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Lexington KY Land Bank is Proposed

According to the Tuesday January 22 2008 edition of the Lexington-Herald Leader newspaper, there is on the table a proposal for creation of a Lexington KY land bank.  First off:  what is a land bank?

A land bank is a means of acquiring vacant, tax delinquent, or neglected real estate (basically all of the property that is currently undesireable and not cared for by its present owner), and then is re-sold at a very low cost to a real estate developer that would revitalize the property for a new use.  Essentially, creating an economic revitalization in some depressed or impoverished areas of the local community.

The Lexington Kentucky Mayor, Jim Newberry has earmarked $2 million out of the Lexington KY budget for use in a possible land bank initiative. …

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World Equestrian Games Private Property Rental Company Selected

Short’s Sports & Events (a subsidiary division of Short’s Travel Management) has selected Event Home Leasing as their private property rental company firm for the World Equestrian Games.

Event Home Leasing is locally owned in Louisville KY by Charles & Dana Martin. Dana has experience from other major events in Kentucky which include being the player accommodation chairman for the 1996 as well as 2000 PGA Championship events that were held at Valhalla Golf Club on Shelbyville Road (US 60). Dana also has years of experience with handling private property rentals each year for the Kentucky Derby - she has been leasing property since 1996 in that venue.

If you are interested in RENTING a private property for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010,…

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Lexington Kentucky Keeneland Sale set for January 7-13 2008

Lexington Kentucky Keeneland Sale has been set for January 7-13 2008. It is being called the January Horses of All Ages Sale.

There are currently 1201 broodmares listed as being available for the sale and it includes many industry leading mares that are in foal to some of the top stallions such as:

A.P. Indy

Distorted Humor

Elusive Quality

Smart Strike

Storm Cat

Unbridled’s Song

among many others

There will also be a lot of younger horses available for sale at the January Horses of All Ages Sale. There is scheduled for 862 yearlings to be marked for sale.

And there are 482 horses that are of appropriate racing age going to be put on the market.

Only 2 stallions are listed currently as available for sale.

The sale in January 2007 at…

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Lexington Kentucky readying for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games

Lexington Kentucky is readying for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games by beginning work on many city projects that will help establish the city as a world leader.  $2.55 million was recently donated by the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation to help jump start those efforts.  For reference, the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation is named after the 2 brothers that purchased the Lexington Herald and Leader in 1973.

The primary focus will be for projects that will not only help the persons attending the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, but also will continue to be of benefit for the residents of Lexington Kentucky once the WEG has ended.

These types of projects are typically called “legacy projects”.  An example of 1 such legacy project would be when…

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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.

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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…

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Regulations on Horse Sales Proposed

The Lexington Kentucky newspaper, The Lexington Herald-Leader wrote an article yesterday about regulations on horse sales proposed.  Lawmakers in Frankfort KY have received requests for additional regulations, and had contemplated creating new laws to satisfy those requests, but the Kentucky horse industry has proposed regulations on policing itself which seems to have satisfied the lawmakers and many critics.

The proposed additional horse sales regulations include:

Including a code of conduct for agents into sales contracts

A voluntary confidential ownership registry

Ban on use of anabolic steroids and prohibition of cosmetic practices which include injections behind the knee (that may disguise a horse’s discomfort or problem to a potential…

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Keeneland Breeding Stock Sales - World Record

The Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper reported on the Keeneland Breeding Stock Sales and that a world record for a broodmare had been set.

Playful Act sold for $10.5 million to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.  It was the 4th highest price ever for a horse sold at a public auction.  The previous record was a little over $9.1 million for the sale of Magical Romance at the 2006 Tattersalls December sale.

Playful Act is the daughter of Sadler’s Wells and Magnificent Style.

Not surprisingly, the 2 bidders inching up the price were Coolmore Stud and Sheikh Mohammad.  The Dubai ruler won out.

Another horse that did quite well in the auction was Spun Sugar which sold for $4.5 million.  Spun Sugar is currently in foal to A.P. Indy.   This…

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Grade 1 Winners sell for millions in Fasig Tipton November selection mixed sale

The Lexington Kentucky newspaper the Lexington Herald-Leader had an article today about the Grade 1 winners that were put up for sale at auction at Keeneland on Sunday November 4, 2007.

The 2 top horses were of course Round Pond, and Octave.

Round Pond sold for $5.75 million to John Ferguson who is a bloodstock agent that purchased on behalf of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashin al Maktoum.  This price was the highest sale since 1985 during when Oceana sold for $7 million.  Round Pond is a 5 year old mare, and the daughter of Awesome Again.  This mare’s race career included a 5.5 length win in the 2006 Breeder’s Cup.

Octave was bid for $4 million also to Ferguson - but there was controversy as Ferguson signed the ticket.  Apparently,…

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Versailles Kentucky Horse Farm sells for $2 million

The Versailles Kentucky newspaper, The Woodford Sun wrote an interesting article today about a Versailles Kentucky horse farm known as Liberty Farm LLC.

Liberty Farm LLC (formerly known as Stockwood Farm) sold approximately 122 acres at 3945 W. Leestown Road to DeGraff Stables Kentucky LLC for $2,004,450 on October 24 2007 per the deed of record in the Woodford County Clerk’s office.

DeGraff Stables Kentucky LLC has announced on their site that they are participating in the 2008 Kentucky Bred Incentive Program. They continued with additional information that included information about their purchase. According to their site, the 122 acres they purchased includes 21 paddocks, 3 barns, & 55 stalls.

DeGraff Stables is based in Port Clinton Ohio, and…

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