The 1,200-acre Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington is an equine theme park and competition facility dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. Horses of 50 different breeds call the park home. It features the International Museum of the Horse, the Hall of Champions, the American Saddlebred Museum and is host to scores of horse shows every year, including in 2010 the World Equestrian Games.

When you think of Kentucky, what are the top three things that come to mind? If you’re like me, you said horses, bluegrass and bourbon. And you’ll find plenty of all three during a visit to the Lexington area, also known as the Bluegrass Region. Horse Country Kentucky is the horse breeding capital of the world, and with the addition of a 7,500-seat outdoor stadium that opened April 22 at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington, it will have the ability to attract large horse shows that previously were held in other states, said Cindy Rullman, spokesperson for the park. “This will definitely make us the horse show capital of the world,” Rullman said. The stadium opening was a grand affair attended by the Gov. Steven L. Beshear and his wife, Jane, herself “an avid and accomplished horsewoman,” according to John Nicholson, the park’s executive director. The Kentucky Horse Park opened in 1978 as the world’s only park dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. For 220 years prior to its opening, horses roamed this parcel of bluegrass located about 10 miles north of Lexington in Fayette County. The land once belonged to then-governor of Virginia Patrick Henry’s brother-in-law, as a reward for his service in the French and Indian War. Down through the centuries, horses were raised on the farm — thoroughbreds, saddlebreds and standardbreds among them. A wealthy coal baron named Capt. Sam S. Brown created a stud farm with a Kentucky Derby Winner, Buchanan, in 1884.