributes to him and Kentucky’s African-American horsemen. The ceremony will take place at the park’s newly renamed Man o’ War – Isaac Burns Murphy Memorial on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m., and includes Dr. Pellom McDaniels, author of “The Prince of Jockeys: The Life of Isaac Burns Murphy.”

One of the greatest jockeys racing has ever known and one of Kentucky’s most famous sons, Murphy became one of the nation’s most famous and respected sport’s figures. He won an unmatched 44 percent of his races, and was the first jockey selected for membership in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Born in 1861, Murphy grew up in Lexington and was apprenticed to Thoroughbred breeders James T. Williams and Richard Owings. He was trained as a jockey by Eli Jordan and went on to be the first jockey to win three Kentucky Derbys (1884, 1890 and 1891). He also won the American Derby four times (1884-1886 and 1888), and the Latonia Derby five times (1883-1886 and 1891). Riding Salvator, Murphy most notably defeated Tenny in the famous 1890 Suburban Handicap.

At this event, the park will introduce new interpretive panels at the site “Isaac Burns Murphy,” “African-Americans in Racing,” and “Kentucky’s African-American Horsemen,” to share their important stories with future park visitors. Murphy’s panels include more accurate information that has recently become available after years of research by dedicated community leaders. Following this event at the park, there will be an unveiling of interpretive panels at 3:30 p.m. at the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden recounting Murphy’s life, describing his homesite, and recognizing the contributions of other African-American jockeys.

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

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

Community/Charity, Racing

The Kentucky Horse Park Celebrates Breeders’ Cup Week

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Park to Offer Off-Site Wagering, Parking, Additional Activities Leading Up to Event Races

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 15, 2015) – With Lexington hosting the world championships of Thoroughbred racing for the first time, the Kentucky Horse Park will be offering simulcasting and off-site wagering for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup races along with additional activities to add to the week’s excitement.

Indoor and drive-through wagering will be available at the Alltech Arena during the CP National Horse Show Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 29-31. Simulcasting will be broadcast inside the Alltech Arena exhibition hall all three days with the Keeneland race card on Thursday, Oct. 29 and the Breeders’ Cup races on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31. Patrons can enjoy all the action from Keeneland while also enjoying world-class show jumping action at America’s most prestigious and longest-running indoor horse show. Off-site wagering will open one hour before racing begins and close 30 minutes after the last race at Keeneland each of the three days.

Admission to the CP National Horse Show is free on Thursday, Oct. 29 and free on Friday, Oct. 30 until 6 p.m. Admission is $5 on Friday night and $10 for all day on Saturday, Oct. 31. Children 12 and under are free. Park admission is not required and parking will be free of charge all three days for this Breeders’ Cup option. Food will also be available, including breakfast items, wraps, sandwiches and other pub fare.

The park will also be one of three designated Park-and-Ride Breeders’ Cup locations for ticket holders to be shuttled to Keeneland Oct. 29-31, and will be handicapped-accessible. For the Keeneland race event, Prelude to the Cup, on Thursday, Oct. 29, parking passes may be purchased online in advance for $15 per vehicle or onsite for $20. Breeders’ Cup parking passes on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31, may be purchased online in advance for $20 per vehicle or onsite for $25. Parking passes include complimentary shuttle service to and from Keeneland for all vehicle occupants, and free event programs each day.

In the week leading up to the Breeders’ Cup, the park will be engaged in numerous activities. Isaac Burns Murphy, one of the greatest jockeys racing has ever known and one of Kentucky’s most famous sons, will be honored on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m., when the park will unveil a newly engraved headstone for Murphy, who is buried at the park, at the newly renamed Man o’ War – Isaac Burns Murphy Memorial, and pay tribute to this 19th century jockey and Kentucky’s African-American horsemen. There is no charge for admission.

