03.05.10
Posted in 2010 Games, Events, Kentucky Horse Park, Tickets, World Equestrian Games at 9:34 pm by Thomas
16-night Dinner Series hosted by the James Beard Foundation at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Farmhouse
LEXINGTON, KY—Ticket sales will begin on Friday, March 5, for sumptuous dinners with America’s award winning chefs and leading chefs from around Kentucky, at Cooking in the Bluegrass: A Celebrity Chef Dinner Series.
The dinner series will be hosted by the James Beard Foundation at the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation’s Farmhouse each of the 16 nights of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The Games feature the world championships in eight equestrian sports and are being held in Kentucky for the first time from September 25-October 10, 2010.
Tickets are $300.00 per person, and can be purchased through http://www.alltechfeigames.com/content.aspx?id=3778.
A maximum of eight tickets will be available per purchase, as interest is very strong. Seating is limited to approximately 80 guests per evening, replicating the dining experience of the James Beard House in New York City. For special groups and parties over eight, please contact Lisa Wallace, Hospitality Catering Services Manager, at 859-255-2010.
Each ticket grants access to a delectable menu utilizing the expertise of two celebrity chefs, paired with Kentucky’s best culinary talent, using Kentucky Proud Products. The schedule and menu for each evening will be released in late summer.
“This dining experience is going to be a truly special occasion to ticketholders,” said Don Pritchard of Global Food Service Solutions and food services consultant to the World Games 2010 Foundation. “This cuisine, with local products and top chefs, will create a memorable evening for guests who enjoy the flavors and delicacies of the culinary world.”
The dinner series stems from collaboration between the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the James Beard Foundation and Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, and is sponsored by Kentucky Proud, a program of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, funded by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund. Proceeds from the event benefit the partner organizations.
More information about the program and participating chefs can be found at www.alltechfeigames.com.
On May 24, the James Beard Foundation will also offer a kick-off “Bluegrass Experience” at the James Beard House in New York to honor the World Equestrian Games culinary events.
About the James Beard Foundation
Founded in 1986, the James Beard Foundation is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and nurturing America’s culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, James Beard, who died in 1985, was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. Today, the Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools, and publications, and by maintaining the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a “performance space” for visiting chefs. For more information, please visit www.jamesbeard.org. Find insights on food at the James Beard Foundation’s blog Delights & Prejudices. Join the James Beard Foundation on Facebook. Follow the James Beard Foundation on Twitter.
Permalink
02.28.10
Posted in 2010 Games, World Equestrian Games at 11:02 pm by Thomas
As I watch the Closing Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, I think about the impact the Olympics have on the World and on the host city, I think about the Closing Ceremonies of the World Equestrian Games and the Legacy that will remain after-wards. I know many people probably think the most important outcome of the Alltech FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games will be the revenue generated or the new infrastructure, but the real lasting impact will be the relationships built between Kentuckians and those in attendance at the Games. I think of all the people I am likely to meet prior to and during the Games and the new friendships that I will make and my excitement and pride at being a Kentuckian and being a part of these Games is inescapable. So let me tone it down a little so that I may impress upon those of you with more normal excitement levels for the Games and for those of you who are not too excited about the Games to get you to think about that last day of these Games and what you might feel at that moment. I know we are all extremely busy in our day to day lives, but take just a moment to let yourself imagine watching the Closing Ceremonies of the Games and what you are going to feel as a Kentuckian, as an American or simply as a human being. I risk not to say, I think what you will feel will all be good, even if there is some sadness with it coming to an end, it will be sadness at having to say goodbye to some new friends. That is the Legacy of the World Equestrian Games to Kentucky, the friendships that it has the potential to bring to our lives.
Permalink
02.27.10
Posted in 2010 Games, CCI****, Dressage, Pre-Events, Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event, Show Jumping, Test Event, Three-Day Eventing at 2:16 pm by Thomas
LEXINGTON, KY—The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will host its final series of Kentucky Cup Test Events, held in conjunction with the annual Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Dressage, Eventing and Jumping competitions will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park April 20-25.
Tickets to all events are now on sale. To purchase tickets to Kentucky Cup Dressage, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and Kentucky Cup Jumping, visit https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/team.asp?SponsorID=2513.
