Kentucky WEG for Business

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

There’s 894 days remaining before the Alltech fei World Equestrian Games in 2010 at the Kentucky Horse Park, but there is a world class event coming up in the next couple of weeks that will give us a taste of what it’s going to be like.  That event is the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (April 24-27), one of only six three-day events in the world that are ranked at the highest level, four stars.  The competition consists of Dressage, Cross-Country, and Jumping events.  For descriptions of each event in the Rolex event go to http://www.rk3de.org/eventing_about.htm. For descriptions of the eight events that make up the Alltech fei World Equestrian Games go to http://feigames2010.org/about/default.asp.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is going to be an exciting event.  One hundred thousand people attended the event in 2007, and this year it is expected to be even bigger.  Make it if can, general admission tickets may be purchase at the Rolex Kentucky Ticket Booths beginning Thursday, April 24, at 8:00 a.m.  If you can’t make it in person, watch it for the fifth year in a row on NBC.

City Of Georgetown Holds First Meeting On The 2010 WEG’s

On February 5^th, Georgetown Mayor Karen Tingle-Sames held the first meeting in preparation for the 2010 World Equestrian Games.  Approximately 20 members of the community representing many different interests were on hand.  The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the group to one another and give a broad outline of how planning will take place.  The agenda included the history of the games, the vision the Mayor has for Georgetown and its role in the 16 day long event, and a brain storming session.  Sub-committees will be created to address specific areas of preparation. Once the sub-committees are formed, future meetings will be called.

Fortnight Festival To Offer Something For Everyone

The leadership, vision, and commitment to community of Mr. Pearse Lyons never ceases to amaze me.  In addition to sponsoring the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Mr. Lyons and Alltech, Inc. will initiate the first Alltech Fortnight Festival.  The January 11, 2007 Lexington Herald-Leader reported that the Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College, in cooperation with the University of Kentucky School of Music, LexArts and the Kentucky Arts Council will produce an annual series of major entertainment concerts entitled the Alltech Fortnight Festival to create excitement as we lead up to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  Beginning with one event for 2008, four or five in 2009 spread over the course of a week, and culminating in 2010 with a two week long series of major concerts located at venues and stadiums around the state.  The purpose of the events is to create excitement leading up to the Games and to possibly create an annually occurring event that will bring future visitors to Kentucky.

This is another example of the many opportunities that the Games will bring, and the committed leadership of Mr. Lyons.  Thank you Mr. Lyons.

Jack Kelly, President/CEO Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Addresses The Georgetown/Scott County Chamber of Commerce December Luncheon

Some of the highlights of Mr. Kelly’s presentation on December 10, 2007:

·         1,019 days to go before the start of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010.

·         Forty percent of the time to prepare has elapsed.

·         One billion cars will pass the Interstate highway signs announcing the games.

·         Attendance at the games is now projected to be 800,000 to 900,000.

·         900 horses expected to participate.

·         Horses will be quarantined and tested in Europe, New York, Miami, and Los Angeles to spread out the inspection and testing of the horses prior to arrival at the Horse Park.

·         14,000 registered volunteers to-date.

·         Limited sales of 10 percent of the total number of tickets to be sold resulted in $63,000,000 in just a few days.

Get ready central Kentucky.  It will be here before you know it.  Just 1,009 days from today.

2010 World Equestrian Games Legacy For Scott County

On September 19^th, the Lexington Herald~Leader reported that the Knight Foundation World Equestrian Games Legacy Initiative had received 83 ideas for a legacy project that would continue to draw the local community and visitors to the city after the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010^TM.

Recently, Georgetown Mayor Tingle-Sames appointed a board to study and plan for the upcoming equestrian games.  I would suggest that the board’s mission would not only be to plan for the 2010 event, but also include planning a legacy project that will continue for the local community and reoccurring equestrian events.  The work of the Knight Foundation World Equestrian Games Legacy Initiative has been very inclusive of the Lexington/Fayette County community, and I would hope the same would happen in Scott County.

