11.01.15

2015 Breeders Cup – Legacy of the 2010 Games

Posted in 2022 Games, Breeders Cup, My Thoughts, National Horse Show, World Equestrian Games at 8:08 pm by Thomas

The 2015 Breeders Cup is in the books and by all indications it was a Hugh success and the talk has already begun about Keeneland hosting it again within the next 10 years.  At the same time the Breeders Cup was going on, the National Horse Show was also going on at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.

I will let the sink in, that is 2 signature horse events going on the same week in Lexington, Kentucky, amazing when you thinks not all that many years ago no one could imagine the National Horse Show leaving New York and coming to Kentucky.  What maybe even more telling was the fact that even though Lexington is considered the Horse Capital of the World and that is especially true for the Thoroughbred breed, Keeneland wasn’t considered for the Breeders Cup because it wasn’t thought the track and the surrounding infrastructure was up to the task of what many in the Thoroughbred World consider the signature event for Thoroughbreds, more so then the Derby because that is looked upon as a single race largely geared towards the public persona of the breed, and truth be told I can’t think of another event of any kind that does for its particular subject what the Derby does for the Thoroughbred Racing.  The Breeders Cup is much more about the trainers and their business and as such the event is much more like the Oscars for Thoroughbred Horse Racing then is the Derby.

If it isn’t obvious, what I am saying is that these are two really big events in the horse world and yet they have only recently come to Kentucky, and of course I have a theory on that.  The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games paved the way for these events by demonstrating both the logistical capabilities and the personal strengths of Lexington.  I will of course have my detractors on that theory but even they can’t totally say the Games played no role in those events coming to Lexington just based on the public record.  Ultimately whether you want to believe my theory or not Lexington and the Commonwealth of Kentucky continue to strengthen our claim as the Horse Capital of the World and I very much suspect that will bring the World Equestrian Games back to Kentucky in that not too distant future.

Kentucky Colonel
Thomas P. Demond
KyWEGO®

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02.03.15

Canadian Pacific Ups the Ante with National Horse Show Title Sponsorship

Posted in National Horse Show at 8:30 pm by EPR

Lexington, KY – February 3, 2015 – – The National Horse Show announced today a new sponsorship with Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) that brings them on board as the title sponsor of this prestigious and long running show. The overall event will now be known as the CP National Horse Show. The showreturns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, onOctober 27th through November 1st, 2015.

With $755,000 in prize money offered, this year’s show has been designated a CSI-W 5* show by the FEI. The International Open Jumpers will compete for over a half a million dollars in prize money, while the top rated hunter sections have a total purse of $195,000. Meanwhile, $100,000 in total is offered to the Amateur-Owner and U 25 Jumper sections.

Hunter Harrison, the CEO of Canadian Pacific Railway and Chairman of the Board of the National Horse Show Association of America said of the new sponsorship, “The National Horse Show, one of America’s really special equestrian events, is a great showcase for Canadian Pacific as we continue to increase our participation in the United States.”

“The National Horse Show is honored with the title sponsorship from Canadian Pacific,” said Mason Phelps Jr., the President of the National Horse Show Foundation. “CP has been so generous to the National Horse Show and CEO Hunter Harrison is really to be commended for his support of show jumping worldwide and here in Lexington. The National Horse Show and horse show enthusiasts from around the country owe a huge debt of gratitude to Hunter, his family and to Canadian Pacific.”

Hunter Harrison, the CEO of Canadian Pacific Railway and Chairman of the Board of the National Horse Show

“I think the title sponsorship gives us a chance to really step up and the National Horse Show is a great place to do it,” Harrison continued. “It’s a wonderful show with a great deal of tradition and the venue in Kentucky will help us establish a better position in the world of show jumping in Lexington, the horse capital of America.”

This year, in addition to the CP National Horse Show, Lexington will draw people from around the globe for the 2015 edition of the Breeder’s Cup.

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canadian Pacific owns approximately 14,000 miles of track across Canada and into the United States, stretching from Montreal to Vancouver, and as far north as Edmonton. Its rail network also serves major cities in the United States, such as Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit, Chicago, and New York City.

Canadian Pacific is noted for their excellent and reliable service. What used to arrive today now gets there yesterday. We’re helping our customers become more competitive and grow their businesses with faster and more reliable transit times.CP knows that their customers want a service that provides the greatest assurance their goods will be on shelves, not stuck en-route.

