 |
 
 
|
||
|
2005 If you have questions or need assistance, call Niki Heichelbech at (800)848-1224 or (859) 244-7707 or email lexmedia@visitlex.com Click here to access the main archives page. October 12, 2005 Keeneland Moves Forward With Plan To Install Polytrack On Main Track July 20, 2005 Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau Wins Gold Service Award for 2005 July 13, 2005 Roots & Heritage Festival Selected as Fall Top 10 April 25, 2005 First Security Bank Woodland Art Fair March 21, 2005 Lexington, KY ranks among the five safest cities in the United States March 3, 2005 Best of the Bluegrass Festival Announces Weeklong Events Showcasing Central Kentucky February 21, 2005 Three Organizations Honor Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event February 11, 2005 George Clarke House Bed and Breakfast joins prestigious innkeeping association January 24, 2005 Blue Grass Trust to host annual Lexington Antiques and Garden Show Click here to access the archives. December 6, 2005 United States Wins Bid to Host 2010 Games. First Time Outside of Europe, the United States to Host World’s Largest Equestrian Competition at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY LEXINGTON, KY – For the first time, the World Equestrian Games (WEG) will be held outside of Europe in 2010, when the games come to the United States. Under the leadership of Governor Ernie Fletcher and his administration, Kentucky’s bid to host the games at the Kentucky Horse Park came through victorious over Normandy, France in an announcement made half-way around the world in Bahrain. The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), which is the international governing body for non-racing equestrian sports, made the decision that the games will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, Horse Capital of the World. As the games are expected to have a $100-million economic impact on the state of Kentucky, governor Ernie Fletcher, whose campaign platform included promises to strengthen and improve the state’s equine industry, was understandably all smiles as he made the announcement to an expectant and enthusiastic crowd of industry leaders gathered at the Kentucky Horse Park. He observed, “This will be an unprecedented opportunity for our Commonwealth to showcase itself to the world. It is both fitting and proper that Kentucky should serve as the host for this prestigious series of events.” He continued, “We are know as the epicenter of the equestrian world and we have a deep appreciation of all things having to do with the horse. We also have a rich history in the equestrian arena that sets us apart form virtually every other region in the world. I know that we will stage a very successful series of competitions and I know that the world will gain a new appreciation for the beauty of our state and the hospitality of our citizens.” John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park, now has the honor and responsibility of hosting and shouldering the WEG. “This will be the first time that the World Equestrian Games will be staged at a single venue. That’s because there isn’t another site in the world that has the facilities that are available at the Kentucky Horse Park. When all was said and done, I believe that Kentucky’s heritage as the Horse Capital of the World, combined with the world-class facilities at the park, were what won the games for our state. It will be the park’s privilege and distinction to represent the United States to the world via the games.” Reporting via telephone from Bahrain, Nicholson expressed his excitement, talked about the bid process and answered questions from the media. The WEG are comprised of the world championships for seven equestrian sports: show jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining. The games are held every four years, in the middle of the Olympic cycle, and are governed by the FEI, based in Lausanne, Switzerland and recognized by the International Olympic Committee. A five-member delegation consisting of John Nicholson, executive director of The Kentucky Horse Park, Rob Hinkle, director of operations at the Kentucky Horse Park, Derrick Ramsey, deputy secretary of the Commerce Cabinet, Tandy Patrick, chair of the Kentucky Horse Park Commission, and John Long, chief executive officer of the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. made the final, winning presentation. The games will take place during two weeks in the fall of 2010 and have estimated ticket sales of 300,000. More than 1,000 athletes representing 50 countries are expected to participate. The games will be broadcast live from the Kentucky Horse Park to 40 countries and reported by more than 1,000 members of the international media. For more information, contact Lisa Jackson at the Kentucky Horse Park, 859-259-4224, Sarah Lane at the U.S. Equestrian Federation, 859-225-6974 or Chris Gilligan at the Commerce Cabinet of Kentucky, 502-564-4270. The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. The park is an agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet that hosted more than 900,000 visitors and 15,000 competition horses in 80 special events and horse shows in 2004. The park is located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington. The place to get close to horses, the park is open daily March 15 to October 31, and Wednesday through Sunday November 1 to March 14. ### Source: Kentucky Commerce Cabinet
