Lexington, KY - The clean-up from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games may be long completed, but Lexington is still reaping the benefits from last fall's events. Aside from the $201.5 million impact to the city, the area's sport horse community is enjoying the shift in focus to Lexington as a national center of equestrian sport of all types.
The extensive renovations to the Kentucky Horse Park in preparation for the Games included the construction of a 5,520-seat indoor arena and 7,338-seat outdoor stadium, which the Horse Park planned to use for the annual Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. While the costs may have initially raised eyebrows, the horse park is seeing an unparalleled increase in event bookings for those facilities despite the depressed economy.
In addition to the events the Horse Park hosted before WEG, director John Nicholson estimates there are roughly 13 additional major competitions that have booked the park in 2011. Some returning shows from 2010 chose the Horse Park as a venue last year for the first time, upon completion of those facilities.
"When we began to plan for having the first American World Equestrian Games, the whole idea had to do with legacies. Part of that legacy was bringing the Horse Park to fruition. We needed the outdoor stadium, the indoor. The sense of urgency came from WEG," Nicholson said.
He pointed out that, as the first appearance of the WEG outside of Europe, the 2010 Games were a huge success in public relations as well, as they enabled the international equestrian community to see Lexington as more than just a horse racing capital of the world.
Due to that shift in perception, the most high-profile event of the 13 left Madison Square Garden to come to Lexington. The Alltech National Horse Show is coming to Kentucky this November for the first time in its 128-year history. The show, which includes classes for both hunters and jumpers and is the oldest indoor show in America, will also take on Alltech as a title sponsor for the first time.
Although Alltech produces supplements for a variety of species, the Nicholasville-based company jumped at the opportunity to sponsor another major equine event.
"Alltech is committed to providing scientifically proven, reliable and fully traceable natural nutritional supplements to the equine industry. Although Alltech is involved in all species, equestrian sports showcase animals performing at their peak," explained Alltech promotions manager Jonathan Lang. "Alltech's mission has always been to enable all animals to do this through natural nutrition. By sponsoring the Alltech National Horse Show, we are further committing ourselves to the equine industry. What better event to align ourselves with after the significant economic impact of last year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games?"
In addition to a hunter/jumper influx for Nationals, Nicholson said the North American Junior and Young Riders Championship, Pony Finals, Clayton Woosley Hall of Fame reining competition, American Intercollegiate Riding Competition hunter and stock seat nationals, Kentucky Cup reining and Arabian Sport Horse Nationals all came to the Horse Park this year for the expanded facilities.
When riders, trainers and grooms come to town for these shows, they often come early and stay beyond the duration of the show, some of them moving to town for several weeks. While many stay on-site in campers, some rent space outside the Horse Park, and all provide a boost to the hospitality industry in Lexington.
Nicholson hopes that the variety of disciplines reflected in this spike in Horse Park events also provides hope for the
future of horses in Lexington. He said he believes the Thoroughbred industry will go through adjustments, and the increased
influence of additional income pools will help make the equine industry in the area more recession-proof. The varied horse presence will also keep a greater audience of tourists and newcomers headed to
the city.
"This is a reason for optimism. There is no question in my mind that the equestrian sport industry is going to continue to be attracted to Lexington and the Kentucky Horse Park. At the same time, I think we can expect a strong rebound from the Thoroughbred industry," said Nicholson.
In the meantime, he said he thinks that NHS organizers' decision to move the National Horse Show to Lexington will be a permanent one.
'This is an event that seeks to recapture its glorious history, and it was determined by its leadership that this was the best place to do that. We're not exactly Manhattan, but we offer a charm all our own," he said with a chuckle.