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JOHN HENRY’S MEMORIAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION 3-8-08
LEXINGTON, KY (February 29, 2008) The Kentucky Horse Park announces a memorial celebration on the occasion of the late John Henry’s birthday, March 9 at 1pm in the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park.  The public is invited.
The two-time Horse of the Year and beloved racehorse was euthanized last October due complications from Cushing’s disease and the infirmities of old age.
Guests are invited to bring letters, poems, or other forms of remembrance for John Henry’s archives at the park.  His favorite food, chocolate doughnuts, will be served in his memory.

Thoroughbred Industry’s Highest Honor will be Awarded to the Kentucky Horse Park
LEXINGTON, KY (January 9, 2008)  The Kentucky Horse Park will be honored with the 2007 Special Eclipse Award from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), National Turf Writers Association (NTWA), and the Daily Racing Form.
The Special Eclipse Award recognizes outstanding individual achievements in, or contributions to, the sport of Thoroughbred Racing.  John Nicholson, executive director of the park stated, “This award represents an enormous effort by many people and horses at the park who played a role in the celebration of the special bond between horse and man. For 30 years, the Kentucky Horse Park has honored, cared for, chronicled and assisted horses of all breeds and disciplines, and we humbly and gratefully accept the honor being returned to us in this way.
“There has always been a deep, abiding, intangible something that  binds the hearts of man and horse.  This relationship is the soul of the Kentucky Horse Park ,” continued Nicholson, who will accept the Special Eclipse Award on behalf of the Kentucky Horse Park by the NTRA on January 21 in Beverly Hills .  (Last year’s recipients of the Special Eclipse Award were Roy and Gretchen Jackson and the New Bolton Center for their excellent care of Barbaro.) 
Kentucky governor, Steve Beshear, noted, “We are delighted that the Kentucky Horse Park , which honors horses of every breed, has received the highest recognition in the Thoroughbred industry.  Jane and I have served on the Kentucky Horse Park Commission and the Foundation for many years.  We have seen the tremendous amount of hard work, and the equal amount of affection, that have been invested in the park for the past 30 years.  We couldn’t be happier for all of the people who have made the park a labor of love for so long.”
“The Eclipse Award steering committee strongly believed that the Kentucky Horse Park was most deserving of the Special Award for its extraordinary contribution and dedication to the Thoroughbred industry and the wonderful experience that its millions of visitors have enjoyed over the years,” said Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the NTRA. “The special care for the great racehorse John Henry in his retirement, and his most dignified passing in 2007, symbolizes the love and devotion of the men and women who work at the Kentucky Horse Park each day.”
Tandy Patrick, chair of the park’s governing body, the Kentucky Horse Park Commission, stated, “In everything we do, the Kentucky Horse Park pays tribute to the extraordinary relationship that exists between horses and humans.  We are thrilled and grateful that our daily work is being acknowledged with a Special Eclipse Award.”
The Kentucky Horse Park is a 1,200-acre equine theme park and competition complex.  As many as 50 breeds of horses call the park “home.”  An additional 15,000 competition horses take up temporary residence annually during dozens of horse shows.  Nearly one million visitors come to the park each year to see, touch, learn about, and experience horses, and to compete in horse shows.  The park includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate - and the American Saddlebred Museum .  Perhaps most conspicuous is the Hall of Champions which has been (and is) home to a pantheon of elite champions of the racetrack and show ring, including Eclipse Award-winning Thoroughbred celebrities Cigar, Kona Gold and the late John Henry.
In 2010, the Kentucky Horse Park will host the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which will be held outside of Europe for the first time.  The games will take place over 16 days and consist of the world championship for eight equestrian sports.  It will be the largest equestrian sporting event ever held in the United States , and is expected to draw more than 600,000 spectators, be broadcast to more than 460 million worldwide television viewers, and draw nearly 2,000 media from around the world.
Nicholson concluded, “The 21st century is the golden age of the horse in America .  They are our heroes, our partners and our friends, and as long as that relationship flourishes, the Kentucky Horse Park will be here to celebrate it.”
For more information on the Eclipse Awards, go to www.ntra.com.