November 9, 2005 Equus Run Vineyards to Produce Commemorative Wines of Churchill Downs and The Kentucky Derby Midway, KY – Equus Run Vineyards has been awarded the contractual rights to produce and market a line of commemorative wines for Churchill Downs and The Kentucky Derby. The Midway, Ky.-based winery and vineyard will continue the tradition begun last year and will have exclusive rights through 2008. In honor of the award, Equus Run has produced a limited release Cabernet Sauvignon to commemorate the 131 st running of the 2005 Kentucky Derby. The select Cabernet Sauvignon release features the 2005 Kentucky Derby logo etched in gold and is limited to an exclusive and numbered 131 bottles worldwide. The Midway, Ky.-based winery and vineyard will produce a limited edition bottling of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bluegrass Blush with wine labels featuring the official art of the 2005 Kentucky Derby. Bart Forbes, one of America ’s most celebrated sports artists, created the official art that commemorates the 2005 Kentucky Derby and this year marks the 10 th anniversary of the prestigious “Art of the Kentucky Derby” series. As an official licensee of Churchill Downs and The Kentucky Derby, Equus Run Vineyards will distribute the commemorative wines state-wide. “Equus Run is elated to continue our relationship with Churchill Downs and The Kentucky Derby,” said Cynthia Bohn, co-owner of Equus Run Vineyards. “To be chosen to commemorate such a long-revered American racing tradition is a great honor for Equus Run. We are particularly pleased to release our collectible gold-etched Cabernet Sauvignon. This collectible series is highly sought after around the world and Equus Run has made the collection even more exclusive by producing only the number of bottles corresponding to the number of runnings of The Kentucky Derby.” Equus Run Vineyards is nestled on 35 acres in the heart of central Kentucky ’s Bluegrass Region. Amidst picturesque thoroughbred horse farms, historic stone fences and the quaint charm of Midway, KY, the boutique vineyard was established to introduce Kentucky wines and is planted to Chardonnay, Chardonel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Norton and Vidal Blanc. The wines of Equus Run Vineyards have won numerous awards at competitions across the nation including the California Grand Harvest Awards, the New York Fingerlakes International Wine Competition, the International Eastern Wine Competition, the Indy International Wine Competition and the Texas Lone Star International Wine Competition and have been chosen by the readers of Kentucky Educational Television’s Kentucky Monthly magazine as Kentucky’s Best Wine 2003, 2004 and 2005. Equus Run Vineyards is open year round for tastings, tours and special events, including the popular Concerts at the Vineyard series held each summer. ### Source: Equus Run Vineyards October 28, 2005 Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau is the Proud Recipient of Eleven Traverse Awards Lexington , KY: The Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau was awarded eleven Traverse Awards at the Kentucky Tourism Council Annual Conference held at the Lexington Convention Center October 24-26. Each year the Kentucky Tourism Council presents awards for excellence in marketing in a variety of categories to tourism agencies, attractions, restaurants and hotels. The Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau brought home four 1st place awards, four 2nd place awards, and three honorable mention awards. First Place Awards: 10 Year Calendar, Meeting Planner Guide and two print advertisements. (Leisure Spring advertisement and the Sales Department Hometown Host Testimonial advertisements) Second Place Awards: The Thoroughbred Park Brochure, Group Travel Planner, Corporate Lure Piece (direct mail) and Take Pride in the Bluegrass advertisement. Honorable Mention Awards: Trade Show Booth and two direct mail pieces. (Southern Lights Holiday postcard and a Cartoon Map postcard) The Traverse Awards are open to all Kentucky Tourism Council and Kentucky Hotel & Lodging Association members who offer a tourism product or service in the state of Kentucky . Judging is conducted by a panel of experts made up of marketing, public relations and tourism professionals from outside Kentucky . Awards are given in fourteen categories across eight divisions. ### Source: Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau October 12, 2005 Keeneland Moves Forward With Plan To Install Polytrack On Main Track Lexington, KY- Keeneland's board of directors Wednesday instructed management to continue the planning, design and engineering for the installation of Polytrack on its main track during the summer of 2006. "It's the desire of the board for Keeneland to have the finest racing surface in the world," said Keeneland President Nick Nicholson. "The surface should be the safest possible for both horse and rider, and it should provide the best overall racing experience." Polytrack, which was developed by Martin Collins, is a blend of fibers, recycled rubber and silica sand covered with a wax coating. It is installed on top of a carefully designed vertical drainage system. On September 7, Turfway Park in Northern Kentucky became the first racetrack in North America to conduct racing on the revolutionary new surface. Horsemen had wide praise for Polytrack during the month-long meeting. Keeneland introduced Polytrack