Ed Whitfield: “any visitor to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, upon leaving that park, would have to be impressed with…”

“any visitor to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, upon leaving that park, would have to be impressed with its tranquility, with its beauty, and really with the inspiration of the place. Kentuckians are particularly impressed with the Horse Park because it pays tribute to an animal which has meant so much to our State in the past, which means a lot to our State today, and will mean a great deal to our State tomorrow. As a matter of fact, the economic impact of the horse industry in the State of Kentucky is equal to $3.4 billion a year and the horse industry provides 52,000 direct and indirect jobs in Kentucky. And, of course, Kentucky is very proud of the fact that they produce 29 percent of all the thoroughbreds born in North America. Two weeks ago we had the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky. It is on the first Saturday of May in each year. Two weeks later, which happens to be this coming Saturday, will be the 129th running of the Preakness over in Maryland, and then soon after that will be the running of the Belmont Stakes up in New York. And that is referred to as the Triple Crown in the racing industry.”