09.25.07
Posted in 2010 Games, Announcement, Kentucky Horse Park, Press Release at 8:48 pm by Thomas
We have reached the T minus 3 years mark so things are really starting to pick up now and the Excitement is building. I was lucky enough to get to attend Media Day for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ Kentucky 2010 at the Kentucky Horse Park on September 13th. This was a great experience and all modes of media were represented from traditional print and television to those of us strictly in the online media formats. The weather couldn’t have been better and the Horse Park personnel did a wonderful job of showing off all the Horse Park had to offer while making the day go very effortlessly. I am sure all of us that were claiming this was a working event to our bosses and colleagues fill just a little guilty about just how much fun we had.
I will admit, this was the first time I had the opportunity to hear John Nicholson in person and I will have to say it was a treat in the sense that his enthusiasm for the Games is palatable. Of course I would of been disappointed if it hadn’t been as so much of the success of the Games rides on his shoulders. Of course it has always been my belief that those people who get involved in the Games will very quickly develop a pride and sense of well being that comes from being involved in something that you quickly realize is bigger then yourself and will make an ever lasting impact on the Commonwealth of Kentucky. So let the Excitement Build.
Permalink
09.17.07
Posted in 2010 Games, Government, Kentucky, Lexington, LFUCG at 6:12 am by Thomas
The Lexington Fayette Urban County Government put out a request for initiatives to be considered for the Lexington Legacy Project. We only had a couple of days after Mayor Newberry announced it to put together an idea but we did get it in by the deadline of September 11. We would of liked more time to better format it but sometimes its just better to get the ideas out there, even if our ideas are not used in whole we hope that they will help to formulate the final plan.
Our submission can be found here.
Permalink
08.19.07
Posted in Kentucky Horse Park, Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, Volunteerism at 1:55 pm by Thomas
I finally made the time to get out to the Kentucky Horse Park last week for an
interview with the Director of Volunteers about volunteering myself. The Director
of Volunteers, Georgina “Gina” Beare was delightful in personality and very
knowledgeable of the Horse Park. She has put together a volunteer program that
looks to be very well organized and designed to be flexible to meet the needs
of the volunteers and the Horse Park . I came away definitely energized to
volunteer and feeling good that my volunteering could
make a difference. Now I just have to fill out a little paper work and decide
in which position I want to volunteer.
So I want to encourage as many of you as possible to do the same, whether you
are a horse person or not there is a wide range of volunteer positions, and if just
the pure act of volunteering isn’t enough, there are perks provided to recognize
your help.
Gina’s contact information is below:
(859) 259-4267 or (800) 678-8813 Ext. 267
gina.beare@khpfoundation.org
The volunteer program is wholly supported by the
Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and does not use tax payer money.
The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation’s mission is to “expand and enhance the
Kentucky Horse Park” . The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation fills a great need
in that the Commonwealth of Kentucky budgets limited funds primarily for the maintenance of the Horse Park. It is with private donations and the support of
volunteers that the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation works to make the
Kentucky Horse Park a premiere equine facility that continues to attract
large numbers of tourist every year that makes it vital to the economy of
Kentucky.
So again, I would like to encourage all of you with an interest in volunteering
for a good cause to contact Gina and see how you can make a difference.
As always thanks for your support.
Thomas Demond
Founder KYWEGO
Permalink
07.04.07
Posted in Kentucky, Volunteerism at 5:59 pm by Thomas
Patriotism denotes positive and supportive attitudes to a ‘fatherland’
(Latin patria < Greek patris, ??????), by individuals and groups. [Wikipedia]
You may ask what Patriotism on the 4th of July has to do with Kentucky and the World Equestrian Games. The answer is nothing and everything. Wikipedia’s definition is the grand way in which most people think of patriotism but the truth is that patriotism starts in our own local communities and grows from there. So what we celebrate today has to do with the Patriotism of individuals like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and the likes that led to the birth of this Nation. The Patriotism we all should practice every other day of the year has to do with how we feel a part of this Nation and how we take care of our it.
The daily Patriotism I am talking about I am going to define this way; a positive and supportive attitudes to one’s community and one’s community starts with the family and friends and grows outward. The key to that statement is positive and supportive attitudes because no matter what, everyday we get up and our attitudes impact the people around us for better or worse. I am not saying that you have to be happy and strive to make some big positive impact everyday just be aware that what you do does make an impact.