“This final series of test events will be an important test of the planning for many of the competition aspects of the Games,” said Kate Jackson, Vice President of Competition for the World Games 2010 Foundation. “By hosting sessions of different disciplines on several days, we will really be able to test many of our procedures for the actual Games.”
Kentucky Cup Dressage will begin the week of official test events. The schedule includes:
Tuesday, April 20 9:00 a.m. Dressage Grand Prix
Wednesday, April 21 10:00 a.m. Grand Prix Special
Thursday, April 22 7:00 p.m. Dressage Freestyle
The Freestyle competition on April 22 is a ticketed event priced at $15. All Kentucky Cup Dressage events will be held in the Outdoor Stadium. The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event includes:
Thursday, April 22 9:00 a.m. Dressage
Friday, April 23 9:00 a.m. Dressage
Saturday, April 24 9:00 a.m. Cross Country
Sunday, April 25 Noon Jumping
For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, go to www.rk3de.org.
Kentucky Cup Jumping will complete the official test events for the 2010 Games. The schedule includes:
Friday, April 23 7:00 p.m. Warm –Up class
Saturday, April 24 7:00 p.m. Jumping Grand Prix
Sunday, April 25 6:00 p.m. Speed Class
Saturday’s Jumping Grand Prix is a ticketed event priced at $20. Tickets to the Speed Class on Sunday will be $15. All Kentucky Cup Jumping sessions will be held in the Outdoor Stadium.
Permalink
02.09.10
Posted in 2010 Games, Jamie Link, World Equestrian Games, World Games 2010 Foundation at 11:31 pm by Thomas
LEXINGTON, Ky.—Fans of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games now have the opportunity to become experts—or WEGsperts—of the eight world championship competitions coming to the Kentucky Horse Park from September 25-October 10.
Starting today, anyone interested in the Games can visit www.alltechfeigames.com and complete a video training program to become a 2010 Alltech FEI WEGspert.
The training program showcases the eight equestrian disciplines of the Games, the Kentucky Horse Park, what spectators can see and do during their visit, and how to be involved.
“We want Kentuckians, Americans and international fans to become ambassadors for the Games,” said Jamie Link, CEO of the World Games 2010 Foundation. “This program will educate people around the world about why the Games are coming to Kentucky and how they can share in the excitement.”
After completing the 2010 Alltech FEI WEGspert training, fans will be provided links to additional information. Two promotional videos about the Games will be available to download.
“We want fans to share the program and these videos with their own civic, equine and business groups,” said Amy Walker, Public Relations Manager for the Foundation. “The 2010 Games will be America’s largest sporting event this year, and our WEGspert training will be an excellent resource for various groups to become informed and involved.”
The WEGspert training program was created in partnership with Promogistics LLC, a Kentucky-owned and -operated company specializing in online training and education, as well as live training and corporate events. Find out more at www.promogistics.com.
Visit www.alltechfeigames.com to become a 2010 Alltech FEI WEGspert, and to find the latest information on ticketing, accommodations and travel.
Permalink
02.01.10
Posted in Vendor Spotlight at 2:16 am by Thomas
For all vendors, the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games trade show will be a place to sell their products to equine enthusiasts from around the world. But for some, the event will help them educate the public about a product they created from scratch.
From a hay steaming machine to horse cloning, several vendors at the Games are marketing a technological product that has been developed to bring something new to the industry.
Several years ago Peter Hopkins took a business chance that today is helping hundreds of horses across America. Hopkins, who made his living operating a home inspection company, switched gears in 1999 when he was introduced to infrared technology.
While Hopkins was training to use infrared technology for housing inspections at the Boston Infrared Training Center, he came across a brochure advertising the same technology for use on horses. For Hopkins, that was the brainwave that later became EquineIR.
After a year using infrared for home inspections, Hopkins switched gears from housing to horses and worked closely with veterinarians and other thermographers to learn about equine thermography.
“I spoke with many veterinarians and people in the business,” Hopkins said. “I realized that it was very much a useful market. X-ray is anatomical imaging that sees the bone; identifying muscle and tissue injuries are not typically seen with x-ray.”