The CP National Horse Show kicks off in Lexington on October 27th and runs through November 1st, 2015 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY

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11.02.14

Congratulations to Beezie Madden

Posted in Competitions, National Horse Show, Show Jumping at 9:59 pm by Thomas

Wanted to give a quick shout out to Beezie Madden and CORTES ‘C’ on their win Saturday in the $250,000 Grand Prix at the 2014 National Horse Show here at the Kentucky Horse Park.  I also send congratulations to Abigail Wexner, CORTES ‘C benefactor(I prefer over owner) on this win and all that she does in supporting the Equestrian World.

Kentucky Colonel
Thomas P. Demond
KyWEGO®

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10.30.14

Dover Saddlery Joins with National Horse Show as Presenting Sponsor of ASPCA Maclay Championship

Posted in National Horse Show at 4:24 pm by EPR

Lexington, KY – October 30, 2014 – – The National Horse Show, now underway at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, is proud to announce that Dover Saddlery has joined forces as the presenting sponsor of this year’s ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay National Championship which takes place as the concluding class on Sunday, November 2, 2014.

Dover Saddlery offers the finest selection of English riding apparel and tack for English riders at all levels and is well known for its vast inventory of equestrian products. Dover prides itself on its tack stores which are designed to evoke a premier horse barn and are beautifully merchandised with saddles, tack, apparel and horse care items.

Dover was recently voted favorite tack store by readers of the equestrian publication Equestrian Quarterly.

In addition to the presenting sponsorship of the ASPCA Maclay National Championship, Dover is generously donating prizes for the always popular Barn Night, including a wheelbarrow full of barn supplies and two gift certificates.

“We are glad to welcome Dover Saddlery to the National Horse Show,” said Mason Phelps, Jr. the President of the National Horse Show Association of America. “The ASPCA Maclay is the highlight event for our young riders and we’re delighted to have the name Dover Saddlery associated with such an important class.”

Dover Saddlery’s Janet Nittman noted, “We wanted to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to be associated with a nationally renowned class. Dover Saddlery has been a long-time sponsor of the USHJA and of many equestrian events throughout the country,” she said. “Dover offers the widest selection of quality products for the hunter/jumper riders and it is very rewarding to sponsor and to meet many of our customers at the various shows. We look forward to being in Lexington for the Maclay.”

On Sunday history will come full circle as former Maclay winner Peter Wylde (1982) will award the trophy to the winner of the 2014 ASPCA Alfred. B. Maclay Championship. Wylde will be bestowing the honor on behalf of his longtime sponsor Dover Saddlery, first time sponsors of the Maclay at the National Horse Show this year.

Wylde won the Rolex-Maclay National Equitation Championship at the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden in 1982. Like many of his peers who achieve the honor, Wylde chose a career as a professional rider and went on to represent the United States in international competition earning team and individual Silver medals at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada in 1999 as well as the Male Equestrian of the Year title from the United States Olympic Committee.

In 2002, Wylde and Fein Cera won the individual bronze medal at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, where Fein Cera was awarded the coveted “Best Horse” honor. The pair was again chosen to represent the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where they helped the U.S. to win the team gold.

Wylde’s classic riding style has earned leading rider titles from some of the world’s finest horse shows including the Washington International Horse Show, the CSI-W Geneva, and the CSN Manheim. He has won the Style of Riding Awards at the CHIO Aachen, Germany, the CSI Vienna, Austria; at the American Gold Cup; and three times at the Hampton Classic.

Peter Wylde, pictured here on Sandor de la Pomme, will present the ASPCA Maclay trophy for Dover Saddlery at the National Horse Show on Sunday.

The ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class has been held since 1933, and it is one of the most prestigious competitions for junior riders in the United States. Its winners are some of the biggest names in equestrian sport. Previous winners include: William Steinkraus in 1941, Frank Chapot (1948), George Morris (1952), Leslie Burr Howard (1972), Stacia Klein Madden in 1987, and Nicole Shahinian Simpson in 1992. The 2012 ASPCA Maclay National Championship winner was Jacob Pope, and in 2013 Lillie Keenan was named the winner.