One way that I do recommend to make a positive impact is through volunteering for something you care about. That could be through any number of organizations or as simple as helping a neighbor in need on a regular and ongoing basis. I am the first one that will say that it takes a commitment to volunteer with all that we have going on in our busy lives. However, I am also going ask that for those of you able to make such a commitment, not to my organization first but to the Kentucky Horse Park and I am going to ask that by my actions not simply my words. I have already put in a call to the Horse Park to ask about volunteering and I am going to go out there in the next week for an interview to see what and if I can help out there and I will report back with the details.
In this way I hope to be able to make a direct impact in helping the Kentucky Horse Park and another way of helping the success of the World Equestrian Games which I believe will can positively effect all of Kentucky with the help of the citizens of Kentucky.
One final note, we are also always looking for new members to help us get the word out about the Games and to help people find ways to benefit from the Games in all parts of Kentucky. So please sign up and we will keep you in the loop on whats going on and how you can make a difference.
Thank you and Happy 4th of July.
Thomas Demond
Founder
KentuckyWorldEquestrianGames.ORG
Permalink
06.12.07
Posted in Funding, Government, Governor Fletcher, Kentucky, Kentucky Horse Park, KyHP Funding at 11:30 pm by Thomas
So it seems that if the Governor calls a Special Session of the Kentucky Legislation this summer that it could be for who knows what and may or may not include the request for additional funding for the Horse Park. The Governor did appropriate the funds so that the engineering studies could begin this year which was an absolute necessity for the success of the Games. The need now is to have the money available to begin the construction as early as possible next year and there seems to be some question that the next regular Legislative session isn’t soon enough to guarantee that. Keep in mind no major construction can really happen until after next year’s Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event, but any major construction firm is probably going to need at least 30 days advance notice to put the logistics together to start getting equipment out to the Horse Park and I am sure most are going to say 90 days for a practical matter as a true start date to cover themselves when it comes to meeting deadlines.
So the question remains, will the major construction have started at the Horse Park 1 year from today, I give that a 60/40 chance because I am always the optimistic realist and at this point we have had to accept the reality that the citizens of Kentucky seem to have very little real power in moving politicians to get the people’s business done.
Permalink
05.31.07
Posted in Combined Driving, Discussion, Georgetown, Kentucky, Thoroughbred Racing, Updates at 10:16 pm by Thomas
Its the end of May and wanted to give a quick update.
In Kentucky April really kicks off the horse season with the Kentucky Rolex 3-Day Event at the end of the month and then things kick in to overdrive in May with the Kentucky Derby the first Saturday in the month. Of course we should say congratulations to Street Sense and his whole crew and to Curlin for running a great race in the Preakness. Hopefully we will get to see these two again in the Breeders Cup Classic.
As most people have probably realized by now, I am an all around horse person. If it involves horses I have an interest in it, which makes this time of year very busy.
On Preakness day I was actually out watching a Combined Driving Event at the Gala Driving Center in Georgetown, Kentucky. There are not a lot of Combined Driving Centers in the U.S. unlike Europe and the Gala Driving Center is certainly amongst the top.
As for the funding for the Kentucky Horse Park we have taken a wait and see attitude as we wait to see if the Governor calls a Special Session in June. We continue to promote the Games by talking to people where ever we meet them and the response has been largely positive. The real concern always comes back to the money that is going to be spent for the Games as most know if Government tells you one number it is always going to cost more. Our primary goal then has to be to make the Games more successful then what people are expecting so that the State reaps benefits in 2010 and beyond.
Permalink
04.30.07
Posted in Kentucky Horse Park, Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event at 3:45 am by Thomas
Another successful Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event has come to a close. Congratulations to Clayton Fredericks and BEN ALONG TIME for the win and also to Karen O’Connor and her little pony with the big heart Theodore O’Connor for their 3rd place finish. As always the Rolex is great fun and really gets the blood pumping and in my mind the Rolex is the top Equestrian event in Kentucky for riders and spectators alike.
Preliminary numbers I have heard for Saturday’s Cross Country were just shy of 50,000 and I can attest to the numbers as traffic was terrible both going in and coming out Saturday. The project to widen Newtown Pike from I-75 out to Ironworks is progressing nicely and I would assume this is completed by next years Rolex and we will see what impact that has.
This marks my 15th Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event and Equestrian Events, Inc does a wonderful job putting on this event. There are some details (Devils in the details) that will have to be handled better by the time of the World Equestrian Games and I know they will be so there is no need to go into it here. My hats off to Jane Atkinson, founder of Equestrian Events, Inc and the 1000 plus volunteers that make the Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event the success that it is.