HE IS GONE 12-13-07
One of Thoroughbred Racing’s Greatest Stars, John Henry, Will be Sorely Missed
LEXINGTON, KY (October 8, 2007)  John Henry, the legendary Thoroughbred racehorse who was twice Horse of the Year, was humanely euthanized at the Kentucky Horse Park today at 7:00 pm.
John Nicholson, executive director of the park expressed, “The mighty heart of the great John Henry has, at long last, yielded to time. The racing industry has lost a legend, but more significantly, many people have lost a personal hero.  John Henry’s true legacy was written in people’s hearts far more indelibly than his superlative racing career could ever reflect.”  He continued, “John Henry was a testament to the fact that a horse’s value is far greater than the sum of his pedigree, conformation, sales price and race record.  Winston Churchill said that the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man, but I would add that horses like John Henry prove that the inside of a horse is even better for the inside of man.”
The sad but unanimous decision was reached by a team of people who knew him best.  The park’s equine director, Kathy Hopkins stated, “After continued successful efforts to maintain the quality of John Henry's life, in the past 48 hours he did not respond to our medical intervention. Due to the loss of kidney function and muscle mass, his veterinarian, Dr. Mike Beyer, found it impossible to keep him properly hydrated and comfortable.  Over the years, our goal has always been to maintain the highest quality of care and life for him, and it became evident over the weekend that this was no longer possible.  Our hearts go out to all of those who so deeply cared for John during his long and charismatic life.”
He lived 32-and-a-half years, and went peacefully to sleep surrounded by a small circle of friends who were closest to him, including Cathy Roby, who has been his friend and caretaker for 16 years and his breeder, Verna Lehmann. 
John Henry overcame numerous well-known obstacles throughout his career, and colic surgery in 2002.  His talent, determination, tenacity and toughness inspired thousands of people who didn’t even see him race, but became aware of him many years after his retirement.  Some of his fans visited him at least once a month from Toledo , Indianapolis , and other cities in the Midwest, while others made annual pilgrimages to his barn from California , Texas and around the world.  When it recently became public knowledge that his health was in a state of decline, many of his fans immediately came to the park to thank their beloved champion for the memories, and to whisper their personal, final farewells to the horse who inspired great respect and ardent devotion.
John Henry’s race record included more than $6.5 million in earnings, 39 wins including 30 stakes wins (16 Grade 1 stakes wins) and seven Eclipse Awards, including two Horse of the Year titles.  He equaled a world track record for 1 ½ miles in 2:23 at Santa Anita and was the only horse to win Horse of the Year more than once in nonconsecutive years, and the oldest horse ever to win that title - at age nine.  John Henry was voted Racehorse of the Decade for the 1980s, and was inducted into Racing's Hall of Fame in 1990.
Sired by Ole Bob Bowers out of Once Double, by Double Jay, John Henry was foaled on March 9, 1975 at Golden Chance Farm in Paris , Kentucky . 
After having passed through several owners and trainers, John Henry finally blossomed under the careful tutelage of trainer Ron McAnally, and with his owner, Sam Rubin.  McAnally, who brought out the best in the horse with “carrots, apples and love,” visited John Henry many times during the horse’s retirement and had just seen him again as recently as September, and brought John’s favorite cookies and carrots to his aging protégé.  Lewis Cenicola, John Henry’s exercise rider for six years, also visited the horse in September.
Tom Levinson, stepson of the late Sam Rubin said, “John always had fire in his eyes as he circled his opponents in the paddock while they pranced, his eyes glazed with the determination to win.  Certainly he was the people’s hero… Sam and Dorothy loved sharing John’s victories with his adoring fans and we appreciate their devotion even to this sad day… We are sure that if Sam Rubin were here today, he and my mother Dorothy would agree that their wish would be for John Henry to be remembered as the mighty, cantankerous champion we all loved.”
Chris McCarron rode John Henry in 14 of his last races and has spent many hours with the horse during his 22 years at the park.  Regarding the great horse’s passing, he observed, “What can I say about the legendary John Henry that has not already been said?  John meant the world to my family and me. Everywhere he raced, his presence doubled the size of a normal race track crowd. He did so much for racing, even after he retired, that he will be impossible to replace.  He will be sorely missed but forever in our hearts.”
A public memorial service will be held and will be announced by the park upon completion of the arrangements.  Plans will be posted on the park’s website, www.kyhorsepark.com under News & Media and the Calendar of Events.  John Henry will be buried near his paddock at the Hall of Champions. Other Thoroughbred champions buried at the park include Man o’ War, War Admiral, Forego, Bold Forbes, Allez France , Peteski and Jay Trump. 
Recent photos and video of John Henry can be seen on The Horse website at www.thehorse.com by searching for “Hoofing it With John Henry.”  A new documentary, John Henry: An American Hero, produced by Open Sky Entertainment (Producer: Rebecca Gebhard, Directors: Chris Koby and Cameron Duddy) is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with the release date to be announced.
One of his legions of admirers, Howard McClurkin from Weatherford , Texas , summarized his and many fans’ devotion this way, “John Henry is an anchor in one’s life.  When things are not going well and one needs inspiration or perhaps one just wants a moment of happiness by thinking of extraordinary accomplishments arising from such a painfully humble beginning, the thought and image of John Henry are readily at hand. He started in a hole.  He started with zero and went on to lasso the stars.”
John Nicholson concluded, “The next few days will be terribly difficult for his fans, but especially for the people here at the park who have worked with him and loved him for so long.  It was our unparalleled privilege to have John Henry living at the Kentucky Horse Park for the past 22 years.”