Additional activities at the park will include:

  • “Equine Treasures of the Bluegrass” exhibition, International Museum of the Horse – through Nov. 1. Included in regular park admission.
  • Thoroughbred Makeover – Friday to Sunday, Oct. 23-25. Included in regular park admission. Admission is $15 for the Finale on Sunday, Oct. 25, 12-5 p.m.
  • Kentucky for Kentucky 5k Fun Run & Walk – Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. Registration is $32.50 per person.
  • Cigar Memorial Statue Unveiling – Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 3 p.m. Included in regular park admission.
  • CP National Horse Show – Tuesday to Sunday, Oct. 27 – Nov. 1. Admission is free Oct. 27-29 and Oct. 30 until 6 p.m. Admission is $5 Friday night, Oct. 30 and $10 for each Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Children 12 and under are free.
  • HalloWhinny holiday show at the Breeds Barn – Saturday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Included in regular park admission.

For more information on the Kentucky Horse Park or any of the events mentioned in this release, call 859-233-4303 or 800-678-8813 or info@kyhorsepark.com or visit www.KyHorsePark.com to see the park’s full calendar of events.

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

Kentucky Horse Park, Products/Services, Publications/Media

The Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop Presents a Book Signing with Pellom McDaniels, III

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Author and lecturer, Dr. Pellom McDaniels, III, will greet visitors and sign copies of his book Prince of Jockeys: The Life of Isaac Burns Murphy at the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop in the Visitor Center on Thursday, April 30, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Admission to the book signing is free.

One of the greatest jockeys racing has ever known and one of Kentucky’s greatest sons, Isaac Burns Murphy was the leading jockey of the 19th Century. He still holds the record for a lifetime winning percentage in Thoroughbred racing: 628 wins out of 1,412 starts for 44%. Murphy’s career includes three Kentucky Derby wins, four American Derby wins and five Latonia Derby wins, and he was the first jockey to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Murphy died of pneumonia in 1896 at the age of 36.

Murphy’s grave is located at the Kentucky Horse Park, available to visitors from all around the world. Learn more about this great American and Kentucky athlete on the park’s website here.

McDaniels is visiting Kentucky as part of the Keeneland Library Lecture Series. Learn more here.

Kentucky Horse Park
4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511; Interstate 75, Exit 120
(859) 259-4234, (800) 678-8813 x4234, www.KyHorsePark.com/Shop

Community/Charity, Racing

James Messenger Donating Iconic Symbols of Horse Racing to International Museum of the Horse

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LEXINGTON, KY – Emmy Winner and two-time Academy Award nominee James R. Messenger is donating two iconic symbols of horse racing to the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park – Secretariat owner Penny Chenery’s ticket to the 99th Kentucky Derby and a rose from Secretariat’s “Blanket of Roses.” To this day, Secretariat’s 1:59 2/5 seconds “Run for the Roses” in 1973 remains the all-time Kentucky Derby speed record, and he was the first horse to run the Derby in less than two minutes.

“Role model excellence – some consider Secretariat the greatest of all athletes – begets excellence,” said Messenger, “and the chance for young and old to connect with such a champion directly should prove inspirational for others.”

Mr. Messenger is making this gift to the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation in the name of NFL Quarterback Tom Brady, who also serves as an athletic role model through his achievements at the highest level of human effort in sport – and who also is a big fan of the Kentucky Derby.

Bill Cooke, director of the International Museum of the Horse, stated, “These two pieces of memorabilia are a wonderful addition to our existing Secretariat exhibit, which includes three of Secretariat’s Triple Crown trophies.” Ms. Chenery’s ticket and the rose will go on display at the museum prior to the 2015 Kentucky Derby.

The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, fulfills its mission to enhance, expand and improve the Kentucky Horse Park by fundraising within the private sector. This partnership between private donors and the support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is what has enabled the incredible success of the Kentucky Horse Park. Since its inception in 1985, the KHP Foundation has raised more than $25 million, which has funded critical improvements such as new facilities, research projects, new horses, landscaping ventures, and much more.

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+ and Instagram.