on its five-eighths of a mile training track in September, 2004. The unique surface, which remains consistent under various weather conditions, was introduced in the United Kingdom in the early 1980s. ### Source: Keeneland Race Course July 20, 2005 Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau Wins Gold Service Award for 2005 For the ninth consecutive year the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau has been awarded the prestigious Meetings & Conventions 2005 Gold Service award by M&C’s subscribers, the industry’s most discerning audience with extensive industry experience in both corporate and association markets. This year only 85 domestic and international CVBs were honored with the Gold Service award based on key criteria including: professionalism of staff; support on hotels and site inspections; assistance with ground transportation planning; guidance on local attractions; and liaison with local venders and services. “To continually provide quality service to clients sets these superior bureaus apart. All our Gold Service winning CVBs know the value of creating a lasting impression can never be understated. The 2005 Gold Service winners continually excel in many valuable areas of service, impressing not only their clients but also the demanding readers of M&C” said Bernard W. Schraer, Meetings & Conventions’ Group Publisher. Source: Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau ### July 13, 2005 Roots & Heritage Festival Selected As Fall Top 10 Frankfort, KY – The Kentucky Tourism Council has selected Roots & Heritage Festival as one of the Commonwealth’s fall “Top Ten” events. Held in Lexington, Kentucky on September 9-11, this three day street fair that attracts more than 50,000 people recreates the powerful spirit of African American culture and history through entertainment on two stages, over 200 vendors and a variety of food and music. A panel of impartial judges selects the Kentucky Tourism Council “Top Ten” Events for each season. Criteria for selection include popularity of the event, its impact on the local tourism economy as well as cultural and historical significance. Source: Kentucky Tourism Council ### June 9, 2005 Lexington Junior League Horse Show and Woodland Arts Fair Win Southeast Tourism Top 20 Event Contest Lexington , KY : Two of Lexington ’s annual events, the Lexing ton Junior League Horse Show and Woodland Arts Fair, were recently chosen as Southeastern Tourism Top 20 Event winners. This year’s Junior League Horse Show will take place July 11-16 on the grounds of the historic Red Mile Harness Track. The First Security Bank Woodland Art Fair will take place August 20-21 at Woodland Park . The Junior League Horse Show, a Bluegrass tradition since 1937, serves as the first leg of the Saddlebred Triple Crown and is recognized as the world’s largest outdoor Saddlebred horse show. The prestige of “winning at Lexing ton ” and $70,000 in prize money attracts nearly 1,000 competitors to the show each year. The weeklong competition attracts around 30,000 spectators and 900 exhibitors from across the United States and Canada . The First Security Bank Woodland Art Fair, a 30 year-old juried art fair showcasing all mediums, is Lexington ’s largest free outdoor event. This year’s fair will feature 200 booths of fine art and fine craft representing ceramics, sculpture, wood, jewelry, painting, metal, fiber, mixed media and photography. The fair also features great food, toe tapping music and interactive arts activities for children. Founded in 1983, the Southeast Tourism Society (www.southeasttourism.org) is dedicated to the promotion and development of tourism in its member states. The membership includes state travel offices, attractions, hotels, convention and visitors bureaus, airlines, bus companies, newspapers and other travel related organizations. Through a nomination process, the Southeast Tourism Society chooses the Top 20 events going on in the Southeast for each month of the year, and publishes this list of winners quarterly. To be nominated for a Top 20 Event, an event must be at least in its 3rd year and must have a minimum attendance of 1000. Source: Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau ### May 13, 2005 Dead Sea Scrolls on Display in Lexington Beginning June 24: Unprecedented Exhibition Chronicles History of the Bible. LEXINGTON, KY — Former Miss America Heather French Henry announced today the pending arrival of the world’s largest, most comprehensive exhibition on the history of the Bible, known as Ink & Blood: Dead Sea Scrolls to the English Bible . This unprecedented collection of artifacts, which includes authentic Dead Sea Scroll fragments, ancient Biblical manuscripts and several 5,000-year-old pictographic clay tablets from ancient Mesopotamia , opens at 9:00 a.m. Friday, June 24 for a limited 66-day engagement at Lexington Center in the Rupp Arena Complex. “This is a landmark exhibit — relevant to scholars, those in the religious community and anyone who treasures history,” said Henry. “All of Kentucky will have a rare opportunity to see and experience how the modern English Bible evolved from ancient Hebrew text and learn how so many fought and died to make the Bible what it is today.” Dr. William H. Noah, curator of the museum exhibition, worked for years with Biblical scholars from around the world to gather more than 100 Jewish, Greek and Latin manuscripts. Those pieces together tell a