HOW LONG SINCE YOUR LAST FALL FROLIC? 11-7-07
Discover Leaf Levities and Winter Whoopees During the Kentucky Horse Park’s New Seasonal Hours and Reduced Admission
LEXINGTON, KY (November 1, 2007) Azure skies, crisp autumn air, a palette of changing colors, gorgeous horses and reduced admission fees await visitors to the Kentucky Horse Park during the new winter hours. 
“Fall and Winter can be great times to visit the Kentucky Horse Park ,” said John Nicholson, Executive Director. “Our crowds are smaller, which means visitors can have more one-on-one time with the horses.  We still have a number of exciting events taking place each weekend and we encourage people to find their own brand of fun here at the park.  Whether you’re looking for adventure or tranquility, emotion or quietude, we’re just a few minutes away from every home in Central Kentucky and have something to offer everyone.” 
Bring the family, the dog, a friend or just yourself and drink in the sights, sounds, smells and feelings of the season at the Kentucky Horse Park .
Upcoming special events include the ever-popular “Southern Lights Holiday Festival,” Nov 16-Dec 31, and a number of horse shows in addition to the regular offerings of world-class horses in residence, museums, gift shops, self-guided tours and much more.  Click on www.kyhorsepark.com for more information.

Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Discipline
Comes to Kentucky Horse Park
Lexington Combined Driving Classic will Introduce
Many to the Sport of Combined Driving
LEXINGTON, KY (September 27, 2007)  The thrilling sport of combined driving will take place during the Lexington Combined Driving Classic, October 5–7 at the Kentucky Horse Park . 
The three distinct phases of combined driving—driven dressage, cross-country marathon, and obstacle (cones) driving—were originally modeled after the ridden sport of three-day eventing (such as the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event).
John Nicholson, executive director of the park stated, “This is a dream event for the Kentucky Horse Park.  We have desired and worked toward this for several years.  Competitive driving is very popular elsewhere, and particularly in Europe , so we’re very pleased to have the opportunity to host this event and introduce yet another fantastic equine sport in the Horse Capital of the World.”   He continued, “It has a lot of the same adrenalin surges of the chariot race in ‘Ben Hur,’ without the danger to horse and driver.”
Three years from now, also at the Kentucky Horse Park , the world championships in four-in-hand driving and seven other horse sports will be contested at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Each phase of combined driving offers something unique. On the first day, you’ll see the beauty of traditional carriages, top hats, and formally dressed grooms while the horses and ponies are put through their paces in the dressage test. On Saturday, witness the thrilling speed and daring of the horses and drivers as they navigate the maze of each marathon obstacle. On the final day, precision matters most as each competitor must navigate an obstacle course with mere centimeters of clearance between each set of cones.
This year’s event will feature all six combined driving divisions—single horses, single ponies, pairs of both horses and ponies, and four-in-hand teams of horses and ponies. The competition will be divided into three levels—preliminary, intermediate, and advanced.
The international panel of officials includes Klaus Christ (president of the jury) of Germany, Diana Brownlie (judge) of Great Britain, Martha Nicoll (judge) of the U.S., Philip Bateman of Great Britain, and Richard Nicoll (course designer) of the U.S. 
The Lexington Combined Driving Classic  is included with park admission.  To learn more about combined driving, click on www.americandrivingsociety.org/combined.asp.  For more information about this event, contact Susan Gilliland, at 352-489-6586 or s_gilliland@msn.com.