Laura Klumb
Kentucky Horse Park Foundation
859-255-5727
laura.klumb@khpfoundation.org

Kentucky Horse Park

Kentucky Horse Park Open Friday through Sunday in Holiday Weeks

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Park Closed Dec. 22-25, 29-31, Jan. 1; Southern Lights Open Nightly through Dec. 31

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 16, 2014) – The Kentucky Horse Park will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 24-25), and again New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (Wednesday and Thursday, 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 the Mondays and Tuesdays in those holiday weeks (Dec. 22-23 and 29-30).

The park will be open Friday through Sunday, Dec. 26-28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will reopen in 2015 on Friday, Jan. 2, with the regular winter schedule of Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The special holiday driving event, Southern Lights, is open every night from now until Dec. 31, 2014 from 5:30-10 p.m. The other holiday attractions inside the park are open only through Tuesday, Dec. 23. The lighted driving portion will be the only attraction offered from Dec. 24-31. The cost is $15 per car Sunday through Thursday nights and $20 per car on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19-20, but will then be $15 every night until Dec. 31.

The Kentucky Horse Park’s Bit & Bridle Restaurant will be closed for the holidays starting Dec. 17, reopening Friday, Jan. 2. The park’s Farmhouse restaurant is closed for the winter and will reopen in March.

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.

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 more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2013. 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 on-line at www.KyHorsePark.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram.

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

Community/Charity

Southern Lights Stroll Sets the Holiday Season in Motion

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

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 13, 2014) – 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. 20. 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 13th 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.

John’s Run/Walk Shop has donated its services to the competitive 5k race, and awards will be given to winners. Additional activities include complimentary Mini Train Express rides, refreshments, prize drawings and more. A food drive for God’s Pantry and a local animal shelter will be held in conjunction with this event. All participants are asked to bring non-perishable items to help local families and animals in need.

Advance registration, through Nov. 14, is $20 for adults and $15 for kids 7-12. Walk-up registration on Nov. 20 begins at 5 p.m., and is $25 for adults and $15 for children 7 to 12. There is no charge for children 6 and younger.

The competitive 5k race begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the recreational stroll at 7 p.m. Check-in is at the park’s Visitor Center. The first 750 registered adults receive a free souvenir T-shirt, and the first 350 registered kids receive a free holiday souvenir.

All proceeds from the Southern Lights Stroll support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. The 2014 Shining Star Presenting Sponsor is Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Inc.; the Holly & Ivy Sponsor is Kerr Brothers Funeral Homes; and the Ribbons & Bows Sponsors are Central Bank, Kentucky Utilities and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives. Additional sponsors for the Stroll are John’s Run/Walk Shop, the Mini Train Express, Pepsi, and SafetyTec.

Information on Southern Lights can 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.

Note: Some electronic map services available on Apple and Android mobile and auto GPS devices are not providing accurate directions to the Kentucky Horse Park. We recommend that visitors use home computers to access a mapping service for directions, use the directions provided on the KHP website, www.KyHorsePark.com (available on the widget on the lower right-hand side under Address), follow the brown highway signs or call ahead to double-check their route.

The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, fulfills its mission to enhance, expand and improve the Kentucky Horse Park by fundraising within the private sector. This partnership between private donors and the support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is what has enabled the incredible success of the Kentucky Horse Park. Since its inception in 1985, the KHP Foundation has raised more than $25 million, which has funded critical improvements such as new facilities, research projects, new horses, landscaping ventures, and much more.

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 more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2013. 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 on-line at www.KyHorsePark.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram.

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

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

Kentucky Horse Park, National Horse Show, Racing

Breeders’ Cup Wagering Available during National Horse Show

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Attend the Nation’s Top Horse Show While Betting on the Nation’s Top Thoroughbred Racing

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2014) – Off-site wagering for the 2014 Breeders’ Cup races will be available at the National Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Both walk-up and drive-thru wagering will be available in the parking lot adjacent to the arena, and signs will be posted directing guests along the way. Park admission is not required and parking will be free.