Thermal imaging for horses is a series of images taken of a horse from several feet away. The cameras, which can be as sensitive as 1/20th of a degree, detect temperature and produce an image that shows heat variations throughout a horse’s body. Hopkins, and other certified thermographers, take images of a horse and prepare a report, which is then interpreted by a veterinarian trained in thermography.
For horses, and all other mammals, heat is often an indicator of injury or stress because blood flow increases in areas that need healing. Veterinarians are able to pinpoint areas of concern after viewing thermal images, and then take steps to diagnose the problem.
When I go to inspect horses I am never going to know more [about them] than the owners,” Hopkins said. “But what they expect is that I am going to take good images and prepare good reports so that the veterinarian can review it and help them understand.”
Hopkins preformed his first scan on a racehorse in training. His infrared images indicated a hot spot in the horse’s leg and a few days later a veterinarian confirmed the horse had a fracture. He told Hopkins that the image potentially saved the horse’s life.
“If you have a horse, unless their name is Mr. Ed, they can’t speak their pain,” Hopkins said. “In the medical world it is often a guessing game.”
Many clients have come to Hopkins with suspicions of problems and unidentified lameness, but he hopes the company can also be used before problems occur. If sport horses are scanned before they event, Hopkins believes his technology can help prevent some of these injuries.
EquineIR will be launching their product at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in hopes of bringing exposure to an alternative method of injury prevention. Unlike many processes, thermal imaging does not require the horse to be touched, but owners end up with a visual that can help diagnose problems.
“The biggest purpose is that we help horses,” Hopkins said. “I didn’t have any idea of where this was going to go, but we identify things that other technologies aren’t successful with. Our goal is to help hundreds of thousands of equine athletes.”
For more information, view www.equineir.com, email info@equineir.com or call toll free 888-722-6447
Permalink
01.20.10
Posted in 2010 Games, Events at 7:34 am by Thomas
New York, N.Y.—Kentucky’s favorite chefs will be working side by side with the James Beard Foundation and celebrity chefs from around the United States during the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which will feature eight world championships in equestrian sport at Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park from September 25 through October 10, 2010.
Cookin’ in the Bluegrass: A Celebrity Chef Dinner Series, will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Farmhouse restaurant during the 16 nights of the 2010 Games. Each night, 80 guests will enjoy dining experiences that replicate the sumptuous dinners held at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City.
The dinner series stems from collaboration between the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the James Beard Foundation and Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, and is sponsored by Kentucky Proud, a program of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, funded by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.
The celebrity and Kentucky chefs will together prepare dishes reflecting their geographic region or culinary specialties, and will have the opportunity to use Kentucky-grown food products. Participation by Kentucky Proud, funded in part by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, will highlight the vitality of the farm to table movement and give visiting chefs access to fresh, locally grown food products.
Tickets will be available for purchase in February at www.alltechfeigames.com.
Kentucky-based chefs signed on to participate in Cookin’ in the Bluegrass: A Celebrity Chef Dinner Series include:
- Lawrence Agnew, Avalon, Louisville, Ky.
- Jeremy Ashby, Azur Restaurant and Patio, Lexington, Ky.
- Andrew Meyers, Bellini’s Restaurant, Lexington, Ky.
- Jeffrey A. Newman, Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant, Berea, Ky.
- Francis Schmitz, Bristol Bar and Grille, Louisville, Ky.
- Eric Fowler and Jonathon Gossett, Dudley’s Restaurant, Lexington, Ky.
- S. Dean Corbett, Equus and Corbett’s: an American Place, Louisville, Ky.
- Javier Lanza, Jean Farris Winery and Bistro, Lexington, Ky.
- Jonathan Lundy, Jonathan at Gratz Park, Lexington, Ky.
- Kathy Cary, Lilly’s Bistro, Louisville, Ky.
- James Gerhardt, Limestone Restaurant, Louisville, Ky.
- Dave Cupolo, Malone’s, Lexington, Ky.
- Paul Weckman, Otto’s, Covington, Ky.
- Michael Paley, Proof on Main, Louisville, Ky.
- John Varanese, Varanese, Louisville, Ky.
- Dallas McGarity, Z’s Fusion, Louisville, Ky.
