Lexington, KY - December 27, 1999 - The jumping arena used since 1978 at the Kentucky Horse Park for the final day's test of the Kentucky Three-Day Event is currently undergoing extensive renovation to convert it to a multi-use, all-weather facility.

Under the auspices of the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, the project is a cooperative effort of Equestrian Events Inc., organizer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Bayer, and the producers of the two consecutive Spring "A" Hunter/Jumper Shows at the Park, and the Bluegrass Festival and Kentucky Hunter/Jumper Association "A" shows held back-to-back in the Fall.

Richard Jeffery of Great Britain, one of the top designers of show jumping courses worldwide, provided the design for the arena and worked with the organizers and managers of each of the events to lay out a facility that will serve both types of competitions. Jeffery designs the jumper courses for the Kentucky shows and has designed the jumping test for Rolex Kentucky since 1998.

The first stage of the project is the actual remodeling of the arena. Dressage for the Three-Day Event will be moved there, and Cross-Country Course Designer Michael Etherington-Smith of Great Britain will place at least one Cross-Country obstacle in the arena.

Rolex Kentucky Event Director Jane Atkinson says, "Being able to move Dressage to the new arena will be great for both competitors and spectators. Spectators will be seated farther away from the Dressage Arena, which will help lessen the noise and outside influences from spectator movement and conversation noticed in the arena by the horses. Viewing will still be good and there should be plenty of grandstand seating for Dressage Days.

"We didn't have the space or number of portable bleachers to expand seating at the previous site used for Dressage. Even if the current drought conditions continue into and through 2000, the sand surface will be kind to and consistent for horses on the final day when they understandably will be just a bit foot weary from the Cross-Country Test the day before.

"The layout of the new arena is very much like the multi-discipline arenas in which our teams and individuals compete in World Championships and Olympic Games, so it will give riders and horses an introduction to the types of facilities, and the large number of spectators, they will experience at those competitions. I can think of nothing more mind-boggling for a horse than to go into a large arena with thousands of pairs of eyes peering intently at him for the first time. We've seen it happen here, and riders aren't immune either. Better to get the first time over here at Kentucky and then there's one less hurdle to overcome when our athletes represent our country overseas."

Rob Murphy, a prime mover behind the new arena who is involved with nine shows at the Park each year either in ownership or show management as well as bringing a competing show stable, states, "From a show management/trainer's point of view I'm very excited to see the renovation of the stadium jumping ring at the Kentucky Horse Park to an all-weather ring. With the other improvements planned for the Horse Park, this will help bring or keep such prestigious national and international events and riders to the Park as the Four Star Rolex, Pan American Games Trials, Young Riders Championships, American Horse Shows Association Pony Finals and the Mary Rena Murphy $50,000 Grand Prix."

The arena will be extensively landscaped. A number of trees have been retained and more will be planted. The signature grove of trees and the grass surrounding them in front of the judge's house now provide an island of green that has numerous possibilities for design of both cross-country obstacles and show jumping fences. A bank complex is being created on the west side of the arena to provide endless opportunities, and a permanent water obstacle for show jumping is being placed on the side of the arena nearest the Horse Park's lake.

A share of funds donated to the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation by the hunter/jumper shows for purposes of assisting in the development of Park facilities and a portion of the income generated by Rolex Kentucky Sponsorships, Ticket Subscriptions and General Admission Tickets will be utilized to help offset initial costs.

Fundraising will be ongoing to secure the capital necessary to cover all the costs of this stage of development and to acquire the funds necessary to complete the design of the entire complex. Included in the long range plans are covered grandstands for Patron and Member subscribers of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, and new and increased grandstand seating for General Admission ticket holders, with all grandstands to be covered eventually. Storage areas and show management office space are also in the plans.

Donations may be made directly to the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511 or to Equestrian Events, Inc., P. O. Box 12110, Lexington, KY 45080-2110. Contributions should be designated for the "New Stadium Arena Complex." Donations for the arena through either organization are deductible as a charitable contribution.

The dates for the 2000 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Bayer, when the new arena will be used for the first time, are April 27-30.

Related Links
The Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event Web Site