The Kentucky Horse Park has already booked 13 events, some as far into the future as 2014, in the new indoor arena, authorized and funded by the state to accommodate the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010. The arena is scheduled for completion by late June. First-time events scheduled for summer include the American Vaulting Association National Championship, bringing an estimated 150 competitors to Lexington July 9-12 as well as two WEG test events later in July.
Park executive director John Nicholson lobbied hard for the new facility with the winning argument that it was critical to remaining competitive with the growing number of other states offering equestrian competition facilities.
"Our expectations were very high for this arena," Nicholson said in a statement, "so I am especially happy to report that five months before completion, those expectations have already been exceeded by the number of large events which have contracted with us and by several others which are pending."
Nicholson said a number of events already taking place at the Horse Park are returning, contracted for the indoor arena for the first time.