10.29.13
Posted in 2018 Games at 8:27 am by Thomas
The word came out late yesterday that the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) has withdrawn their bid for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. I am not surprised as the BEF was making lots of stipulations on what they wanted changed about the Games in order for them to host and on the time schedule we now find ourselves, the FEI wasn’t in a position to change much. Ultimately I believe, Great Britain was the real competition we had for these Games.
So now that the British are out of the hunt, that only leaves Kentucky, Wellington and Bromont going forward. Of course I still do not consider Wellington a viable choice because of the political situation in Wellington which is only a little less contentious then the Hatfield-McCoy Feud because nobody has died yet, though I am afraid with the amount of money involved that is only a matter of time. Bromont is at least politically more stable but the Canadians are still dealing with the hang over from the 76 Summer Olympics, namely that it took them 30 years to pay off the debt from them. I know there was some feeling among the Canadians that they needed to find a way to host these Games after everyone else had dropped out because they didn’t want to be blamed if the 2018 Games didn’t occur at all. I know many are going to say that wouldn’t be a possibility, trust me, that is more a realistic possibility then you would ever get anyone in official circles to admit publicly.
Of course this all brings me to say what I have been saying since the last Games ended, that we could and would host the Games again. Ultimately I was certain before Britain withdrew that we would be hosting the 2018 Games, this is just one more event that brings us closer to that formal conclusion and announcement in the Spring. So I need everyone to start getting ready, as I have heard the complaints raised, to address those for the 2018 Games means you need to get involved and speak up early.
Kentucky Colonel
Thomas P. Demond
KyWEGO
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10.03.13
Posted in 2018 Games, News Worthy at 9:46 am by Thomas
So it’s official, FEI announced this morning that Kentucky had formally expressed interest in hosting the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. November 15th is the deadline for the return of the Bid Applicant Questionnaires, and then the FEI will make the announcement on December 2nd as to the host city candidates. Those candidates will then make their formal presentations at the FEI Bureau Spring meeting and the decision will be announced at the end of that meeting. I have not seen the date for that meeting yet but would of course suspect it will be prior to the Kentucky Rolex so expecting us to have much to celebrate then.
Kentucky Colonel
Thomas P. Demond
KyWEGO®
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10.02.13
Posted in 2018 Games, Alltech, Dr. Pearse Lyons, FEI, Governor Beshear, John Nicholson at 11:31 pm by Thomas
The second article in a little over the week has come out touting the possibility of the 2018 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games being back in Kentucky. This article was written by Nancy Jaffer for EquiSearch who had discussions with both John Nicholson and Dr. Pearse Lyons and all indications from those discussions were that the idea of us hosting the 2018 Games was under active consideration, though Mr. Nicholson did temper that by saying “that should not imply a decision has been made”.
Now, based on my research and discussions with others there is certainly an opportunity for us to host the 2018 Games if we so desire. I will go as far as to say that currently the decision has been made and indicated to FEI that we are interested in hosting them. I should and will clarify, that is NOT information that I have gotten directly from the horse’s mouth, excuse the pun, by which I mean anyone in close contact with the 3 needed principals, Dr. Lyons, John Nicholson or the Governor Steve Beshear. Dr. Lyons pretty much hinted though that, that is where the decision lies at the moment, that is to say the Governor is doing the political calculation on whether there would be support for it within our Legislative body to pursue a fast track formal bid. Now the Governor is not facing re-election but I am sure he doesn’t want to start the process of us formally submitting a bid only to then have the Legislature not provide support for it when the come back into Session after the first of the year, being as this upcoming Session will be a Budget Session for Fiscal Years 2015-2016.
My best guess/gut is a formal announcement will be made this month, possibly as early as the 10th or as late as the end of the Alltech National Horse Show which would take us into early November. If a formal announcement one way or the other isn’t made by then I would have to say that highly suggests we are not going to pursue a bid to host. Stay tuned as you know I will be staying on top of this story.
Here is the link to Nancy Jaffer’s article.
Kentucky Colonel
Thomas P. Demond
KyWEGO®
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10.01.13
Posted in Equestrian Events Inc at 8:46 pm by EPR
Lexington, KY -September 30, 2013-Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and the Kentucky Reining Cup, has made financial contributions of almost $20,000 to support several charities that serve the Commonwealth of Kentucky and local equine interests.
Foremost among the donations by EEI is a contribution of $10,000 to Kentucky Children’s Hospital; this is the 15th year EEI has contributed to the hospital.
“Central Kentucky has supported our event for 35 years and it’s important to us to give back to our community,” said EEI President Darren Ripley. “Our relationship with the Kentucky Children’s Hospital has been wonderfully reciprocal. Over the last 15 years Kentucky Children’s Hospital employees have given countless volunteer hours to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and the Reining Cup. It’s a great example of how organizations can work together.”
This year the Kentucky Children’s Hospital is conducting a capital campaign to totally renovate the Children’s Hospital. EEI’s donation will result in a new patient room named in honor of EEI.
Currently, the Kentucky Children’s Hospital provides:
– 66 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) beds
8 Level II beds
38 Level III beds
20 Level IV beds
– 43 Acute Care (non-ICU) beds
– 12-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
– 12-bed Progressive Care Unit (PCU)
– Eight 23-hour observation beds and 3 infusion beds
– 26-bed normal newborn nursery
– Three children’s playrooms, a computer room and a library containing books and movies
– Three consult rooms (one in PICU, one in NICU and one in Acute Care)
– Four sleep rooms for parents of children in the ICU
– A Ronald McDonald family room, open 24 hours a day for families of children in intensive care.
EEI also made financial contributions to:
· Central Kentucky Riding for Hope – CKRH is dedicated to enriching the community by improving the quality of life and the health of children and adults with special physical, cognitive, emotional and social needs through therapeutic activities with the horse.
· Midway College – As Kentucky’s only college for Women and as a forerunner in coeducational adult accelerated learning, Midway College empowers undergraduate and graduate students as leaders through a professionally-oriented liberal arts education.
· UK Equestrian Team – The University of Kentucky Equestrian Team is a national competitive team affiliated with the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The UK Equestrian Team welcomes all levels of riders, and all levels have the opportunity to compete in IHSA shows. The UK Equestrian Team has consistently been at the top of the IHSA standings. In 2008, the Hunt Seat team won the IHSA National championship. The team has since enjoyed continued national success with a reserve championship title in 2009, third place finish in 2010, fifth place in 2011 and 8th place in 2012.
· Georgetown College Equine Scholars – The Equine Scholars Program at Georgetown College enables qualified students to obtain a first-class education at a premier liberal arts college while participating in equine related opportunities available only in the “Horse Capital of the World”: Central Kentucky.
· Equine Land Conservation Resource – The Equine Land Conservation (ELCR) is an educational and networking resource for horsemen and communities. Since all land is saved locally, ELCR provides the information horsemen need to protect horse lands and trails in their home town.
“We’re thankful to be in a position where we can assist these important organizations,” said Ripley. “The popularity and success of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and Kentucky Reining Cup enable us to do this. It’s our many supporters who make these contributions possible.”
Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event that quickly evolved into what is today the only Four-Star three-day event in the western hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. EEI initiated the Kentucky Reining Cup in 2011.
Tickets for the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover and the Kentucky Reining Cup, scheduled for April 24-27, 2014, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., will go on sale on Nov. 1. Details on the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event are available online at www.RK3DE.org. Further information on the 2014 Kentucky Reining Cup is available at www.KentuckyReining.com. To order tickets for either event, please call 859-254-8123. To receive a printed ticket brochure, please send your name and mailing address to tickets@RK3DE.org.
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