unique story — the complete history of the Bible, with an emphasis on the English version. The exhibition also contains material relevant to students of English literature, Spanish and Hebrew as well as American and European history, art and archaeology. “These priceless, ancient documents continue to inspire us today, and they came to us at a tremendous cost,” said Noah. “Many died in order that we might be able to read their words today, but few know their names.” Noah explained his inspiration for creating this traveling museum exhibition. “As the name, ’Ink and Blood’ implies, the Bible has been transmitted to us through the ink of diligent scribes and the blood of martyrs,” he said. Fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls — considered the greatest archeological discovery of the last century by many scholars — are just one part of this amazing exhibit. Some of the other authentic artifacts include the first Bible ever translated into English from the early 15 th century, first editions of the King James Bible, and 500-year-old pages from Gutenberg’s Bible, the most famous and valuable book ever printed. The exhibition also features a working replica of Gutenberg’s press, which brought books — and specifically the Bible — to the masses in the 15th century with a profound impact on society. This fascinating collection of historical and biblical artifacts provides visitors of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to see, perhaps for the first time, the complete historical narrative of the Bible and how it fits into our culture, with a final emphasis on how this book has been influential in America . “The story of the Bible is intriguing, educational, and moving, no matter what one’s age or religious beliefs,” Noah said. “Regardless of whether you believe one word in it, the Bible, in its various forms, is the most significant object in the history of Western culture. You cannot accurately tell history without telling its history.” In addition to the museum exhibition, Dr. Noah and the curatorial staff are now scheduling free Biblical history symposiums throughout Kentucky and the region. For more information or to order tickets to the exhibit, call 1-877-33BIBLE or visit www.InkAndBlood.com . Ticket prices for the exhibition range from $8 to $16, with children under eight years old admitted free. Special group rates are available for school and church groups. Discounts are also available for advanced ticket purchases, which are recommended to ensure admission. Contact: Michelle Sanders at msanders@inkandblood.com ### April 25, 2005 First Security Bank Woodland Art Fair Frankfort, Kentucky, April 25, 2005 – the Kentucky Tourism Council has selected the First Security Bank Woodland Art Fair as one of the Commonwealth’s “Top Ten” events. Held in Lexington, Kentucky August 20-21. This 20-yearold juried art fair features 200 booths of fine art and fine craft representing all mediums. Lexington’s largest free outdoor event also features great food, toe-taping music and interactive art activities for the kids. A panel of impartial judges selects the Kentucky Tourism Council “Top Ten” Events for each season. Criteria for selection include popularity of the event, its impact on the local tourism economy as well as cultural and historical significance. For more information, contact the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) 848-1224 Source: Kentucky Tourism Council ### April 8, 2005 The Spirit of Kentucky Honored: Buffalo Trace Distillery named “2005 Distiller of the Year” by Whisky Magazine. Franklin County, KY – Bourbon has long stood in the shadow of Scotch in the whiskey world, but industry experts worldwide have spoken and a bourbon distillery has been named “2005 Distiller of the Year” by Whiskey Magazine. Buffalo Trace Distillery of Franklin County, Kentucky took home this prestigious honor at the annual “Icons of Whiskey” dinner held in London, England, Thursday, March 10th in conjunction with WhiskyLive London. Buffalo Trace was up against such notable distillers as Allied Domecq, Chivas Brothers, Diageo, Gordon MacPhail and Four Roses. Whisky Magazine has been presenting this award for 5 years and this is the first time an American distiller has ever received the high distinction. Results were based on a poll of industry experts including: writers, retailers, whiskey producers and independent bottlers from around the world. “It’s not a moment too soon that an American Distiller has won this award,” said Damian Riley-Smith, Managing Director of Whisky Magazine. “Bourbon whiskey is beginning its crusade around the world and it’s an honor to acknowledge a distiller who is at the forefront of that crusade.” Several of Buffalo Trace’s whiskies were also honored at the event. In the category of “Best American Whiskey – over 10 years of age” five of the eight winners were from Buffalo Trace, including: Eagle Rare 17yr. old, George T. Stagg 16 year old, Sazerac Rye 18 yr. old, Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye and the winner for “Best American Whiskey” was Pappy van Winkle Family reserve 15 yr. old. Buffalo Trace has garnered more awards since 1990 than any other North American distillery – over 130 awards for more than 14 different brands. “What an incredible honor. We couldn’t be more proud,” said Mark Brown President of Buffalo Trace Distillery. “I’m just so happy to be able to share this with the great men and women of Buffalo