Permalink
04.03.07
Posted in 2010 Games, Announcement, Business First, News Worthy, World Games 2010 Foundation at 7:12 pm by Thomas
The announcement was made today that Jim Host was resigning as chairman of the 2010 World Games Foundation, Inc and that Tandy Patrick was named as his interim replacement. Ms. Patrick’s involvement in landing the games for Kentucky was significant and she would seem to be a fine choice in my opinion to go forward as board chairman for the Foundation, though there are many considerations that go into deciding that position. Business First of Louisville had a lengthy article on her and her involvement in the bid process for the Games back in January, 2006.
Permalink
03.30.07
Posted in 2010 Games, Government, Governor Fletcher, Kentucky, KyHP Funding, News Worthy at 7:56 pm by Thomas
With the failure of the State House to act on the spending deal that would have provided the additional funding for the Horse Park the Governor acted this week to at least keep the ball moving down the field to guarantee the success of the games. He authorized Commerce Secretary George Ward to re-appropriate $900,000 in funds that had been set aside for a statewide campground improvement project.
These funds will allow at least the design work to continue for the proposed new stadium needed for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010. It is hoped that the design phase can be wrapped up by March of 2008 when bids will be sought for the construction of the stadium.
The Governor still may call a special session to re-address both the state pension short fall and the funding funding for the Horse Park that he requested in his State of the Commonwealth Address.
Permalink
03.27.07
Posted in Government, Kentucky, KyHP Funding, Legislation, News Worthy at 12:05 pm by Thomas
Well it seems our efforts have been in vain so far, the Kentucky Legislature looks unlikely to pass the requested funding for the Horse Park on this final day of this year’s session. There had been talk that the session might go till Friday to get everything worked out but that quickly faded yesterday. We haven’t given up for a five o’clock miracle and we will continue to find a way to get this funding covered so stay tuned.
Permalink
03.13.07
Posted in 2010 Games, Government, KyHP Funding, Legislation, News Worthy at 7:05 am by Thomas
Well yesterday it looked like the efforts of a lot of people were going to pay off and the additional funding for the Kentucky Horse Park was going to be approved with the Senate voting 37-0 to approve it. However the House and Senate deadlocked last night over some details and ran out of time to get a House vote. Now we will have to wait until March 26 when they return for the final 2 days of the session to see if they can get it passed though the last 2 days are generally reserved for things the Governor vetoes but there looks to be enough interest for this to make it back to the floor for a vote.
Permalink
03.10.07
Posted in 2010 Games, Government, Legislation, News Worthy at 8:10 pm by Thomas
It looks likely now that the Governor will call a Special Session of the Legislature to address the shortfall in the some of the State’s Retirement Plans. Mentioned as a secondary item would be the additional requested funding for the Kentucky Horse Park needed for the Kentucky World Equestrian Games in 2010.
In my mind it was doubtful that the Governor would of had much luck calling a Special Session for the Horse Park funding alone and probably less luck getting the funding passed if he had called a Special Session for that sole purpose. With the Senate driving the call for a Special Session to handle the Retirement issue it maybe possible that some back room deals will done that will allow a vote on the Horse Park funding. Of course some people will call that bad politics, I am afraid though, that is just politics.
If a Special Session is called we will be asking everyone to call their Legislators to support the Horse Park funding request as this is too important to let politics get in the way.
Permalink
02.24.07
Posted in 2010 Games, BusinessLexington, Funding, Government, Kentucky, Kentucky House, Kentucky Senate, KyHP Funding, News Worthy at 2:31 pm by Thomas
Erik A. Carlson and Susan Baniak of Business Lexington have written an outstanding article on the current situation in regards to the needed funds for the Horse Park. This article goes into great depths on a number of aspects and is appropriately titled, “Frankfort Holds the reins“. By permission of Tom Martin we are re-posting here in its entirety. The original article can be found here on the Business Lexington site.
Permalink
02.21.07
Posted in News Worthy, Position Statements at 5:45 pm by Thomas
We had heard rumors but now it has been confirmed in a Lexington Herald Leader article that World Games 2010 Foundation has also started on plans for a National Championship of Breeds to begin in 2011. Now again we can not take credit for this development, and our idea is for the Kentucky World Equestrian Games to occur every 4 years beginning in 2015 but we certainly support there efforts. Jim Host, the Foundation’s Chairmen, expects this event to bring in hundreds of thousands of people every year.
