Kingdom for a Horse

Take a peek at the newest residents of Kentucky Horse Park, and you might find a real winner.

Imagine being washed up at the ripe old age of 3. That's when some Thoroughbred horses find their racing days at an end. Thanks to Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and Maker's Mark Secretariat Center, a Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) facility, these retired racehorses have a chance to be adopted and enjoy a rich life long after their win, place, or show days are over.

Back on Track

Fred Winters, director of operations for TRF, heads up the Thoroughbred adoption program, and visitors to the Kentucky Horse Park experience the thrill of seeing the beautiful animals stabled at the 22-acre site.

"We want to show how these former racehorses are useful for other jobs," says Fred. "They have been programmed to run as hard as they can for as long as they can, but they can be retrained to be trail horses, mounted police horses, or jumpers."

This program gained momentum after a tragic incident involving Ferdinand, a onetime Kentucky Derby winner who died in a slaughterhouse in Japan. "My goal is to bring animal rights to the forefront of consciousness," says Fred. This center does the trick.

More Park Perks

You'll find lots more to do at the park's 1,200 acres. See one of the twice-daily shows, or take a horsedrawn tour led by Clydesdales and other breeds. Adults can mount up for a 40-minute guided trail ride, and pony rides thrill the smallest equestrians. Maybe some of these youngsters will return to the Kentucky Horse Park for the 2010 World Equestrian Games, the first time the event will be held outside of Europe.

Kentucky Horse Park: 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511; (859) 233-4303, 1-800-678-8813, or www.kyhorsepark. com. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission: $14 adults, $7 ages 7-12. Maker's Mark secretariat Center at Kentucky Horse Park: (859) 246-3080 or www.thoroughbred adoption.com.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation May 2006
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