Next month the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and the Markey Cancer Foundation will host the first annual gala in honor of Betsy Fishback, a beloved member of the sport horse community. Scheduled for September 18, 2009, the gala will be held during the $50,000 CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix, a World Cup Qualifier and the final class in the Hagyard Challenge Series.

This grand prix show jumping event will be the very first grand prix held in the new indoor arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. General Admission tickets are free for the grand prix. Tickets are available through Hagyard veterinarians, as well as the Hagyard Pharmacy and through e-mail at [email protected].

The gala, titled "The Betsy," offers an evening of World Cup Show Jumping, as well as dinner and a live auction. "The Betsy" kicks off with cocktails at 5:00 p.m., with dinner and the auction following at 6:00 p.m. The grand prix event will begin at 7:30 p.m. Hosted by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, all proceeds from the gala will support cancer patient care and research at the Markey Cancer Center.

Made possible by sponsor donations, the gala will welcome guests as they show their support for the Markey Cancer Foundation and celebrate Betsy Fishback, an enthusiastic horsewoman and friend to all who knew her. Fishback lost her battle with breast cancer in January of this year. Her husband, Dr. Dave Fishback, has worked at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute since 1975.

Sponsorship opportunities for the gala include: Presenting Sponsor, Shutterfly Sponsor, Baloubet Sponsor, Milton Sponsor, Table Sponsor, and Individual Sponsor. These sponsorship levels offer everything from special recognition in the evening's program to a private suite to preferred seating tickets.

$25,000 Presenting Sponsor
Official logo represented at arena, special recognition at the show jumping finale and in the evening's program, Center Arena double suite for 50, including hors d'oeuvres, 50 General Admission tickets, 16 tickets to the dinner

$15,000 Shutterfly Sponsor
Signage at dinner, special recognition in the evening's program, center arena suite for 28, 40 General Admission tickets,
16 tickets to the dinner

$10,000 Baloubet Sponsor
Signage at dinner, special recognition in evening's program, center arena suite for 28, 40 General Admission tickets, 16 tickets to the dinner

$5,000 Milton Sponsor
Special recognition in the evening's program, 16 Preferred Seating tickets, 20 General Admission tickets, Eight tickets to the dinner

$2,500 Table Sponsor
Special recognition in the evening's program, eight Preferred Seating tickets, 20 General Admission tickets, eight tickets to the dinner

$350 Individual Sponsor
One Preferred Seating ticket, four General Admission tickets, one ticket to the dinner

For more information, please call the Markey Cancer Foundation at (859) 323-6448. Information is also available through email at [email protected] or through any Hagyard Veterinarian or Staff Member.

Additional information on Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is available at www.hagyard.com.

To learn more about the Markey Cancer Foundation, visit their official website at www.markeycancerfoundation.org.

For more information on the Hagyard Challenge Series, please go to www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.