Trace who work hard everyday to make the best bourbon whiskey. This truly is a reflection of their efforts.” For more information on the “Icons of Whiskey” awards visit www.whiskymag.com and to learn more about the award-winning bourbons of Buffalo Trace Distillery go to www.greatbourbon.com ### March 28, 2005 Northwest Airlines Announces New Nonstop Jet Service to Minneapolis/St. Paul; Blue Grass Airport Now Offers Service to 16 Destinations. Lexington , KY – Northwest Airlines today announced new nonstop jet service between its hub at Minneapolis/St. Paul and Lexington , KY. One daily flight will be offered beginning June 9. In the last four months Blue Grass Airport has announced flights to six cities and Minneapolis will bring the number of nonstop destinations available from Lexington to 16. “Northwest Airlines is pleased to add service in Lexington ,” said Tom Bach, vice president of market planning and Airlink. “Minneapolis/St. Paul is one of the most requested destinations among travelers in the Bluegrass region, and customers traveling through our hub at Minneapolis/St. Paul will enjoy convenient connections to cities throughout the Midwest , West, Hawaii , Alaska and western Canada .” " Blue Grass Airport welcomes Northwest Airlines’ decision to add a new nonstop jet flight from Lexington to a third hub,” said Michael Gobb, the airport’s executive director. “To lure this new service to the Blue Grass region, over 300 Central Kentucky companies and individuals submitted letters of support to Northwest Airlines detailing the need for access to Minneapolis and beyond. Northwest has been a generous partner in our efforts to connect central Kentucky to the world, and we look forward to expanding that partnership through new daily jet service to the Minneapolis hub.” "Today's announcement of nonstop service to Minneapolis/St. Paul is an important benchmark in the continued growth and diversity of our economy," added U.S. Rep Ben Chandler (D-KY). " Lexington is a great place to do business and Northwest Airlines is an important partner in the continued growth of this region. As a new member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation, I look forward to making sure Blue Grass Airport provides top quality air service for years to come." The new flights will be operated by Northwest Airlink partner Pinnacle Airlines Corp. using the very popular Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ), which seats up to 50 passengers. Lexington brings the number of destinations served from Northwest’s hub at Minneapolis/St. Paul to 170. Northwest’s new service is now available for sale at www.nwa.com, by telephone at Northwest Airlines reservations at 1-800-225-2525 or through travel agencies. New Minneapolis/St. Paul- Lexington service Flight number: Departs: Arrives: NW 2977* 6:52 p.m. 10:01 p.m. New Lexington/Minneapolis/St. Paul service Flight number: Departs: Arrives: NW 5605** 7:00 a.m. 8:05 a.m. Blue Grass Airport is served by six major airline brands providing convenient nonstop service to 16 major hub cities and direct service to hundreds of destinations worldwide. The airport proudly serves over one million Central and Eastern Kentucky travelers each year. Blue Grass Airport , Why Drive When You Can Fly? ### March 22, 2005 Blue Grass Airport Announces Major Expansion of Service to Florida; Lexington to Receive New Nonstop Delta Connecion Service to Tampa, FL, Fort Lauderdale, FL and a Second Daily Flight to Orlando, FL. Lexington, KY – Blue Grass Airport today announced that Delta Air Lines plans to significantly increase its daily nonstop flights between Central Kentucky and Florida. Beginning June 1, 2005, Delta Connection carrier Comair will offer one daily, non-stop jet flight between Lexington and both Tampa, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL, providing Central Kentucky with the first nonstop service to be offered from Lexington to each of the very popular Florida destinations. Comair will operate the flights using 50-seat Canadair Regional Jet aircraft. In addition, as a result of the very successful launch of nonstop jet service from Lexington to Orlando, FL in December 2004, Delta also announced the addition of a second daily jet departure between Orlando International Airport and Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport beginning June 1, 2005. Tickets for the new service go on sale March 27, 2005. “Delta’s Lexington customers are very important to us and we are pleased to continue to respond to their requests for more nonstop flights, more often to their favorite destinations,” said Doug Blisset, Delta’s vice president – Network Analysis. “In the past five years Lexington ’s airport has added ten new nonstop destinations by four different airlines and set passenger activity records in both 2003 and 2004. Blue Grass Airport now offers more nonstop service than at any time in the airport’s 59 year history. We are thrilled to join Delta Air Lines in bringing this unprecedented level of air service to Lexington ,” said Michael Gobb, Executive Director, Blue Grass Airport. With this announcement Delta and Delta Connection carriers ASA, Comair and Chautauqua will offer Central Kentucky travelers all-jet service to seven destinations including Atlanta, Cincinnati, New York, Washington D.C., Orlando, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale. Lexington - Florida Schedule Effective June1, 2005