The only thing that struck us as odd was that we have only heard the rumors about this very recently and not sure who in the Foundation initially put forth this idea though it may have been Mr. Host himself. Still the problem remains, more effort needs to be put forth in explaining to the citizens of Kentucky as to why this is important to all of them, not just the perceived notion that it only benefits wealthy horse people. Ultimately, if the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 are not successful it will be hard to get the support to put together such a large event the very next year.
Our reasoning for going all the way until 2015 before having the Kentucky World Equestrian Games was the expectation that it would some time to pull the resources together again to host such a large event. Then we did not want to run up against the Summer Olympics in 2012 or the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2014. By going with 2015 we hope it would be a qualifying event for Equestrians wanting to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics which we hope will be in Chicago. After that the 4 year cycle will keep our Kentucky World Equestrian Games occurring in the year before the Summer Olympics going forward and would allow us the time to grow the Kentucky World Equestrian Games each time proving the regions ability to host a Summer Olympics of our own.
Permalink
02.16.07
Posted in 2010 Games, BusinessLexington, Funding, Government, Governor Fletcher, Kentucky, Kentucky House, Kentucky Senate, KyHP Funding, Legislation, News Worthy at 11:21 pm by Thomas
Tom Martin, Editor in Chief of Business Lexington wrote a compelling article on the need to provide the additional funding now for the Horse Park as proposed by Governor Fletcher in his State of the Commonwealth Address. This article also speaks to the importance of this opportunity to all Kentuckians across the state.
We thank Mr. Martin for allowing us to repost his article and for his efforts in promoting this cause that we also feel so strongly for.
Fund The Horse Park Stadium Now
By Tom Martin, Editor in chief
Business Lexington
Governor Fletcher’s recent call on the General Assembly to fund a $24 million outdoor arena at the Kentucky Horse Park is far more urgent than even recent press reports, including our own, have implied.
The Fayette County legislative delegation must “get this†and must close ranks immediately in a unified demand that House Speaker Jody Richards and Senate President David Williams cease their resistance to revising the current budget to provide these funds.
There is no time to quarrel over who is at fault for allowing this situation to become so serious and at such an 11th hour. We will sort that out later.
Right now, all of us here in Kentucky need to understand that in 3 short years we are going to represent the entire United States on live television broadcast worldwide by NBC and in other media from scores of nations. We need to appreciate the generous $10 million sponsorship of Alltech and to respect the industry that, more than any other, positively defines Kentucky culture.
Here is the situation.
When in 2006 the Fletcher administration requested initial funds for Horse Park improvements, the intent at the time was to demonstrate to the organizing body, the Federation Equestre Internationale, that Kentucky has the wherewithal to become the first-ever site outside of Europe to host the prestigious World Equestrian Games. It wasn’t until Kentucky officials actually traveled to the ’06 Games in Aachen, Germany that they realized the necessity of a permanent outdoor arena.
Time is of the essence. Best estimates project a 9-month planning and design process followed by a 12-month construction phase. And that doesn’t account for the inevitable delays. Even in a best case scenario, with funding provided in the ’07 session, construction could not begin until after the 2008 Rolex Three Day Event.
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are scheduled for late summer of 2010. The Horse Park, however, is required to host a series of test events in preparation for the games. Those test events must get underway no later than the spring of 2009.
According to Malina Gueorguiev, Communications Manager, Fédération Equestre Internationale in Lausanne, Switzerland, “We do organize an event for the specialists to go in and see if, for example, a new ground has been put in place; to run on that new ground to see how good it is because for the horses, it’s key.†Gueorguiev added, “Any event in the world does not match the standards of the World Equestrian Games. It’s a really, really exceptional event.â€
Indeed. It is an exceptional event for all of Kentucky, not just the Bluegrass. The anticipated economic impact spreads far and wide, enriching industries ranging from human hospitality to equine support.
Whether you live in Paducah, Ashland, Louisville, Somerset or Dry Ridge, you live in a state that, when perceived positively by the rest of the world, is viewed as “The Horse State.â€
Think we have a corner on this? Think again. Maryland, among other states, is breathing down our necks.
The state has completed a feasibility study for a parcel of land in Anne Arundel County and is currently in the process of putting in a bid for long-term control of the property. If their bid is accepted, they estimate it will take roughly three years and an investment of $114 million in capital costs to get the Maryland Horse Park up and running, said Rob Burk, executive director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board, part of Maryland’s Department of Agriculture.