- Edward K. Lee, 610 Magnolia, Louisville, Ky.
Proceeds from Cookin’ in the Bluegrass will benefit the James Beard Foundation, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, and the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
A list of current participating celebrity chefs, many of whom are James Beard award winners, can be found here.
About the James Beard Foundation
Founded in 1986, the James Beard Foundation is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and nurturing America’s culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, James Beard, who died in 1985, was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. Today, the Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools, and publications, and by maintaining the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a “performance space” for visiting chefs. For more information, please visit www.jamesbeard.org. Find insights on food at the James Beard Foundation’s blog Delights & Prejudices. Join the James Beard Foundation on Facebook and Twitter.
Permalink
12.02.09
Posted in 2010 Games, Events, Kentucky Horse Park, Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, World Equestrian Games at 12:16 pm by Thomas
Celebrity Chef Dinner Series
Celebrates 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
New York, N.Y.—America’s leading chefs are partnering with the world’s most prestigious equestrian competition to showcase the country’s rich culinary heritage for 16 nights during the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, with Cookin’ in the Bluegrass: A Celebrity Chef Dinner Series.
The James Beard Foundation has partnered with the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games for Cookin’ in the Bluegrass. This dinner series will occur each night from September 25-October 10, 2010 in Lexington, Ky., as the Kentucky Horse Park hosts the world championships in eight equestrian sports.
Each dinner will feature two celebrity chefs, many of whom are James Beard Award-winners, and one local or Kentucky-based chef, cooking side-by-side at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Farmhouse restaurant. Each night, 80 guests will enjoy dining experiences that replicate the sumptuous dinners held at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City.
Tickets for Cookin’ in the Bluegrass will be available for purchase in early 2010 at www.alltechfeigames.com. Prices have not been finalized.
Current Participating Chefs include:
John Besh, Restaurant August, New Orleans, La.
Philippe Boulot, the Heathman at the Heathman Hotel, Portland, Ore.
Clifford Buittano and Anne Quatrano, Bacchanalia, Atlanta, Ga.
Sanford D’Amato, Sanford Restaurant, Milwaukee, Minn.
Roberto Donna, Galileo, Washington, DC
Jose Garces, 2009 Iron Chef Winner, Amada, Philadelphia; Pa.
Mark Kiffin, The Compound restaurant, Santa Fe, N.M.
Mike Lata, Fig, Charleston, S.C.
Christopher Lee, Aureole, New York City, N.Y.
Emily Luchetti, Farallon Restaurant, San Francisco, Calif.
George Mavrothalassaitis, Chef Mavro Restaurant, Honolulu, HI
Nancy Oakes, Boulevard restaurant, San Francisco, Calif.
Vitaly Paley, Paley’s Place Bistro and Bar, Portland, Ore.
Joachim B. Splichal, Patina Restaurant Group, New York, NY.
Mark Vetri, Vetri, Philadelphia, Pa.
“The James Beard Foundation is honored to be part of an event that allows a diverse group of chefs to share their culinary points of view with a whole new audience,” said Susan Ungaro, president of the James Beard Foundation. “Our 2010 Games dinners will pair the best local and national chefs in America’s great southern region, where we celebrate so many of our nation’s deepest culinary roots.”
In spring 2010 the James Beard Foundation will offer a coinciding “Bluegrass Experience” at the James Beard House in New York to honor the World Equestrian Games culinary events.
Sponsors include the Kentucky Proud Program, dedicated to marketing Kentucky-made or –grown food products (funded in part by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and administered by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture). From local farmers to brewers, distillers, growers and cheese-makers, Kentucky Proud represents an array of local products distributed throughout the world. Kentucky Proud will facilitate the use of fresh, local ingredients every night of Cookin’ in the Bluegrass.
Proceeds from Cookin’ in the Bluegrass will benefit the James Beard Foundation, The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, and the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
About the James Beard Foundation
Founded in 1986, the James Beard Foundation is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and nurturing America’s culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, James Beard, who died in 1985, was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. Today, the Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools, and publications, and by maintaining the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a “performance space” for visiting chefs. For more information, please visit www.jamesbeard.org. Find insights on food at the James Beard Foundation’s blog Delights & Prejudices. Join the James Beard Foundation on Facebook. Follow the James Beard Foundation on Twitter.
