Governor Ernie Fletcher recently announced his support for the funding of three major improvements at the KHP: a new outdoor stadium, an expansion of the new covered equine arena and comprehensive improvements of the park’s 30-year-old road network.

The facilities are needed to accommodate a doubling of the park’s attendance and annual economic impact, as anticipated in an analysis by park officials.

“These improvements will not only help guarantee the success of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010, but they will attract new shows, new events and new visitors from all corners to the Horse Park for many years to come,” stated Governor Fletcher.

The proposed $24 million outdoor stadium would provide permanent seating for 10,000 visitors and temporary seating that would expand the stadium’s capacity to more than 30,000. To the indoor equine arena, the governor proposes to add exhibit space, better lighting and technical infrastructure at a cost of $4 million. Many of the roads at the Horse Park were the original farm roads. Governor Fletcher proposes widening, repaving or creating about four miles of park roads at a cost of $10.3 million, to be paid from the Road Fund