The World Games 2010 Foundation announced it will hold a series of test competitions to prepare for the world championships coming to the Kentucky Horse Park in 2010 at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The competitions, each named “The Kentucky Cup,” will begin in 2009 and run through the 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. All events will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park. The schedule is as follows:

Date/Discipline/Competition Level
—July 15-20, 2009: Reining CRI****
—July 28-August 2, 2009: Vaulting CVI*/**
—September 28-30, 2009: Endurance 100K CEI**/***
—October 1-4, 2009: Driving CAI-A
—April 20-25, 2010: Eventing, Jumping, Dressage CCI****, CSI, CDI***

The final test event for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will be held in conjunction with the Rolex Kentucky CCI****. This event will combine tests for the dressage, eventing and jumping competitions of the Games. The Rolex Kentucky CCI**** will be the cornerstone of the combined event, which will be flanked by dressage and jumping test events in the days leading up to and the evenings during the Rolex event.

“These Kentucky Cup competitions will allow us to test each of our competition facilities well in advance of the 2010 Games, and will give us the opportunity to make modifications and adjustments in our planning based on these tests,” said Competition Director Kate Jackson.

During the Kentucky Cup events, the Foundation will test many aspects of the Games planning, including but not limited to ticketing, transportation and hospitality. Sport-related planning will also be tested, including the entry and timing, scoring and results systems as well as competition volunteers’ and officials’ duties.

Further information about each Kentucky Cup event will be released as it becomes available.

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park September 25-October 10, 2010, are the world championships of the eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and are held every four years. The Games have never before been held outside of Europe; nor have all eight disciplines competed at a single site—both firsts that will be achieved at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million, and current sponsors include Rolex, Ariat International, Inc., and an unprecedented $10 million title sponsor, Alltech. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, visit www.feigames2010.org.