About the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation
Since its inception in 1985 the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and a prestigious board has been fulfilling its mission to become the unquestioned leading equestrian facility of its kind in the world and continues to provide funding for the park’s facilities such as show rings and barns for equine competitions, horses and carriages, costumes, signage, demographic research, land surveys, and publications.
Permalink
10.15.09
Posted in 2010 Games, Disciplines, Endurance, Test Event, World Equestrian Games at 9:09 pm by Thomas
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY-October 15, 2009- The United States dominated the Kentucky Cup Endurance FEI CEI***, sponsored by Emirates Equestrian Federation, and the official endurance test event for the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games, garnering all three team and individual medals on Wednesday. The winners were officially declared at an awards ceremony held at the Kentucky Horse Park on Thursday morning.
Danielle McGunigal of Ft. Valley, Virginia, was the individual gold medal winner of the modified CEI*** in a ride time of 6:30:41 with an average speed of 18.43 kph. The race was originally an FEI qualifying event at a distance of 100 miles (160 km), but was shortened to 75-miles (120 km) after the footing became questionable due to the inclement weather that began shortly before the race began and continued throughout the day making the trail slippery and muddy.
“I was disappointed by the race being shortened but happy to be finished,” lamented the 1996 Endurance World Champion. “This was the toughest ride I have ever done. It was like swimming up hill with a hole in your paddle.”
The race was shortened—from six loops down to four—and McGunigal led almost the whole way riding Gold Raven, her 8-year-old Arabian mare. McGunigal’s mother, two-time Endurance World Champion, Valerie Kanavy, came to the mandatory vet check ahead of her daughter, but was later eliminated after her mare slipped on the second loop.
Ellyn Rapp of Dubuque, Iowa, won the silver medal in a ride time of 6:52:16 (17.46 kph) on her 14-year-old Arabian gelding, Berjo Smokey. “Smokey is amazing, said Rapp. He never quits. I have had all my best rides on him.”
Jan Worthington, of Scales Mound, Illinois, won the bronze medal in a ride time of 7:01:33 (17.08 kph) riding Golden Lightning. The 9-year-old Arabian gelding was awarded the prestigious Best Condition award, given to the horse that is judged to be the most fit to continue. Worthington was thrilled with his accomplishment.
“It really took me by surprise,” said the 69-year-old rider of winning Best Condition. “I am blessed with a great horse. I think he did so well in the mud because he has small feet like a mule.”
The individual medals were awarded first and the ceremony turned out to be very moving, thanks to a technical difficulty. The music for the U.S. National Anthem could not be played, so the audience volunteered to sing it instead.
Despite the weather, the event was considered a success and a good test for next year. Competition Manager Emmett Ross said Wednesday provided some excellent learning opportunities, and was pleased with his feedback about the trail.
“We were committed to make the trail wonderful. You never got to see the trail in its full glory because of the weather,” said Ross. “I’m saving some surprises for next year. We are looking forward to making this a very enjoyable trail next year – and it’s not going to rain!”
TEAM RESULTS FOR THE MODIFIED CEI***
Team USA East – Gold Medal
Danielle McGunigal
Dr. Margaret Mary (Meg) Sleeper
Stephen Rojek
Farzad Faryadi
Team Central USA – Silver Medal
Ellyn Rapp
Janice Ann Worthington
Darolyn Butler
Julie Jackson – Biegert
Team Mountain USA – Bronze Medal
Christoph Josef Schork
Suzanne Hayes
Douglas Swingley
Tennessee Mahoney
Permalink
10.14.09
Posted in 2010 Games, Disciplines, Endurance, Pre-Events, World Equestrian Games at 10:10 pm by Thomas
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY-October 14, 2009- HE Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates and 1996 Endurance World Champion Danielle Mc Gunigal of the United States won the Kentucky Cup Endurance events, sponsored by Emirates Equestrian Federation, and the official endurance test event for the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games.