Tickets for the 2014 National Horse Show are available at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The highlights for this year’s show include on Thursday night, the Copernicus Stables, LLC $75,000 International Open Jumpers – Time First Jump Off. Friday night’s feature is the Chansonette Farm $45,000 Gambler’s Choice Top Score Costume Class in honor of Halloween night. On Saturday, it’s the main event, the $250,000 CP National Horse Show Grand Prix. On Sunday afternoon the National Horse Show plays host to the Maclay National Championship for the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Class Presented by Dover’s Saddlery beginning early in the morning and continuing with the final round at approximately 3:00 PM.

All evening sessions begin promptly at 7:00 p.m.

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USHJA Wheeler Museum Features National Horse Show

Posted in National Horse Show at 4:21 pm by EPR

Lexington, KY- October 30, 2014– The National Horse Show is one of the oldest shows in the history of the United States. Founded in New York in 1883, the National Horse Show was originally held at Madison Square Garden. Since then, it has expanded exponentially, finding its current home at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

During the National Horse Show, visit the exhibit, A Sporting Tradition: Iconic Horse Shows Across the United States at the USHJA Wheeler Museum. The museum is open weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The featured exhibit will be hosting special hours and refreshments this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Museum is located at the USHJA Headquarters. Don’t miss out on this opportunity while visiting the Kentucky Horse Park for the iconic National Horse show.

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10.27.14

Breeder’s Cup Wagering Available During National Horse Show

Posted in National Horse Show at 4:16 pm by EPR

Lexington, KY- October 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., andSaturday, 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 Fridayand 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, call859-259-4200 or visit www.KyHorsePark.com.

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Download the National Horse Show App — Available Now!

Posted in Competitions, National Horse Show at 4:12 pm by EPR

Lexington, KY – October 27, 2014 – The 131st National Horse Show kicks off this week with a click! Whether you are in Kentucky enjoying the festivities and competition, travelling or back at home, you can still be a part of the action – virtually. The National Horse Show app is now available to download for Apple and Android devices for free.

Catch up with all the latest news and press releases about the National Horse Show and ASPCA Maclay Finals on the app’s News tab. In the Maclay Points section, equitation riders can keep track of the points they have earned for 2015, listed in descending order of points.

While you’re there, check out our Sponsors and Media Partners that are scrolling through the Sponsors tab. In case you need to contact the National Horse Show regarding exhibitors, vendors or advertising, the appropriate official’s name and e-mail address is listed on the Info tab of the app.

Most importantly, on the app’s Dashboard tab, the day’s Orders of Go will be posted and users can conveniently keep up-to-date on the current and next day’s schedule. The Dashboard app will also list the results of this year’s National Horse Show classes as well as previous years’ classes up to 2011. In addition, the 2014 qualifying lists are also available for every division, including the ASPCA Maclay Regions for the Finals on Sunday.

Go download the National Horse Show App, now available for free on Apple and Android devices.

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/ios/id36?mt=8

Android: https://www.android.com/apps/

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10.23.14

Equestrian Super Stars Headed to Lexington for 2014 National Horse Show

Posted in National Horse Show at 4:04 pm by EPR

Lexington, KY – October 23, 2014 – An all-star roster of equestrian superstars featuring show jumping’s very best are headed to Kentucky as the top-rated National Horse Show returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington on October 28 –November 2, 2014. This year’s line-up features numerous Olympians, including a handful of Gold medalists, plus many of the sport’s fastest rising stars.

Riders from around the globe all have their eyes on the big cash prizes and the numerous prestigious titles. This year’s show will be offering an impressive $755,000 in prize money. The National Horse Show offers an International Open Jumper division with $460,000 in prize money, while the top rated hunter sections have a total purse of $195,000. Meanwhile, $100,000 in total is offered to the Amateur-Owner and Under 25

Katie Dinan returns to defend her NHS GP title. Photo by Kenneth Kraus

Jumper sections.

The National Horse Show, for the fourth year in a row, received a top ranking from NARG, the North American Riders Group and was again named the Show Hunter Hall of Fame Horse Show of the Year in back to back years.

Katie Dinan, who soared tovictory in last year’s main event on Saturday night, is scheduled to return to defend her title in Lexington. She’ll be faced with a roster of riders, all trying to make sure that Dinan does not double up this year in the new CP National Horse Show Grand Prix.

Topping the list are three of the four riders on the 2014 Bronze medal winning team at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France.

