Top Riders Flock to Kentucky Horse Park for Summer Series

Top Riders Flock to Kentucky Horse Park for Summer Series
When top young equestrians begin flooding Kentucky in mid-July for the start of the Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC), the Bluegrass state will be just getting started with its spectacular summer series. The series, which runs from late July to late August, will draw in many top contenders looking to snag big prizes like the $50,000 Rood and Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix on Saturday, July 26, and the $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix on Saturday, August 2.

Premier riders and horses will face off in four renowned hunter/jumper events hosted by Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and two championship shows organized by the USEF and USHJA over the six weeks of top-notch competition that make up the summer series.

The Kentucky Summer Horse Show, running from July 23 to 27, will include the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic and the Hats off to Kentucky’s Horse Industry Day. This free day for visitors to the Kentucky Horse Park culminates in the $50,000 Rood and Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix that will feature horses and riders of the utmost caliber.

The Summer Series also includes the Kentucky Summer Classic from July 29 to Aug. 3 featuring the $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix and the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. The Hagyard Challenge Series is a summer-long series of seven show jumping events at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The rider who accumulates the most points in the series will receive a $50,000 Leading Rider Award, presented during the Kentucky National Horse Show in September.

The US Pony Finals will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park August 5 - 10. More than 600 ponies that have qualified throughout the preceding year will compete for awards in Green and Regular pony sections, as well as the US Pony Medal Finals and the US Pony Jumper Championship.

There will also be four $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby events. The $15,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Rider Awards will present a $10,000 cash prize to the professional rider accumulating the most points in the seven classes that make up the Series. The amateur rider and junior rider accumulating the most points will each receive a $2,500 cash prize.

From August 12-17, riders compete during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show vying for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship and Pre-Green Incentive Championship.  The Bluegrass Festival also draws attendees with the $40,000 Grand Prix, where riders will shoot for perfection.

The series finishes with the KHJA Horse Show from August 20-24 where riders and horses will aim to perform their best as summer at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park comes to a close.

For more information about the Kentucky Summer Series, please visithttp://www.kentuckyhorseshows.com/.

KENTUCKY SUMMER SERIES FAST FACTS

Events: 

Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass
Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2014 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.

What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC's 2014 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions host the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award, as well as the Hallway Feeds National Derby Series.

Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.

When:
NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS – July 15-20, 2014

KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 23- 27, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 29- August 3, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

2014 USEF PONY FINALS - August 5-10, 2014

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW - August 12-17, 2014
USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event

KHJA HORSE SHOW - August 20-24, 2014
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, GGT Footing, Equestrian Services International, Johnson Horse Transportation, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, Sleepy P Ranch, and the Official Hotel The Clarion

Hours:
8am – 5pm daily

Parking:
Horse Show Exhibitors may purchase a weekly parking pass at the main Horse Park entrance for $15.00. Dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash.

Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located 8 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.

Information:
Before Show - (859) 233-0492, Email: hakshows@earthlink.net
During Show - Telephone: (859) 254-3343, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling - Email Tom Blankenship at tomblank@bellsouth.net
Stable office – Before Show: (843) 269-4737, During Show: (859) 255-0605
Prize List Advertising - Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Vendors - Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Shownet – www.shownet.biz
Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Ring Dimensions/Specs:
The Stonelea Ring, Claiborne Ring, Murphy Ring, Walnut Ring, Stonelea/Murphy Schooling Ring, the Alltech Arena and the Rolex Stadium have Otto Sport footing consisting of fine sand and synthetic fiber on pvc mats. The Annex, and Covered Arena (old) rings’ footing consists of a sand cushion on limestone base. The dimensions of the competition areas are as follows:

Stonelea: 140’x 280’, Murphy: 135’x 280’, Stonelea and Murphy Schooling: 110’x 400’
Walnut: 300’x 370’, Claiborne: 140’x 270’, Annex 130’x 250’, Covered Arena (old): 145’x 285’ Rolex Stadium: 360’ x 384’, Alltech Arena: 132' x 265'