Guests are invited to stay and enjoy the National Horse Show, America’s oldest indoor horse show, both Friday and Saturday, which is taking place at the park Oct. 28 to Nov. 2. Admission to the show is free both days that Breeders’ Cup wagering is offered until 6 p.m., then is $8 in advance/$10 at the door on Friday night and $16 in advance/$20 at the door on Saturday night after 6 p.m. Children 12 and under are free.

Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars, and has been held at the Kentucky Horse Park since 2011. Show jumping elite from around the globe will be competing at the event for numerous prestigious titles, including the ASPCA/NHSAA Alfred B. Maclay National Championship, and more than $750,000 in cash prizes, the biggest prize money on the United States indoor tour.

For more information about the National Horse Show, or ticket information for Thursday or Sunday, call 859-608-3709 or visit www.NHS.org. Media inquiries for the National Horse Show should be directed to 561-753-3389. For information on the Kentucky Horse Park, call 859-259-4200 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 more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2013. 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 on-line at www.KyHorsePark.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram.

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

Kentucky Horse Park

Halloween Show Brings Frights and Delights to Kentucky Horse Park

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Unusual Sightings of Humans and Horses Abound

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 22, 2014) – It’s not just area children who dress up in costumes for Halloween. In Kentucky, horses do, too! On Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m., the Kentucky Horse Park will present its annual Halloween Show at the Horses of the World Barn where park horses and their riders are likely to show up as just about anything – a scary headless horseman, cranky wicked witch, swashbuckling pirates, genie with a bottle, “Phantom of the Opera” – it’s different every year.

Throughout the year, the Horses of the World Show is presented with riders wearing costumes appropriate to the breed of horse or discipline. For the Halloween Show, costume ideas are planned all year by park employees and special guests to wrap up the park’s summer tourist season with a fun twist on the tradition.

For more information about the Halloween Show, 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. 2. Admission is $16 for adults and $8 for children 7-12, and includes the Next Day Free. Beginning Nov. 3, the park will switch to its winter schedule and will be open Wednesday – Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Winter admission will be $10 for adults and $5 for children 7-12, and includes the Next Day Free. Children 6 and under are always admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult. 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 more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2013. 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 on-line at www.KyHorsePark.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram.

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

Contributors/Press

Kentucky Horse Park Commission Selects New Executive Director

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 14, 2014) – The Kentucky Horse Park Commission announced today that it has selected Jamie Link as the new executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park.

“I look forward to working with Jamie as we strive to make the Kentucky Horse Park an even better attraction for visitors to Kentucky,” Gov. Steve Beshear said. “This is an outstanding selection by the commission, and I appreciate their hard work. The Kentucky Horse Park plays a vital role in tourism for the entire state.”

Link is currently the deputy chief of staff for Gov. Beshear. A start date will be set later.

“The Kentucky Horse Park Commission is very excited about Jamie Link being our next executive director to guide the park forward into the future,” said Alston Kerr, chair of the commission. “His experience in state government, public-private partnerships, along with his equine experience will be great assets as we continue our growth, ensuring the park will be the preeminent equine and tourist facility in the world.”

Kerr thanked the members of the search committee, made up of business, tourism and government leaders, along with the Pace Group, the search firm that sought and screened applicants for the position. “Their attention to detail and diligence was exceptional in conducting this international search,” said Kerr.

Link has held a number of management positions within state government since joining the Department of Parks in 1985 as a business manager. He also served as the chief executive officer for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Link served as the deputy secretary for the Finance Cabinet and the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. He was also the deputy executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park in 2006.

“I am honored and extremely excited about becoming executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park,” said Link. “I am looking forward to getting to work and continuing the park’s legacy as the finest equestrian venue in the world.”

The Kentucky Horse Park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet employing 78 full-time and 62 seasonal employees. The park is an equine-themed tourist destination, the largest attraction in central Kentucky, and an equine competition facility hosting some of the nation’s top horse shows and equine sporting events annually.

The park hosted some 800,000 visitors and 18,400 competition horses in 200 special events and horse shows in 2013, and hosted more than 1 million visitors in 2010 when the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games were held on its grounds.