HE Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum son of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, crossed the wire first in the CEI** 75 mile event in a ride time of 6:05:30. Danielle Mc Gunigal finished the CEI*** in a ride time in 6:30:41. The CEI*** was originally an FEI qualifying event at a distance of 100 miles (160 km), but lost its status when it was shortened to 120 km after the footing became questionable in the inclement weather.
“I have mixed feelings about shortening the race,” said Mc Gunigal. “The footing was only getting worse. Some of the parts of the trail that we have to go over were already slippery and deep and if the race was kept at the original distance, we would have had to go over it again, so in that sense, I am glad they shortened it. But I was hoping to use this race to qualify my horse (Gold Raven) for next year, and now we have to do it at another event, so that is very disappointing.”
HE Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum was thrilled with his win despite the conditions.
“It was amazing. This is the sport that we most love. It’s our history,” said Sheikh Majid. “Given the weather today, the course was amazing. But the weather made it very difficult. There wasn’t any hard part, other than the ground being a bit slippery. Other than that, it was excellent. There wasn’t anything wrong or bad.”
The rain was a recurring focus of the day, with a downpour shortly before the start of the rides. It continued throughout the day for all mandatory veterinary exams, creating a messy vet gate and slippery footing.
Two-time Endurance World Champion Valerie Kanavy and mother of Danielle McGunigal, was affected by the weather and footing. Kanavy was eliminated after her horse LM Parys fell on the second loop.
“We were crossing the road on the blacktop and she just slipped,” said Kanavy. “She went down and I went right after. She has recovered and is doing fine now.”
The event was aptly named as an endurance test. The endurance levels of the athletes from the 23 countries participating were truly tested. However, according to Mubarak Khalifa of the UAE the weather was no big deal. “Endurance riders are used to riding in all kinds of weather, so this is normal.”
One noticeable absentee was HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was expected to compete but never made the trip to Kentucky due to commitments in Dubai.
Permalink
10.07.09
Posted in 2010 Games, Disciplines, Endurance, Test Event, World Equestrian Games at 10:16 pm by Thomas
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY—October 7, 2009— On October 14, riders from more than 20 countries will compete in the Kentucky Cup Endurance race, sponsored by Emirates Equestrian Federation and the official endurance test event for the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games.
Athletes from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Romania, Spain and many other countries are expected to compete in or observe Kentucky Cup Endurance in preparation for next year’s Endurance World Championship at the 2010 Games. The team from the United Arab Emirates will be led by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. His son, HE Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, will also ride for the UAE.
Current World Champion Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain, and the mother-daughter team of Valerie Kanavy and Danielle Mc Gunigal of the United States will also compete. Kanavy is a two-time world champion (1994 and 1998) and also placed second to her daughter in the 1996 World Championships.
Kentucky Cup Endurance will feature both a 75-mile (120 km) race and a 100-mile (160 km) race. Both races comprise a series of loops through the Kentucky Horse Park and surrounding properties, frequently returning to the Kentucky Horse Park for required veterinary inspections.
The 75-mile race will begin at 7:30 a.m. on October 14 and the 100-mile race will follow with a 7:45 a.m. start. Awards for the 100-mile race will be held at 10:00 a.m. on October 15 in the new outdoor stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park. In addition to honoring the top riders, there will also be an award for the best conditioned horse.
Admission to Kentucky Cup Endurance is free to the public. Parking will be $3 per day at the entrance of the Kentucky Horse Park. Kentucky Cup Endurance spectators can also enjoy the other Kentucky Horse Park attractions. Admission to Kentucky Horse Park attractions is available at the Visitor’s Center.
A complete list of competitors and countries is available on the Kentucky Cup Endurance test event page of our Web site.
Permalink
10.04.09
Posted in 2010 Games, Combined Driving, Disciplines, Pre-Events at 7:35 pm by Thomas
Lexington, KY – October 4, 2009 – Chester Weber of Ocala, FL, is now in possession of the 2009 Kentucky Cup, which was a test event for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, and a record 7th USEF Four-In-Hand National Championship.
Weber went into the Cones phase a mere 6.86 points ahead of the pack and maneuvered his team around the course with only a 2.30 time penalty, for a final score of 131.35 to take the title.
“This course was up to international standards,” said Weber. “The time is always difficult at a Championship and I felt that this was good preparation for next year where we are going to have to fight to make the time.”