HEALING HOOVES  
Horses will Help Children Learn to Deal with Grief
LEXINGTON , KY (July 13, 2007) Children who have experienced the death of someone close don’t always know how to work through their grief.  Now, a new program called Healing Hooves will incorporate the use of horses to help facilitate the grieving process for Kentucky children and teenagers ages 7 to 17, who have experienced the death of a loved one.
Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (CKRH), a therapeutic riding program headquartered at the Kentucky Horse Park is partnering with Hospice of the Bluegrass to facilitate this new bereavement service called Healing Hooves, Jul 26 from 10am to 4pm at the park.
Healing Hooves is a one day retreat that will combine Hospice bereavement counselors, North American Riding for the Handicapped Association certified equine specialists, and horses from CKRH to assist children with the healing process and help promote healthy coping skills.  Retreat participants will be taught strategies to express their grief, reduce stress and isolation and to connect with others who have lost a loved one.
John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park, noted, “It is refreshing and promising to see new programs such as Healing Hooves being developed that draw on horses’ sense of compassionate duty to humans.  Thousands of years after man’s initial contact with these wonderful creatures, we continue to benefit from their wide range of abilities and their patient willingness to serve mankind in new ways.  I am very proud to have CKRH located here at the park because they never cease to seek innovative ways to use horses to help people in their programs.” 
Youth will join the counselors and equine specialists at the CKRH facilities at the Kentucky Horse Park .  A screening and application process is required prior to retreat participation.  This program is open to any Kentucky child or teenager who has experienced the death of a loved one.  Participation cost is $30 per chilled or $35 for a family, and scholarships are available.

BLUEGRASS MUSIC AND HORSES
Kentucky Horse Park Welcomes the Return of the Festival of the Bluegrass
LEXINGTON, KY (June 1, 2007)  Perennial and pretty as lightening bugs, and as deliciously anticipated as Silver Queen corn, the second weekend in June also always celebrates the return of the Festival of the Bluegrass to the Kentucky Horse Park campground as a rite of summer.
This year’s festival will bring another impressive line-up of world-class Bluegrass musicians including J.D. Crowe, IIIrd Tyme Out, Mountain Heart, Lewis Family, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Seldom Scene, Blue Highway, Kentucky Blue, Stringtown, Sassafrass, The Dillards, Grasstown, Kentucky Blue and more.
Introduce your children to an important part of Kentucky ’s rich cultural heritage during several days of great music, food, fun and socializing in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Festival of the Bluegrass guests are invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket to soak up the sunshine, moonlight and music in an easy, family-friendly atmosphere that harkens back to a time when summers were longer and less complicated. By day, festival performers are accompanied by campground Meadowlarks; evening concerts are chorused by crickets during an event that has enthralled generations of music lovers for more than 30 years.

41st Annual High Hope Steeplechase
LEXINGTON, KY – March 21, 2007 -- Get ready for a day at the races, Sunday, May 20th  at the Kentucky Horse Park. The High Hope Steeplechase Association is teaming up with Coca-Cola, Inc. and the Thoroughbred community including legendary jockey, Gary Stevens, to bring you the 41st  annual High Hope Steeplechase, a volunteer-based event benefiting the Secretariat Center – A Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation facility (HYPERLINK "http://www.thoroughbredretirementfoundation.org"TRF), Central Kentucky Riding for Hope ( HYPERLINK "http://www.ckrh.org" CKRH), The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and other local equine charities.
The High Hope Steeplechase was moved to the Kentucky Horse Park in 1974, where today it features five National Steeplechase Association sanctioned races. Post time for the first race is 1:15 pm. The featured race of the day is the $25,000 Coca-Cola Sport of Kings, which attracts major trainers, owners and jockeys from around the world. Other NSA race sponsors for this year’s High Hope include Brown-Forman Corporation with the second race of the day named “The Woodford Reserve” , Hagyard Equine Medical Institute with The Jay Trump Timber race, and Friends of High Hope Starter Allowance, sponsored by Keeneland, Lane’s End Farm, Pin Oak Stud, McCauley’s Feed, J. Paul Reddam, and  Mr. Mace Siegel.
The much-anticipated Sportsman’s Challenge sponsored by Ashford Stud located in Versailles, KY, attracts the local thoroughbred community as jockeys representing central Kentucky horse farms race an exciting two miles on the flat. High Hope invites the general public to attend the Sportsman’s Challenge draw party hosted by McCarthy’s Irish Pub, downtown Lexington, on Monday, May 14th at 6:00 pm.
Enjoy dinner and dancing to The Quack at the Chaser’s Eve Party sponsored by Broadview Buildings, Inc. Saturday, May 19th from 7:00 pm to midnight at the Keeneland Entertainment Center.  The evening includes a silent auction with some impressive equine-related items. Tickets and/or more information on the event or its beneficiaries, please contact the High Hope office at (859) 967-9444 or visit us online at  HYPERLINK "http://www.highhopesteeplechase.com" www.highhopesteeplechase.com.