Kentucky Horse Park Celebrates 35th Anniversary With Special Deal For Guests

In ongoing celebration of its 35th anniversary, the Kentucky Horse Park will now give guests free admission to the next calendar day when they purchase a general admission ticket.  Essentially a two-day ticket, guests will have more time to explore the park and be entertained with the daily activities and presentations, museums and many equine competitions and special events throughout the year.

“As the park has grown over the last 35 years, we have come to realize that, with all of our activities plus the numerous horse shows we host on our grounds, we are more than a day-trip to many people,” said John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park.  “We want to be financially welcoming to our guests as well as customer friendly, allowing them to leave and return refreshed to enjoy more of the park.  We also expect this new ticket to help area accommodations secure additional room nights from guests who will now spend the night instead of leave our region.”

The Kentucky Horse Park is THE place to get close to horses and there are horses of all types and sizes showing in the twice-daily Horses of the World Show.  Odd Job Bob, a flashy Gypsy Vanner horse imported from Ireland, and movie-star horse from the movie The Greening of Whitney Brown, can often be seen in the show along with many rare and unique breeds of horse such as the Marwari, the Stonewall Sport Horse and the Akhal-Teke, as well as many favorite, better-known breeds of horse.

Daily equine presentations at the park include the Hall of Champions Presentation, where visitors can meet racing legend Cigar, and Kentucky Derby winners Go for Gin and Funny Cide, among other champions from the worlds of Thoroughbred, Standardbred and Quarter Horse racing.

One of the park’s newest and most popular attractions, the Kids Barn, which features interactive exhibits that are both entertaining and educational for the 12-and-under set, is a hot spot with the young-at-heart set as well.  Park staff host daily hands-on activities with resident horses in the barn each day, including White Prince, the rare, white Thoroughbred. 

General admission includes three different equine museums.  The International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate, explores man’s relationship with the horse throughout history.  The American Saddlebred Museum & Gift Shop, the “Showplace for Saddlebreds,” is the home of Kentucky’s first native breed of horse and is exhibiting “The Art of Selling with Saddlebreds:  The Show Horse in Vintage Advertising” through January.  The Wheeler Museum in the United States Hunter Jumper Association headquarters, exhibits memorabilia from the hunter jumper sport and the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. 

In addition, the Kentucky Horse Park hosts equine competitions and breed shows, special breeds weekends and community events throughout the many competition and show facilities located on park grounds, most of which are included with park admission.  Events are scheduled nearly every weekend at the park throughout the year, and a full listing of these events and their dates is available at www.KyHorsePark.com.

General admission (includes the next day FREE) is $16 for adults and $8 for children 7-12.  Children six and under are always admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult.  Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the American Saddlebred Museum & Gift Shop.  Additional activities such as horseback riding, pony rides and tours to area horse farms are available through the park and are offered at an additional fee.