Kentucky Horse Park to receive $29 million

The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington KY is to receive approximately $29 million to be used for improvements in preparation for the 2010 World Equestrian Games to be held there at the facility.  The money is being allocated by Governor Beshear as a grant to the KY Horse Park from the state park improvements fund.

But, this grant is coming with some resistance.  $15 million of the $29 million is coming from moneys that had been allocated to the Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park which is located in Senate President David Williams district.  Williams has voiced disagreement with the allocation stating that when the General Assembly in Kentucky approved $60 million for KY state park improvements in 2006 under Governor Fletcher’s administration, that it did not intend for that money to be used for the KY Horse Park in Lexington Kentucky.

But, Governor Beshear has defended his position that Kentucky has a reputation to protect and demonstrate that it is THE best place for horses in the entire world and by having a state of the art and world class facility that it will create further interest from persons elsewhere to want to become a participant in the horse industry in Kentucky or even possibly becoming an owner of one of the Lexington KY horse farms for sale that are in the vincinity of the KY Horse Park.  The World Equestrian Games is expected to have an impact of $150 million to the local economy for Lexington KY.  Projections show that 600,000 persons will attend the event - and it will be the largest equestrian event in the United States.  [The World Equestrian Games are only held once every 4 years, and this is the first time they've EVER been held outside of Europe.]

Those kinds of figures are one of the primary reasons why Governor Beshear wants to make the Kentucky Horse Park a paramount leader.  Its a world class event.  And it needs to be a world class facility to showcase it - and Kentucky to the rest of the world.

Additionally, there is being allocated more money for the World Equestrian Games.   $10 million for improving the roadways around the KY Horse Park is going to be utilized in preparation for the event.  [Part of the money will be used to improve the runway at the Lexington KY Bluegrass Airport - which is where the Comair Flight 5191 crashed in August 2006 and 49 persons were killed during that devastating event.]

Beyond the direct economic impact of the event, other places are trying to provide claims that “they are the horse capitol of the world”, etc.  We have a long standing tradition of horses, and horse farms in KY.  The World Equestrian Games, and the subsequent improvements simply stomp those claims by others about their area being a world leader for horses, into the ground.  Nothing they have can touch this event.  Period.  And the subsequent improvements to the Lexington KY Horse Park puts our facilities out of reach for their communities.  Kentucky is the horse capitol of world.  The Lexington KY horse farms are exquisite - and while other areas try to make their communities comfortable for people, Kentucky is where its at for horses.  It should be quite stunning to attend the event in 2010.  We can hardly wait!