Tucker Johnson, Hobe Sound, FL, placed third in the Kentucky Cup and finished as Reserve Champion, in second place behind Weber as the second highest placing US driver in the National Championship race. Johnson was within the time on the Cones course, but managed to bump two cones and dislodge the balls on top for a penalty score of 6 and a final score of 141.40.
“This was a good course” said Johnson. “I was very pleased and thought it was a very appropriate course for the competition. For next year I plan to build a team from these horses and the team I have in Europe and prepare by competing in Windsor and Aachen. Now that we have gotten a taste of what the course can be, with the hazards and the hills, I plan on coming back with something that is ready to show.”
Boyd Exell, from Australia, spent the week chasing Weber and Johnson and after his spectacular Marathon phase and was less than 7 points behind the leaders going into the last phase of competition. Exell drove his team tight and fast, covering most of the track at an extended trot and crossed the timers with only a penalty of 3, for one ball dropped, for a total of 138.91 and second place in the Kentucky Cup.
“The course was, just like yesterday’s Marathon, very horse friendly” said Exell. “It was also nice to watch. But from my previous competition experience in Europe, this was the most horse friendly. This was a test event and I anticipate that next year it will go up to WEG standards.”
Exell is already guaranteed a spot at the 2010 Games representing Australia. For Weber and Johnson, the Kentucky Cup and USEF National Championship titles are just two among a history of stiff competition between top American drivers.
“Tucker made me work really hard for this all weekend, harder than in the past,” said Weber. “I remember watching his dressage and thinking maybe he has got me here. Cones have been my weakness in the past but this was pretty fluid. I did use Jamaica at the left wheel today and frankly he gave me a bit of grief. That’s what I get for trying to give an 18 year-old a break.”
Chester Weber, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Cup
Permalink
10.02.09
Posted in 2010 Games, Combined Driving, Disciplines, Pre-Events, World Equestrian Games at 7:00 am by Thomas
Lexington, KY – October 1, 2009 – A real shootout is underway for the U.S. Four-In-Hand Driving Championship, which will be decided on Sunday at the 2009 Kentucky Cup, a test event for the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games, being held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
Chester Weber, Ocala, FL, and his team of warmbloods, which includes Jamaica, the 2008 USEF Horse of the Year, turned in a beautiful dressage performance to lead the competition with a score of 40.06. Weber has won 6 consecutive National titles and is looking for his 7th.
Also gunning for a record 7th Four-In-Hand National title, and sitting in second place with a score of 41.98, is S. Tucker S. Johnson, Hobe Sound, FL.
“This is so exciting,” said Weber. “To see so many other American teams competing here. When I first started driving fours in 1999, it was Tucker and Jimmy (Fairclough) and I think that they were happy to have a third competitor with them.”
Johnson echoed that sentiment. “Having 16 teams competing here is huge. It is a great step forward for the US. In Europe you will see 30 to 40 teams competing at every show. This shows that we are moving in the right direction with our sport.”
“I would like to get to the low 30s, which I did with my team last year, but the results today were acceptable”, said Weber. “The goal is always to win, but with this competition the goal is also next year.”
Boyd Exell, who hails from Australia, sits in third place behind Weber and Johnson for the Kentucky Cup title with a dressage score of 47.87. “This is a prep for next year”, said Exell, the 2009 winner of the Four-In Hand at Aachen in Germany, third in the 2008 FEI World Four-in-Hand Championships and winner of the 2008 British National Championship. “This was the first dressage test these horses have done as a team. So they did well. I think that it is great that Tucker is chasing Chester. I plan on sitting back and picking up the leftovers.”
Kentucky Cup Driving is both a competition for the National title and a test event for the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games, giving these competitors a chance to preview the venue at the Kentucky Horse Park prior to the Games next year.
The latest results from this event can be found at www.alltechfeigames.com on the News Headlines. Also on the site is information on all the test events as well as general information about the upcoming Games.