Nov. 3rd Festival and Entertainment Curtiswood Farm (horses from disciplines for the 2010 games)

Genie from Curtiswood Farm is having an event on November 3rd 12:30 - 5 p.m. (130 Robinson Lane) with lots of things to do.

• The Ohio Top Hands Rodeo Drill Team

• Riata Ranch Trick Rope Star Jennifer Welch from California

• KY Artists showing/selling their art

• Pony Rides/Petting Zoo

• A Taste of the Bluegrass

• Retirement of several 'very famous entertainment horses'

Genie also noted that there will be many of the horses that are disciplines for the 2010 games. Chamber members are invited to attend! Here's a chance to have fun and learn more about the World Equestrian Games horse disciplines and visit one of Georgetown Kentucky's local horse farms.

Download curtiswoodfarm.jpg

 

More Mares Bred In Kentucky In 2007

The following post is from Kentucky.com:Business published 10/19/2007.

More mares were bred to Kentucky stallions this year than last, according reports received so far by The Jockey Club. The keeper of thoroughbred breeding records said yesterday that 333 stallions in Kentucky covered 21,724 mares, an increase in mares bred of 2.6 percent over the number reported at the same time last year. Overall, 2,808 stallions covered 56,796 mares in North America in 2007, a drop of 4.4 percent in mares bred and a drop of 8 percent in stallions. This year 125 stallions bred 100 or more mares, one fewer stallion than last year. Kentucky again led the nation with 11.9 percent of the stallions and 38.2 percent of all mares bred. Stormy Atlantic, the top juvenile sire of 2006, topped the stallion ranks with 199 mares bred. He stands at Hill 'N' Dale Farms in Lexington for $30,000.

World Equestrian Volunteers

September 25, 2007 the World Equestrian Games Foundation published an e-newsletter that included a time-line of the progress the foundation has made. Thanks to Phil Osborne, President of Preston-Osborne Marketing Communications and Research - he made sure I was one the list. Thanks Phil! Now I will be able to read all the latest news straight from the horses mouth.

The email reported that in September they found 13,000 volunteers were registered on the official website! Wow, that shows how many people really do want to be involved. I wonder what the long list of things are that the volunteers will get to do?

P.S. CONGRATULATIONS Phil (and the group) on the WIN! Last week they were named Commerce Lexington's Small Business of the Year! They are involved with the World Equestrain Games Foundation marketing & research.

Advance Registration - KY World Equestrian Tradeshow

The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc. today (October 5, 2007) announced the launch of an advance registration program for tradeshow spaces at the 2010 Games, scheduled to take place at the Kentucky Horse Park September 25th - October 10th, 2010. 

The advance registration program will begin in October, and will allow vendors to secure priority status for selecting a final exhibit location on the Kentucky Horse Park grounds once plans have been finalizes.  Approximately 400 vendors from around the world will offer a variety of products, services and information to more than 600,000 attendees.

Prospective vendors wanting to ensure they are included in the initial distribution of information should send their contact information to tradeshow@feigames2010.org.  Total booth costs and subsequent details will be released on the launch date, and more information will be abailable on the 2010 ALltech FEI World Equestrian Games website.

Lexington Legacy Project - A new Festival of the Horse?

The Kentucky World Equestrian Games Citizens Action Group posted an outline of the new proposed Lexington Legacy Project. On the surface it sounds like a great idea to have a legacy project. Don't get me wrong - it's great to have fresh new ideas but when I read the submission headline that said, "Festival of the Horse designed to incorporate 5 key areas that are all intricately tied together..." and it includes a horse parade downtown. I was a little shocked.

www.festivalofthehorse.org

Georgetown, next door to the Kentucky Horse Park has such an event. It's this weekend and the community will be celebrating the 28th anniversary. So I am confused, does this plan mean Georgetown's Festival of the Horse will be replaced, reinvented or is the Lexington Legacy Project claiming the idea as new...when right next door "Festival of the Horse" is a 27 year old tradition in Scott County?

Visit Georgetown, Kentucky's Festival of the Horse this weekend and enjoy the unique family festivities (October 5 - 7th). Shop at all the NEW businesses downtown - there are lots of new ones. After all that is what this blog is about...supporting business.