* Existing Flight Began December 1, 2004 Blue Grass Airport is now served by six major airline brands providing convenient nonstop service to 15 major hub cities and direct service to destinations worldwide. The airport proudly serves over one million Central and Eastern Kentucky travelers each year. Source: Blue Grass Airport ### March 21, 2005 Lexington, KY Ranks Among the Five Safest Cities in the United States Lexington is among the five safest cities in the United States and 45 th in the world according to a quality of life survey conducted by Mercer Human Resource Consultants. Lexington shares the 45 th position with Honolulu; San Francisco; Houston and Winston-Salem. The study included 215 cities from around the world. Personal safety and security positions were derived from scores that were “based on relationships with other countries, internal stability, and crime, including terrorism.” Lexington ranked 46 th in the world for overall quality of life along with Winston Salem, Pittsburgh and Seattle. Other cities in the United States that made the top 50 include Honolulu and San Francisco at 25 th, Boston at 36 th, New York City at 39 th and Portland and Washington at 42 nd. The Mercer Quality of Life Survey is an annual survey based on “39 quality of life criteria for each city including political, social, economic, and environment factors, personal safety and health, education, transport, and other public services. For complete information: www.mercerhr.com/qualityoflife ### March 3, 2005 Best of the Bluegrass Showcases Weeklong Events Showcasing Central Kentucky Lexington, KY — Central Kentucky is gearing up for its second annual Best of the Bluegrass Festival, scheduled April 10 through April 17. Best of the Bluegrass is a weeklong festival of events saluting the area’s unique culture, showcasing everything from the arts to sports to bourbon. Back by popular demand are a number of favorite events, including the Bourbon and Bluegrass Boogie at Lexington’s Radisson Plaza Hotel, a bourbon tasting set this year against the backdrop of a Saturday Night Fever-inspired tribute band featuring 70’s music; a special presentation of the WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour featuring a retrospective of the influence of African American culture on string music; Lexington Arts & Cultural Council’s DowntownGallery Hop featuring some of Lexington’s finest art galleries and artist studios; and Lexington Philharmonic’s 2005 Horsetails Exhibit at Arts Place featuring violins and bows strung with horse hair generously donated by famous equine athletes including Smarty Jones, Grindstone, Storm Cat, John Henry and Cigar. Thoroughbred racing enthusiasts can come to Keeneland Race Course to enjoy several Best of the Bluegrass Festival events, including Maker’s Mark Mile Day, the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes post position draw , the 81 st running of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and a special edition of the track’s popular Breakfast With the Works program. Another highlight of this year’s festival will be a special performance by Bela Fleck at the Kentucky Theater. All proceeds from Fleck’s performance will be donated back to the Troubadour series in an effort to keep the critically acclaimed music program alive. Earlier this year, the Troubadour series lost its major sponsor. Some of the new events added to this year’s festival calendar are:
“ Central Kentucky has a distinctive culture that should be celebrated,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of the Lexington Arts & Cultural Council. “With this festival, we intend to showcase our thriving arts community, our vibrant downtown and the many unique aspects that you’ll only experience in central Kentucky .” The festival’s presenting sponsors—which requires a $10,000 commitment —are Toyota, Maker’s Mark Distillery, Meijer, Keeneland, the Radisson Plaza Hotel Lexington, the Lexington Herald-Leader and LEX 18. Applebee’s is a supporting sponsor at the $5,000 level. Participating organizations include the Lexington Arts & Cultural Council, WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour, the Lexington Philharmonic, Red Barn Radio Hour, the Lexington History Museum, the Lexington Legends, the Troubadour Concert Series, the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland, the Lexington Opera House, and WUKY. For a complete 2005 Best of the Bluegrass Calendar, go to www.bestofthebluegrass.org. ### February 21, 2005 Three Organizations Honor Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Lexington, KY -- The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event has been honored by three tourism organizations as one of the state’s, region’s and nation’s most outstanding events. The 2005 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event will return to the magnificent Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, April 20 – May 1. Once again many of the world’s best Three-Day Event horses and riders will be on hand to complete for one of the sport’s most coveted titles. Foremost among the three honors paid to America’s only Four Star Three-Day Event was its selection by the American Bus Association (ABA) as one of the “Top 100 Events” for 2005. In addition, the Kentucky Tourism council selected Rolex Kentucky as one of its “Top Ten Events” for spring 2005 and the Southeast Tourism Society selected it as one of its “Top 20 Events” for the spring. “We are deeply