Permalink
09.29.09
Posted in 2010 Games, Combined Driving, Disciplines, Pre-Events at 9:13 pm by Thomas
The largest gathering of FEI Four-in-Hand drivers ever in the Americas will go head-to-head October 1-4 at the Kentucky Horse Park for Kentucky Cup Driving, the third official test event for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
The CAI-A competition will be held in conjunction with the annual Lexington Combined Driving Classic, (also the 2009 USEF National Driving Championships), and will feature drivers from Australia, Canada, and the United States. Several drivers competing in the test event are veterans from previous World Equestrian Games, including current individual silver medalist from the 2008 FEI World Four-in-Hand Driving Championships, Chester Weber.
Kentucky Cup Driving and the Lexington Combined Driving Classic will be held October 1-4 on the Secretariat Polo Field at the Kentucky Horse Park. The competition will consist of three phases: dressage, cross-country marathon, and obstacle (“cones”). The Kentucky Cup Four-in-Hand Dressage will begin on Thursday, October 1, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, all drivers will complete the marathon phase with FEI Four-in-Hand drivers beginning their marathon phase at 2:00 p.m. Sunday will consist of the obstacle phase, with the Kentucky Cup Driving obstacle class starting at noon.
For a complete list of competitors and competition start times, visit the Kentucky Cup Driving test event page of our Web site.
Permalink
09.25.09
Posted in 2010 Games, Pre-Events, World Equestrian Games at 7:38 pm by Thomas
It was a busy day today. I started off at the Celebration of the one(1) year countdown to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the start of ticket sales. Because of rain, the event was moved from the Lexington Courthouse into the lobby of Rupp Arena.
Tom Hammond, a Kentucky native and key sports broadcaster for NBC Studios was the MC of the event. Former Miss America Heather French-Henry delievered the motivational call to the citizens of Kentucky. Jane Beashear introduced us to her instructor and possible Dressage competitor for the Games, Reese Koffler-Stanfield, whom gave a very emotional speech on her pride at having the possibility of representing Kentucky next year. Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry spoke about the festivals that will be occuring in Lexington during the Games (http://www.spotlightlexky.com) . And last but certainly not least, Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and President of Alltech, spoke about his decision to be put up the $10 million dollars to be the Title Sponsor and their additional efforts to see that the Games are a Great success. There was extensive media coverage of the event and NBC streamed it live on the Web for the whole World to see so all and all I would say the kick-off was a great success.
Permalink
09.22.09
Posted in 2010 Games, Lexington, Tickets, World Equestrian Games at 9:36 pm by Thomas
The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will celebrate the launch of ticket sales and the final year countdown to the Games on September 25, 2009 and you are invited to join the celebration around the world with a live Web stream of the celebration.
A live Web stream from downtown Lexington will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST on the Lexington Fayette Country Urban Government Web site, http://lfucg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=12
The festivities will feature live musical entertainment, prizes, and an official countdown to the ticket sale launch at Noon EST. Leadership of the World Games 2010 Foundation, athletes, and local celebrities will speak, and NBC’s Tom Hammond will emcee the event.
“We are so excited for this day, and with this live Web stream, fans and supporters world-wide will be able share our enthusiasm,” said World Games 2010 Foundation CEO. “We hope that in 2010, many of these fans will be able to join us in Kentucky for 16 days of the best equestrian competition in the world.”
Ticket sales begin at noon on September 25, and purchases can be made online at www.ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet, and special needs can be facilitated via the Ticketmaster hotline at 1-800-745-3000.
Permalink
09.21.09
Posted in 2010 Games, Tickets, World Equestrian Games at 12:23 pm by Thomas
Tickets to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games go on sale September 25 at noon EST, exactly one year before the Games arrive in Lexington, Kentucky.
Ticket sales will be facilitated by Ticketmaster, and sold through www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available for purchase at all Ticketmaster outlets. Anyone with special needs, including ADA seating, may call the Ticketmaster hotline at 1-800-745-3000.
Tickets for reserved seating will be available to each session of competition of the eight world championships of equestrian sport. Prices range from $25 to $150, providing a range of options for every spectator.
All tickets will be sold on-online, through the Ticketmaster hotline, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. No tickets will be sold in person or via phone at the World Games 2010 Foundation office or the Kentucky Horse Park.
Permalink
« Previous Page — « Previous entries « Previous Page · Next Page » Next entries » — Next Page »
AbitaNet Corporation