When asked about the long-term economic value of that investment, Burk said they looked to Kentucky, as well as other state horse parks.
“For us it really came to light through the feasibility study when we were looking at the economic impact of not only the Kentucky Park but other parks around the country,†Burk said. “From a state’s perspective, we look at the amount of taxes that are actually generated through the park. For us, we came up with a number of about $11 million that would be generated each year for a similar facility to Kentucky’s. And that’s really how we justify the capital costs of a facility like this.â€
That doesn’t count the estimated annual economic impact of more than $100 million for Maryland businesses, and that’s without an event like the World Equestrian Games.
Burk compares a horse park to both a centralized farmers market for the equine industry and a convention center.
“The way we look at it is it really is a place for the public to interact, to put money into our industry†said Burk, who added that a sales facility has also been folded into the Maryland Horse Park design. “Since we can’t have a farmer’s market stand for a horse necessarily, the states have created these (parks) as large markets where they can advertise, in your case what Kentucky has to offer, in our case what Maryland has to offer.â€
“From an industry standpoint, and I think most heads of the industry will agree, the future of our sport really does lie in these facilities,†Burk added. “They are one of the most promising things for our sport.â€
Kentucky must remain preeminent in the horse industry. The ultimate purpose of the proposed outdoor arena extends well beyond its use in the 2010 Games. A new outdoor stadium, along with the new indoor arena, makes possible the National Equestrian Festival, an annual weeklong mega-event expected to attract 75,000 spectators producing a regional economic impact of $75 million. In addition, events such as this will enable the Horse Park to reach its goal of becoming self-sufficient –as in free of dependence on taxpayer dollars– by 2012.
We understand the reluctance of legislative leaders to re-open the budget in what is supposed to be a brief, non-budgetary session. Indeed, when voters added the odd-year short session it wasn’t meant to decide the entire biennial budget, but certainly the intent wasn’t to have the 138 members of the legislature trot to Frankfort only to pass bills that didn’t cost the state a dime. The intent was to keep the governor from calling special session after special session to alleviate issues that came up in the 20 months between the end of one session and the start of another.
Few will recall that the 2007 Kentucky General Assembly appropriated $24 million for a stadium. But who would forget that the politicians in Frankfort cost our state…and nation…such an important economic driver as the World Equestrian Games?
Is the level of urgency actually that high? Consider this: France, Holland and Ireland all lost the Games to other countries or failed to execute the event well, all related to failure to live up to promises made during the bidding process.
When asked if the WEG coming for the first time to the United States had generated any excitement in Maryland, Burk said there was still quite a bit of indifference among the general public. He feels certain that will change once people understand the scope of it better.
“I’m sure once the Equestrian Games get here, and we are able to show and demonstrate the statistics as far as the economic impact of this type of event, it will garner interest, especially from the legislators,†Burk said. “But until that time I think there is kind of a detachment here in Maryland.â€
We know the feeling. Hopefully, we can generate that kind of interest among our own legislators before the world is arriving on our doorstep.
Let this not be lost on any of us. It is time to act. Call your legislator and let him or her know that you are in favor of spending dimes to generate dollars.
Permalink
02.09.07
Posted in Government, Governor Fletcher, Kentucky, News Worthy at 5:41 am by Thomas
Governor Fletcher’s State of the Commonwealth Address was some 29 pages long. In the portion dealing with the World Equestrian Games the Governor made some key points but still seems to be not driving home just what these Games will mean for the Commonwealth. He made the point of saying again that after they went to Aachen they realized they had more work to do. Now one thing to keep in mind, the Germans do a suburb job of planning and hosting such events and may be near the best in the world at it. So with Kentucky being next in line, the bar has been set high, but the Germans have clearly shown us the mark we have to beat.
Of course the real point of his remarks was to ask for an additional $38 million to be allocated this year because the concern is that if they wait until the 2008 Legislative Session there will not be enough time to complete everything. That is a legitimate concern, but I think the Governor would of been better served talking about the importance of the Games to the Commonwealth of Kentucky because that is the bigger problem. Which of course explains why a number of Law Makers came out and said there was no way his request would even be heard this year, as they said, this isn’t a budgetary session. More importantly its an election year and the Governor is not likely to get that money because he asked for it in a public forum.
The full speech can be had here.
Permalink
« Previous Page — « Previous entries « Previous Page · Next Page » Next entries » — Next Page »
AbitaNet Corporation