PHOTO RELEASE

SENATORS THAYER AND WEST PRESENT CEREMONIAL CHECK  TO KENTUCKY HORSE PARK, CELEBRATES TRANSFORMATIONAL FUNDING

Photo Credit: Kerry Howe, Marketing Director, Kentucky Horse Park

FRANKFORT, KY (May 21, 2024)— Sen. Steve West, R, Paris, and Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, joined Kentucky Horse Park President Lee Carter and members of the Kentucky Horse Park Commission at the park Tuesday afternoon to celebrate transformational funding supporting park upgrades and improvements.

As part of West and Thayer’s advocacy, the Kentucky Horse Park will receive $39 million over the next two years to support critical facility upgrades. This funding is in addition to the $21 million secured by West and Thayer in the 2022 Legislative Session, which has resulted in numerous improvements to the park over the past two years.

“Our mission is centered around celebrating the relationship all people have with the horse,” said Kentucky Horse Park President Lee Carter. “We are grateful the General Assembly chose to invest and support this mission in the recently approved budget. This funding touches every facet of the Park and will improve the experience for all guests.”

BACKGROUND

West and Thayer announced transformative funding allocations for improvements to the Kentucky Horse Park last month. The investment will enhance its facilities, amenities, and overall visitor experience. 

A total investment of $39 million, $18 million in each fiscal year, will be awarded to the Kentucky Horse Park Commission facility upgrades to be allocated as follows:

  • $2.5 million for the renovation of the restaurant;

  • $15 million  for the replacement of competition barns and stalls;

  • $7 million for the renovation of entertainment pavilions;

  • $5 million for the replacement of campground sites and bathhouse;

  • $1.5 million for a maintenance pool; and

  • $5 million for the renovation of the International Museum of the Horse.

Thirty-two million dollars is provided through House Bill (HB) 1, which utilizes Kentucky’s $3.7 billion budget reserve trust fund to boost infrastructure and stimulate economic growth, among other priorities. The legislation invests over $2.7 billion from the budget reserve trust. The biennial state budget, HB 6, also authorizes $3 million through the Kentucky Horse Park’s maintenance pool. 

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Senator Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, represents the 17th Senate District, including Grant and Scott Counties, southern Kenton County, and northwestern Fayette County. He is Senate majority floor leader. Thayer is the longest-serving Republican Senate majority floor leader in Kentucky history. He serves as a member of the Senate committees on Agriculture, Licensing and Occupations, and State and Local Government. As Senate majority floor leader, Thayer is a member of the Legislative Research Commission, the Committee on Committees and the Rules Committee. Additionally, he is an Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee member. 

Please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate117.jpg for a high-resolution JPEG file of Thayer. 

Senator Steve West, R-Paris, represents the 27th Senate District, including Bourbon, Fleming, Harrison, Mason, Nicholas, Robertson, and Rowan Counties, and part of northern Fayette County. He serves as chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Education. West also services as chairman of the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee. Additionally, he is a member of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education.

Please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate127.jpg  for a high-resolution .jpeg of West.