The only park of its kind in the world, the Kentucky Horse Park is set on more than 1,200 acres in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass region. It contains a working horse farm comprising many equine-themed attractions for visitors, a 260-site campground, the world’s largest equestrian museum, the International Museum of the Horse, and the American Saddlebred Museum, the “Showplace for Saddlebreds.”

The Kentucky Horse Park’s preeminent collection of competition facilities, including the Alltech Arena and the Rolex Stadium, are home to prestigious annual events such as the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and the National Horse Show, among approximately 200 horse shows and special events held annually.

The Kentucky Horse Park is also the home of the National Horse Center, a collection of more than 30 national, state and regional equine organizations, the largest and best known of which is the United States Equestrian Federation, the governing body for all equestrian sport in the United States, which is non-racing and non-rodeo.

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 more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2013. 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 on-line at www.KyHorsePark.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram.

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

Gil Lawson
502-382-6596
Gil.Lawson@ky.gov

*Featured/Spotlights, Art/Photography

Celebrating the Year of the Horse in the Horse Capital of the World

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International Museum of the Horse Hosts Exhibition of Chinese Ink Horse Paintings

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 13, 2014) – 2014 is the Year of the Horse according to the Chinese lunar calendar. To celebrate this cultural tradition within the Horse Capital of the World, the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park, in partnership with the University of Kentucky’s Confucius Institute, and UK’s School of Art and Visual Studies, will host a special exhibition of ink horse paintings by Xu Qingping, a Chinese artist from Beijing, Oct. 18, 2014 to Feb. 17, 2015.

A free public lecture on horse painting will be given by the artist at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, in the South Theater of the Visitor Center at the Kentucky Horse Park. All attendees are welcome to tour the exhibition and the Kentucky Horse Park for free following the lecture that day.

Xu Qingping’s paintings are highly influenced by traditional Chinese ink painting within a Western academic milieu as made famous by his father, Xu Beihong. By adding color and additional elements to his work, Xu Qingping has differentiated himself from his father while still remaining grounded by his influence.

Xu Qingping was born in Beijing in 1946 and holds a doctoral degree in fine arts from University of Paris-Sorbonne. He was professor of art history and a member of the academic committee of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Currently he is deputy curator of the Xu Beihong Museum, vice chairman of the Chinese Painters and Calligraphers Association, and dean of the Xu Beihong Arts Research Academy at Renmin University of China. He is also an adviser to doctoral students, a council member of the Chinese Artists Association and recipient of a State Council Special Fellowship.

Xu Beihong was a legendary Chinese painter whose ink horse paintings are imbued with Western techniques of anatomy mixed with the traditional dynamic free ink play of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. Known for his galloping horses, the symbol of unbridled spirit in Chinese culture, Xu Beihong successfully developed a synthesis of Chinese and Western traditions in his work after attending the Paris Art Academy in the 1920s.

Horse painting was an important subject in Chinese art. Images of horses appeared in paintings in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.). Artists from the succeeding dynasties also built quite an impressive repertoire of horse paintings culminating in the Tang Dynasty (618-906 A.D.) and Song Dynasty (960-1127 A.D.).

The exhibition will be on view through Feb. 17, 2015 – the last day of the Year of the Horse. School field trips and other activities will be scheduled during the run of the exhibition. In addition, an art contest will be organized by the Confucius Institute for both K-12 students and UK College of Fine Arts students, with awards given out at the close of the exhibition.

For additional information about the exhibition and associated programs, visit http://www.uky.edu/international/confucius_institute or www.imh.org.

The Kentucky Horse Park is open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Nov. 2. Admission is $16 for adults and $8 for children 7-12, and includes the Next Day Free. Beginning Nov. 3, the park will switch to its winter schedule and will be open Wednesday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Winter admission will be $10 for adults and $5 for children 7-12, and includes the Next Day Free. Children 6 and under are always admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult. 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 more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2013. 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 on-line at www.KyHorsePark.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram.

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