2011 NHS Grand Prix winner, McLain Ward. Photo by Kenneth Kraus

Beezie Madden, who also captured the Individual Bronze medal, will be joined by teammates McLain Ward and Kent Farrington. Madden, the 2013 World Cup champion, also added the Keystone Classic at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show to her list of big time wins in 2014. In addition to his other top finishes, Ward led the round of honor in this year’s Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at Antwerp, Belgium and won the National Horse Show Grand Prix in 2011. Farrington meanwhile, rode to victory in the Grand Prix of Barcelona and added numerous Spruce Meadows wins to his already impressive list of victories.

Kent Farrington, Bronze medalist at WEG, is on the roster for the 2014 NHS. Photo by Sue Stickle

Beezie Madden, double Bronze medalist at the World Equestrian Games. Photo by Rebecca Walton

Other Olympians making the trip to Lexington this year include Peter Wylde, Leslie Howard, Laura Kraut, Charlie Jayne, Todd Minikus and Margie Engle. They will be joined by Pan American Games Gold medalist, Christine McCrea.

The above list of some of the all-time best show jumpers in the United States are credited with an amazing total of over one thousand grand prix wins among the group.

Three of four members of the US WEG team will compete at this year’s National Horse Show. Photo by Susan Stickle

Part of the next generation of show jumping stars, Georgina Bloomberg, fresh off her win in the Central Park Grand Prix in New York City will be joined by Jessica Springsteen, winner of the celebrated American Gold Cup this year. Last year’s American Gold Cup champion, Brianne Goutal, is joined by the last two Individual Gold Medal winners from the North American Junior and Young Rider Championship Wilton Porter, the Gold medal winner this summer at the Horse Park in Lexington and Lillie Keenan, who claimed the top of the podium in 2013.

Georgina Bloomberg captured the inaugural Central Park Grand Prix in NYC. The Book LLC

Jessica Springsteen won the American Gold Cup this year in North Salem, NY. By Emily Riden

Rounding out the list of American riders competing at the National are Quentin Judge, Meagan Nusz, Candice King, Schuyler Riley, Ali Wolff, Kirsten Coe, Charlie Jacobs, Denise Wilson, David Beisel, Molly Ashe-Cawley, Paige Johnson, Kama G odek, Alex Granato and Audrey Coulter.

A star-studded international field of riders is also making the journey to the heart of the Bluegrass this year. They include a strong Irish contingent led by the red-hot Darragh Kenny, along with Shane Sweetnam, Richie Maloney and Conor Swail.

South America is well represented with Paulo Santana of Brazil and Daniel Bluman and Roberto Teran of Colombia.

Top riders from Europe include Belgium riders Francois Mathy and brothers Nicola and Olivier Philippaerts and Switzerland’s Beat Mandli who comes to Lexington fresh off a victory in the FEI World Cup Grand Prix De Penn National at Harrisburg.

Wilton Porter, center, won the Individual Gold Medal at NAJYRC this year. Photo by Kendall Bierer

Tickets for the 2014 National Horse Show CSI-W 4* are available online at Ticketleap.com, the official ticket provider for this year’s event. The top-rated equestrian showcase returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, on October 28 –November 2, 2014.

Tickets purchased through Ticketleap.com are discounted 20% as compared to tickets bought at the gate. Children 12 and under are always admitted at no charge.

Tickets for each prime-time show on Thursday evening, Friday evening, Saturday evening and Sunday daytime can be purchased now at Ticketleap.com at: http://nationalhorseshow.ticketleap.com/nhs2014/ 

The highlights for this year’s show include on Thursday night, the Copernicus Stables, LLC $75,000 International Open Jumpers – Time First Jump Off. Friday night’s feature is the Chansonette Farm $45,000 Gambler’s Choice Top Score Costume Class in honor of Halloween night. On Saturday, it’s the main event, the $250,000 CP National Horse Show Grand Prix. On Sunday afternoon the National Horse Show plays host to the Maclay National Championship for the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Class Presented by Dover’s Saddlery beginning early in the morning and continuing with the final round at approximately 3:00 PM.

All evening sessions begin promptly at 7:00 p.m.

For tickets to this year’s show visit TicketLeap.com at: http://nationalhorseshow.ticketleap.com/nhs2014/ 

The prize list for the National Horse Show can be downloaded at:  https://www.nhs.org/prize-list-and-entry-forms/ 

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