Lexington, KY – August 9, 2010 – With only one month until the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) the Kentucky Horse Park is already preparing for the opening day.  On August 20, 2010, the Welcoming Waters Ceremony will take place in the new Indoor Ring. During the ceremony the nine regions being represented during WEG will present water to the First Lady of Kentucky Jane Beshear.  The Welcoming Waters Ceremony will be held prior to the $50,000 CSI-W Hagyard Lexington Classic World Cup Qualifier.  During the World Cup Qualifier, spectators can purchase a table at “The Betsy Gala” to watch international riders compete for the top prize.

The Welcoming Waters Ceremony will be a chance for each region to give a gift to First Lady Jane Beshear.  This offering symbolizes the equestrians from each region giving a gift to Kentucky for hosting the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  The water will mimic the Olympic flame, which burns during the length of the Olympics.  Once the World Equestrian Games has concluded the water will be transported to Normandy, France where the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games will be taking place.

Spectators and equestrian enthusiasts who would like to have a seat for the entire evening may purchase a table at the 2nd Annual Betsy Fishback Gala. “The Betsy,” will honor the late Betsy Fishback with events including the Welcoming Waters Ceremony, the $50,000 CSI-W Hagyard Lexington Classic World Cup Qualifier, dinner and an exciting auction.  “The Betsy” will begin at 5:00 p.m. with cocktails and dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. as the auction gets underway at 7:00 p.m.

Following the announcement of the class winner during the $50,000 CSI-W Hagyard Lexington Classic, a presentation will be made for the 2010 Hagyard Challenge Series $50,000 Leading Rider Award. This entire evening is hosted by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and will benefit the Markey Cancer Foundation.  All proceeds from the evening will support cancer patient care and research at the Markey Cancer Center.

Betsy Fishback, a beloved member of the Lexington community and the equestrian community, lost her battle with breast cancer in January of 2009.  Hagyard Equine Medical Institute began hosting this event last year, so that the equestrian community would be able to honor this amazing woman in a setting she knew and loved. Hagyard’s bond with Fishback was not just through the Lexington community, but more as if she were family. Dr. Dave Fishback, Betsy’s husband, has worked at Hagyard since 1975 and Hagyard would like to honor Betsy, her husband, and her family with “The Betsy”.  Anyone can sponsor a table for the night and there are multiple levels of sponsorship.

FAST FACTS: The Betsy

WHAT: The Betsy is an exciting night of World Cup Show Jumping as well as a dinner and auction in honor of Betsy Fishback (1950-2009), a beloved member of the equestrian community.

WHEN: August 20, 2010

WHERE: Kentucky Horse Park, New Indoor Arena, 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511

TIME: 5:00 p.m. Cocktails
6:00 p.m. Dinner and Auction
7:00 p.m. $50,000 CSI-W Hagyard Lexington Classic World Cup Qualifier

Brought to You By: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute

Benefiting:  Markey Cancer Foundation

Attire: Casual

For More Information: (859) 323-6448

2010 The Betsy Sponsorship Opportunities

Presenting Sponsor
$25,000
Official logo represented at Arena
Special recognition at the Show Jumping Finale
Special recognition in the evening’s program
Center Arena double suite for 50 people
Hors d’oeuvres provided by Catering By Donna
50 General Admission tickets
16 Tickets to the dinner

Shutterfly Sponsor
$15,000
Signage at Dinner
Special recognition in the evening’s program
Center Arena suite for 28 people
40 General Admission tickets
16 Tickets for dinner

Balubet Sponsor
$10,000
Signage at dinner
Special recognition in evening’s program
Center Arena Suite for 28 people
40 General Admission tickets
16 Tickets to the dinner

Milton Sponsor
$5,000
Special recognition in the evening’s program
16 Preferred Seating tickets
20 General Admission tickets
8 Tickets to the Dinner

Table Sponsor
$2,500
Special recognition in the evening’s program
8 Preferred Seating tickets
20 General Admission tickets
8 tickets to the Dinner

Individual Sponsor
$350
1 Preferred Seating ticket
4 General Admission tickets
1 Ticket to the Dinner

About Hagyard Equine Medical Institute:

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute of Lexington, KY, was founded in 1876. The practice, which is located directly across from the Kentucky Horse Park, is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world and is known for its excellence in veterinary medicine. The Hagyard Sport Horse Program, a specialized department at the practice, serves the nation’s top sport horse athletes and brings the same level of excellent care to high performance horses that the institute has provided for the race horse and breeding industries for decades. 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 practice has performed 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 on the practice at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, please go to www.hagyard.com.

For more information, please call the Markey Cancer Foundation at 859.323.6448. Information is also available through email at hagyardchallenge@hagyard.com or through any Hagyard Veterinarian or Staff Member.

For more information on the Kentucky Horse Shows, please go to www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Media Contact: Mason Phelps
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389  fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com