Wellington, Florida – January 13, 2010 – While there are countless social events to attend throughout the 2010 Winter Equestrian Festival, the USET Foundation’s Road to Kentucky benefit dinner on February 5 tops the list of important places to be this season! Nearly sold out, the Road to Kentucky is just three weeks away.  Before time runs out, mark your calendars and get your tickets, as this is an event you will not want to miss.

As riders gear up for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the Road to Kentucky gives the USET Foundation and its supporters the opportunity to highlight the American equestrian athletes’ past accomplishments and encourage their future endeavors. The evening will include presentations of the Whitney Stone Cup and the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy to McLain Ward and Jennifer Waxman, respectively.

The cocktail reception and sit down dinner will feature critically acclaimed jazz artist Nicole Henry, whose vocals were heard throughout the Fed Ex Orange Bowl earlier this year. Henry is renowned for her ability to “make a song her own,” says Billboard Magazine, with her “potent voice, and her sharp, distinct interpretive sense.”

In raising funds to support this country’s talented riders, the USET Foundation hopes to see lively and generous bidding on desirable items throughout the evening’s live auction.

Auction items include:

·      Golf with three-time Ladies Professional Golf Association’s (LPGA) Champion, Hollis Stacey. Stacey will join the highest bidder and two friends at their own country club for a day of golf and a lovely dinner.

·      Renowned animal portrait artist, Laura Ellis, has donated a custom animal portrait of the highest bidder’s favorite horse or dog. Her traditionally elegant works of art have been displayed throughout The Salmagundi Club, a beautiful brownstone gallery in the heart of New York City and home to a highly respected, old-fashioned art society. Ellis has been featured on the cover of Greenwich Village’s Westview newspaper, as well as on National Public Radio’s ‘Dog Talk’.

·      Randee Crisman, highly regarded for her sculpture works, has offered to create a custom bronze sculpture of the highest bidder’s favorite horse or pony. Among Crisman’s renowned works, is a bronze sculpture of World Cup Dressage Champion, Ravel. Using a unique process, Crisman is able to take advantage of what she calls the “art’s opportunities for surprise, alchemy, and magic” – making her work truly one of a kind.

·      A vacation getaway for four to enjoy a breathtaking horseback ride through the historic Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo, Texas. After an enjoyable day riding, you’ll be treated to an authentic chuck wagon cookout by the famous AQHA chuck wagon cook team. The ride will also include three nights lodging at the Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo, reception, and guided tour of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.

·      Finishing off the auction in the theme of the evening, the USET Foundation will auction off three separate one-week World Equestrian Games Packages for two, one package each in the disciplines of Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping.   All packages include “A” level tickets to all competition in the discipline, a Concierge Level room at the Marriott Griffin Gate Hotel in Lexington and an invitation to the USET Foundation Cocktail Reception.  The Dressage and Eventing Packages are for Week I (September 25 – October 3) and include “A” level tickets to the Opening Ceremonies.  The Show Jumping Package is for Week II (October 4-10) and includes “A” level tickets to the Closing Ceremonies.

Tickets for the dinner may be purchased either individually or per table. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medal tables seat ten and are priced at $15,000, $10,000, and $5,000, respectively. Gold Medal Single Tickets are $500, while Patron Single Tickets are priced at $350.

To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact Nancy Little at the USET Foundation by phone (908) 234-1251 ext. 208 or via email at nlittle@uset.org.

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation (www.uset.org) is the non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high-performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation. For more information on the USET Foundation, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.