Lexington, KY - The Alltech National Horse Show, 128th edition, announced today that Dr. and Mrs. Pearse Lyons have been named the Honorary Chairpersons for the inaugural event to be staged at the Alltech Arena at the world-renowned Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky
Dr. Lyons, the President and Founder of Alltech, presides over a company that has become one of the most important and generous sponsors for equestrian events worldwide.
"That's why we asked them to become our Honorary Chairpersons," said National Horse Show of America, Ltd President, Mason Phelps, Jr., "We wanted to honor Dr. and Mrs. Lyons because of their commitment, not only to this show, but their contribution to the industry all over the world. Without them the Alltech National Horse Show would certainly still be a storied tradition, but the new beginning would not have been possible without the commitment of Alltech."
"Deirdre and I are touched by this honor and delighted to have this opportunity to bring enthusiastic support to the Alltech National Horse Show," said Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech's president and founder. "The show is an institution in the equestrian world, and we are pleased to be a part of preserving its legacy."
Earlier this year Dr. Lyons was honored with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's Commonwealth Legacy Award for his pivotal leadership role in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, which were recently shown to have had a $201.5 million economic impact on the state of Kentucky.
An Irish biochemist, Dr. Lyons founded Alltech in 1980. Today the global animal health company does business in 128 countries and employs 2,650 people.
Deirdre Lyons is Alltech's co-founder and Director of Corporate Image and Design. In 2009, the Lexington chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners selected her as Woman Business Owner of the Year based on her years of community service outreach and for her legacy of business expertise in international market development for Alltech.
A strong supporter of equine health and welfare causes, Mrs.Lyons is a board member of the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, which funds programs and improvements at the Kentucky Horse Park (KHP), and the Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KEHC), whose mission is to rescue and rehome unwanted horses. Eight KEHC horses have been adopted by Alltech.
Mrs. Lyons is organizing a black-tie gala to be held at the Alltech Arena at the KHP on November 1, the evening before the Alltech National Horse Show begins. A fundraiser for the KEHC, the gala will kick off the horse show with a social event to equal those held during the era when the show took place at Madison Square Garden.
The Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, will be held from November 2 - 6, 2011, at the beautiful, new Alltech Indoor Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
This year's show, designated CSI4*-W, will feature a complete schedule of 'AA'-rated hunter divisions, including the Pony Lane Farm High Performance Hunter section. Also on the agenda, a big money Open Jumper division highlighted by the $75,000 Double H Farms Thursday's Jump-Off class, the $60,000 Spy Coast Farm Faults Converted Speed class on Friday and of course, the $250,000 Alltech National Horse Show Grand Prix, an FEI World Cup qualifying event. $100,000 will be up for grabs for the Junior and Amateur Jumper divisions, including the $50,000 SJHOF Junior/Amateur Championships, sponsored by Sleepy P, Chansonette and Deeridge Farm. The final Sunday is highlighted by the signature event of the National Horse Show, the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals, presented by C.M. Hadfield's Saddlery.
Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America's oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association's primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities.
For more information on the National Horse Show Association of America, Limited, please visit www.nhs.org.