The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, held at the scenic Kentucky Horse Park, have increased the prize money for this year's two-week event. Scheduled for the weeks of May 7-11 and May 14-18, 2008, the Kentucky Horse Shows upped the ante for the Sunday grand prix classes.

The $55,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix CSI*** and the $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI***, a member event of the American Grand Prix Association (AGA) Grand Prix Series, have both raised their prize money up from $50,000. The Commonwealth Grand Prix will be held on Sunday, May 11, and the Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, May 18.

The $15,000 Bluegrass Derby and the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic also offer stellar prize money for show jumpers.

In addition to the grand prix events, the Hagyard Challenge Series, a series of seven major show jumping competitions, enhanced its Leading Rider Bonus from $30,000 to $50,000. The $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic Grand Prix CSI*** classes are part of the Hagyard Challenge Series, sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. This year the series features $215,000 in prize money, a dramatic increase from last year's $170,000 series.

The Hagyard Challenge Series' $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus will be presented after the final event in the succession, the $50,000 World Cup qualifying grand prix, scheduled for the Kentucky National Indoor Horse Show on Friday, September 26. The top competitor in the entire summer-long series will be the recipient of this award.

The hunter divisions include prize money as well, with the professional hunter classes, the junior and amateur-owner hunter classes, the pony hunter classes, and the division classics providing ample winnings for competitors. Along with the regular hunter divisions, the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows will play host to the 2008 Legacy Cup, which also awards purses with each ribbon.

The beautiful Kentucky Horse Park provides equestrians with comfortable stabling, numerous show rings and spacious riding areas. It is the future site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and home to the United States Equestrian Federation.

Produced by Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows' prize list is now available online at www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.