Lexington Junior League Horse Show Begins Today

This year marks the 73rd annual Lexington Junior League Horse Show, held at the Red Mile race track in Lexington, Kentucky. Proceeds from the show go to charitable organizations in the region.

The Lexington Junior League Show has been selected by American Saddlebred Registry as a Summer Showcase event and as such will offer an additional $9,000 in prize money for the owners of record, original recorders and sire nominators who place in the Fine Harness Junior Horse, Three-Gaited Park Open Championship, Three-Gaited Ladies Championship and Five-Gaited Amateur Championship and Five Gaited Pleasure Junior Exhibitor Championship classes. The Kentucky Saddlebred Owners and Breeders Association will provide an additional $6,000 to the Five-Gaited Open Championship courtesy of the Kentucky Breeder’s Incentive Program.

This year’s class schedule includes the addition of a USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal- National Qualifier. The prize list has just been mailed and can be found on line. Entries close on Monday, June 1, 2009

An inaugural Pink Ribbon Night for breast cancer awareness will be held on Tuesday, July 7, and is presented in partnership with UPHA. In addition to the complementary exhibitors party which will be held in the Red Mile Clubhouse and include food and a DJ, the Gala will also be held on Friday, July 10, and include complementary food and drinks along with musical entertainment.

The Thursday evening session is the Ladies’ After Work Party when attendees are encouraged to wear red in support of heart health awareness. Health professionals will be on the grounds to provide free screenings for heart disease and information on how to take better care of your heart.

Since 1937 more than $3.75 million has been raised through the Horse Show to benefit regional charitable organizations. On average members of the Junior League of Lexington donate over 28,000 hours of volunteer service annually to the community worth an estimated $541,400. The Junior League of Lexington is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

Reserved seating in the Grandstand is available Monday through Wednesday for $10, and Thursday through Saturday for $15. General admission tickets may be purchased at the door for $5 Monday through Wednesday, and $10 Thursday through Saturday. Children six and under are admitted free. Proceeds benefit local and regional charitable organizations.

2009 Schedule of Dates & Times
Monday, July 6: 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 7: 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 8: 9:00 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Thursday, July 9: 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Friday, July 10: 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 11: 6:00 p.m.

The Lexington Junior League Horse Show has recently been selected as named one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s “Top 20 Events for the Month of July 2009.” The world’s largest outdoor Saddlebred horse show, this event attracts over 30,000 spectators with out-of-town visitors generating approximately $10.4 million in revenue for the city of Lexington. Nearly 1,000 exhibitors travel from all over the world to compete for the $70,000 in prize money.