Kentucky Horse Blog - ·  Horse News  ·

Breeders Cup Thoroughbred Championship Expansion

It was recently announced that the Breeders Cup Thoroughbred Championship will be seeing some expansion with 3 more new races bringing the total number of races to 14, with a total prize purse of approximately $25.5 million for the 2008 season.

Next year’s Breeders Cup will be held October 24-25, 2008 at the Santa Anita horse racetrack in California.

The Breeders Cup CEO, Greg Avioli, stated that the reason for the expansion was simply to give more horses the opportunity to participate in the event.

The 3 new races for the Breeders Cup are as follows:

Breeders Cup Turf Sprint - 3 year olds and older with the track running at 6.5 furlongs, and a $1 million purse

Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf - 2 year old fillies with the track running at 1…

1585 Views, 0 Comments

Economists Predict Excellent Farms Agriculture for 2008

Agriculture economists at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, announced their predictions at the most recent annual Farm Bureau meeting that was held in Louisville Kentucky on Thursday.  Their prediction for 2008 is its going to be an excellent year for farms and agriculture.

Even with the dry conditions that most of Kentucky had to deal with this summer, there were many records that were set for the 2007 farm year which include:

Record Cash Receipts

Record high grain prices

Record net farm income

Additional markets that are interested in purchasing the agricultural and farms product made in Kentucky.

The only real concerns that may limit the growth for next years farms is if the weather is uncooperative, or other factors such as…

2175 Views, 0 Comments

Quarter Horses Track proposed for Laurel County Kentucky

A public hearing will be on December 10, 2007 regarding a proposed Quarter Horse track in Laurel County located southeast of Lexington Kentucky along I-75.

The applicant is Sprint Racing Partners and includes the following:

John T.L. Jones, Jr.

R.D. Hubbard

Bruce Rimbo

Chris Sullivan

Paul Blanchard

Ed Allred 

They have plans for a 5/8 mile long track that is located near London Kentucky.  If approved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, this will be the 9th Kentucky horse racetrack.

Estimates for costs range between $15 and $20 million dollars.

But, there is a catch.  The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority won’t be voting on the matter until after the new Governor Steve Beshear is sworn into office on December 11, 2007.

It is undecided…

1593 Views, 0 Comments

Kentucky Horse Park Public Hearing December 27 2007

The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington Kentucky will be host for a public hearing to be held by the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority on December 27, 2007 at 10:00 am.

The hearing is allowing the public to respond and provide input on to 3 amendments for the organization and industry.

The first 2 are proposed amendments:

1.  Currently, there is a non-existing commission set up to handle the backside improvement monies.  This proposed amendment would allow the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority to handle the appropriation of those monies.

2.  Snake venom would no longer be allowed to deaden the nerve endings in standardbred horses.

The 3rd amendment would be repealed which is as follows:

3.  References to a no longer functional breeders award funding.

1406 Views, 0 Comments

Smoking Ban In Effect Today at Churchill Downs in Louisville KY

The smoking ban went into effect today at Churchill Downs in Louisville KY.  Part of a comprehensive “no smoking” effort inside all public buildings, Churchill Downs had sought an exemption feeling that it would hurt their customers enjoyment of their facilities.

But, their appeal was denied earlier this month by Jefferson County Circuit Judge Denise Clayton as there really was no basis for them wanting the exemption - other than them just wanting it.

Churchill Downs elected to comply with the regulation after the end of the Fall meet (which was on Saturday November 24 2007).

It probably won’t affect the track as much as you may initially would expect as all enclosed public areas were already smoke free, with the exception of the Champions Lounge.

…

16053 Views, 0 Comments

Thoroughbred Race Horse Champion Curlin May Be Sold

Thoroughbred race horse champion and Horse of the Year Curlin may be sold to settle a lawsuit that stems from the diet drug combination Fen-Phen.

The primary owner of the horse is Stonestreet Stables, who’s owner is Jess Jackson (a noted winemaker and horse breeder).  Stonestreet Stables owns an 80% stake in the horse.

The remaining 20% owners of Curlin are attorneys Shirley Cunningham Junior and Bill Gallion who acted as representatives of 400 plaintiffs in the Fen-Phen lawsuit that claim they were harmed by using the products.  And now those 400 plaintiffs are claiming that their attorney representatives defrauded them out of as much as $64.4 million in the 2001 settlement.

And taking it a step further, a judge has ruled that those plaintiffs are…

3300 Views, 0 Comments

Louisville Kentucky - Boys Haven Equine Program

The Louisville Kentucky newspaper, The Courier-Journal spotlighted an article today about the Boys Haven Equine Program that is a part of the Boys Haven non-profit home located on Goldsmith Lane in Louisville Kentucky.

The equine program teaches troubled children to care for a horse - and it teaches them a little about humanity as well.  They learn that just as the horse may need their help, that its ok to ask others for help if they need it as well.

The Boys Haven home was founded in 1948 by Father James Maloney and has a long standing tradition of helping troubled children and young adults to become productive and sensitive members of our community.

The equine program was started last year by Jay Wilkinson.  Wilkinson has had prior experience as a…

8571 Views, 0 Comments

Versailles Kentucky Sunrise Stables Riding Academy

The Versailles Kentucky newspaper, The Woodford Sun, spotlighted a new Kentucky horse farm riding and instruction facility that recently opened:  Sunrise Stables Riding Academy

Sunrise Stables Riding Academy is located on Troy Pike and Delaney Ferry Road, and caters to the American Saddlebred breed of horse.

Lead instructor is Sally Haydon who has stated that their main goal is to promote the American Saddlebred and allow children or adults learn how to ride a horse at an affordable price.

They’ve even begin talks with the Woodford County Parks & Recreation director Richard Pictor, about a possible summer camp for local children.

Haydon’s background comes from as professor of equine studies at Midway College for the past 18 years.  Some of her…

4411 Views, 0 Comments

Quarter Horse Track proposed near London Kentucky

There is 1 more racetrack license available for the state of Kentucky, and it may go to a proposed Quarter horse track to be located near London Kentucky.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority may decide as early as this year (so, some time in the next 5 weeks) to give the last license for Kentucky to Sprint Racing Partners’. Their members are as follows:

Chris Sullivan - co founder of Outback Steakhouse

Ed Allred - owner of Los Alamitos Race Course in California

R. D. Hubbard - owner of Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico, as well as former owner of Hollywood Park in California

John T.L. Jones, Jr - long time Kentucky horsemen

The applicants have stated that they want to build the quarter horse track regardless if casinos are approved for Kentucky or…

3661 Views, 0 Comments

Future Farmers of America Convention to be held in Lexington Kentucky

The Lexington Kentucky newspaper, the Lexington Herald-Leader, had an article today announcing that the Future Farmers of America Convention is to be held in Lexington Kentucky in June 2009, 2010, & 2011.

This convention has traditionally been held at the fairgrounds in Louisville Kentucky, but according to the state FFA representative Curt Lucas with the Kentucky Department of Education, has felt the squeeze and pressure from other conventions vying for the same time that the Future Farmers of America traditionally have desired to have its convention.

This convention brings approximately 2000 agriculture students as well as teachers to the convention each year.

The Lexington Kentucky Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau representative Niki…

1946 Views, 0 Comments