honored with this recognition from three tourism organizations,” said Alston Kerr, President of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. “Many people within the equestrian sports world are well aware of the prominence of our event, but we take great pride at this recognition that positions Rolex Kentucky as one of the most outstanding events in any area.” The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is the highest level of equestrian Eventing competition. The event attracts the absolute best international riders, many of whom represent their countries at the Olympic level. In Eventing, horses and riders are judges on three phases of competition that test the all-around ability of the horse; it is often termed an equestrian triathlon for both horse and rider. No other equestrian sport tests horse and rider so completely. Held annually at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington the last weekend in April, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day is organized by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), a non profit charitable corporation created in 1975 to stage the 1978 World Three-day Event Championships. Following the success of those World Championships, the U.S. national federation asked EEI to organize an annual Three-day Event in the spring and the Kentucky Three-Day Event was born. Ticket information for this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is available on the Rolex Kentucky website (www.rk3de.org). To receive the event’s Ticket Brochure via mail, please contact Equestrian Events, Inc., P.O. Box 12110, Lexington, KY 40580, (859)254-8123 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m., M-F) or rktickets@alltel.net Contact: Marty Bauman (508)698-6810 ### February 11, 2005 George Clarke House Bed and Breakfast joins prestigious Bed and Breakfast Association George Clarke House Bed and Breakfast, in Lexington, Kentucky was recently honored with admittance into Select Registry, Distinguished Inns of North America, the premier innkeeping association in the United States and Canada. Out of the thousands of inns in North America, only 31 were invited to join Select Registry this year. George Clarke House Bed and Breakfast is the only property in Kentucky, and joins more than 400 other exceptional properties that are already members of the Association. Select Registry member inns must meet the rigorous standards of a Quality Assurance program, and represent the most prestigious establishments of their type. “George Clarke House Bed and Breakfast exemplifies the high quality and service championed by this Association,” says Select Registry executive director Keith Kehlbeck. “Select Registry assures the traveler that each of its inns is regularly inspected. Our members share a high standard of excellence, and each of our country inns, B&Bs, and unique small hotels has its own distinctive character.” The owner of George Clarke House Bed and Breakfast is Kathryn Bux. George Clarke House Bed and Breakfast (GCH) was put into service as a Bed and Breakfast in January, 2002 after an extensive restoration back to it’s original 1890 Richardsonian Eastlake style. GCH has 4 elegant guest rooms, each with private bath and gas fireplace. Friendly felines roam about the house and interact with guests. Special packages, itineraries, and gift certificates are always available. To find out more about George Clarke House Bed and Breakfast, call 859-254-2500 (toll-free 866-436-1890) or visit our website at www.georgeclarkehouse.com. To search for other Select Registry inns, meet innkeepers, purchase gift certificates and much more, please visit the Select Registry web site at www.selectregistry.com. Source: George Clarke House ### February 8, 2005 American Eagle Airline Announces New Jet Service from Dallas/Ft. Worth and Chicago O'Hare to Lexington's Blue Grass Airport! LEXINGTON, KY – Officials of American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, announced today at a press conference held at Blue Grass Airport that it will add daily non-stop jet service between Lexington and both Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport beginning May 1. American Eagle will operate three daily round-trip flights to Dallas/Fort Worth and two daily round-trip flights to Chicago O’Hare with its 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet. “Adding new service to both Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago will provide Lexington travelers more connecting options to hundreds of destinations throughout the United States and the world via American’s two largest hubs,” said American Eagle President Peter Bowler. “The service between Lexington and O’Hare, for example, is perfectly timed to provide convenient connections to many of American’s international flights, including its new non-stop service to Nagoya, Japan that starts April 3.” “The growing importance of reliable air connections to the nation’s business markets and minimal time spent in transit are a key ingredient of economic development,” stated Governor Ernie Fletcher. “The additional direct flights from Blue Grass Airport will provide business leaders more opportunities to experience Kentucky and make the decision to locate or expand their business in the Commonwealth.” “Lexington consistently ranks among the best places in the U.S. to live and operate a business. High quality air service and convenient access to the global