The Hagyard Challenge Series, a series of seven major show jumping competitions, will continue during the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The first week of competition, the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, will be held from August 1-5, 2007, with the Kentucky Summer Classic following on August 8-12. The $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic Grand Prix classes are scheduled for Thursday, August 2, and Thursday, August 9, in the Sheila C. Johnson Arena. The Hagyard Challenge Series features $170,000 in prize money. The first two grand prix events were held during the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, and the series continues at the park throughout the summer, with the final event, the $50,000 World Cup qualifying grand prix, scheduled for the Kentucky National Indoor Horse Show on September 28, 2007. The challenge is made possible through the support of the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Their involvement has generated additional interest in the Kentucky Horse Shows and continues to attract some of the best horses and riders in the country. "Hagyard recognizes the rapidly growing sport horse community in Lexington, and we are glad to join the efforts of Hugh Kincannon and Rob Murphy in promoting jumper shows," said Dr. Andrew R. Clark, DVM, MBA. "Our objective is to showcase the Hagyard Sport Horse Program and its team of veterinarians devoted to helping horse and rider achieve excellence." Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and well-being of the horse for more than 130 years. Known for its excellence in veterinary medicine, the institute's reputation was built on its continued effort to increase veterinary knowledge and improve the state-of-the-art treatments and surgeries offered to its diverse equine clientele. Their clients include international breeding operations and world-renowned race horses, as well as three-day eventers, show jumpers and pleasure horses. Their Sport Horse Program continues to serve the nation's top equine athletes, which contributes to Haygard's relationship with the Kentucky Horse Shows. "This year we've had the best horses and riders attend our shows," commented Betsy Fishback, Director of Community Relations for the Kentucky Horse Shows. "I think the sponsorship has really attracted the top competitors, and it's definitely generated the interest and support of additional sponsors. Hagyard is known in this area and throughout the veterinary community as the premier equine medical institute, in addition to being the oldest and largest. It's an honor to have them involved with our shows." In addition to the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic Grand Prix events, the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows will also host the $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix on Sunday, August 5, and the $40,000 Kentucky Classic Grand Prix, a member event of the AGA Grand Prix Series, on Sunday, August 12. As the Kentucky Horse Park prepares for the upcoming 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the Kentucky Horse Shows continue to produce top-quality competitions for the nation's finest equestrians. For more information on the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows or the to download the prize list, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.