marketplace is vital to our region’s future success. We are pleased to welcome American Eagle Airlines to Lexington,” said Mayor Teresa Isaac, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. “Blue Grass Airport has been pursuing non-stop jet service by American Eagle for over five years, and we are thrilled to welcome the world’s largest airline brand to Central Kentucky,” said Michael Gobb, Executive Director, Blue Grass Airport. “This new service would not be possible without the unprecedented assistance the airport has received from the City of Lexington, the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and Commerce Lexington.” Tickets for Dallas/Ft. Worth and Chicago are now available for sale by contacting American Airlines reservations at (800) 433-7300, logging on to www.aa.com or by contacting your travel agent. The schedule for the new service is as follows (all times local): Lexington to Dallas/Fort Worth (LEX-DFW)
*Effective May 2 Dallas/Fort Worth to Lexington (DFW-LEX)
Lexington to Chicago O’Hare (LEX-ORD)
*Effective May 2 Chicago O’Hare to Lexington (ORD-LEX)
American Eagle is the largest U.S. regional airline, operating over 1,600 daily flights to more than 140 cities throughout the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Mexico and the Caribbean on behalf of American Airlines. American Airlines is the world's largest carrier. American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection® regional carriers serve more than 250 cities in over 40 countries with more than 3,800 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,000 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworldsm Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve more than 575 destinations in 135 countries and territories. American Airlines and American Eagle are units of the AMR Corporation. Serving over one million passengers each year, Blue Grass Airport has been recognized as one of the fastest growing airports in the nation and a model among small community airports for new security technology, marketing and community outreach. Visit us on the web at www.bluegrassairport.com Source: Blue Grass Airport ### January 24, 2005 Blue Grass Trust to host annual Antiques and Garden Show The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation will host its annual Lexington Antiques & Garden Show Friday, March 11, through Sunday, March 13, 2005. This year’s theme is A Golden Anniversary: 50 Years of Preservation in the Bluegrass in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation. Festivities will begin Thursday night March 10 with a Private Benefactors Reception followed by the Gala Preview Party at the historic Keene Barn. The Antiques & Garden Show will have more than 50 nationally and internationally known antiques and gardening specialists participating in the event held at the Keene Barn, Keeneland Race Course, and will showcase 18th, 19th and 20th century furniture, paintings, porcelains, and estate jewelry. The 7,000 square foot Mrs. Robert McDowell Rodes Garden Tent is filled with fabulous gardens, design and landscaping ideas, and outdoor furnishings and accessories. Local floral designers will also showcase their work throughout the show. MEDIA CONTACT: Source: Blue Grass Trust ### January 24, 2005 Lexington's Blue Grass Airport Sets New All-Time Passenger Activity Record for Second Consecutive Year Lexington, KY – Blue Grass Airport today announced that in 2004 the facility set a new record for annual passenger activity with 1.17 million passengers served; surpassing the previous record of 1.14 million set in 2003. Following up on the airport’s impressive 19% increase during 2003, passenger activity at Blue Grass Airport rose by 2% in 2004 despite a very challenging aviation environment. Since 2001, passenger activity at Blue Grass Airport has increased for three consecutive years and new all-time passenger records were established in both 2003 and 2004. Since 2001, Blue Grass Airport has experienced unprecedented growth resulting in the addition of six new nonstop destinations by four different airlines, a 33% increase in passenger activity and an overall decrease in average airfares. In 2003, Blue Grass ranked as the fifth fastest growing airport in the nation and the seventh fastest growing airport in North America according to a report released by Airports Council International (ACI). “In these challenging times of airline bankruptcies, service reductions and unprecedented change few airports in the nation are expected to post positive passenger results in 2004. To set a new all-time passenger record for the second consecutive year speaks volumes for the untapped demand for air service that continues to exist in Central and Eastern Kentucky,” said Michael Gobb, Executive Director, Blue Grass Airport. Total Passengers Served: 2001: 876,641 In 2005, the airport expects to continue its positive momentum by announcing new nonstop destinations, additional jet service and introducing a number of new customer amenities in and around the airport terminal. Blue Grass Airport is served by five major airline brands providing convenient non-stop service to 12 major hub airports and direct service to destinations worldwide. Source: Blue Grass Airport ###
|
©
2008Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau
301 East Vine Street
Lexington, KY 40507-1513
Visitor Info: 1-800-845-3959 or 859-233-7299
Group Info: 1-800-848-1224 or 859-233-1221