Equine Infrastructures Are Part Of Kentucky's Culture

Kentucky deserves the international title of 'horse capital' because a great deal of the state's economy is based on the horse, explained Nicholson, adding that although that reputation has been primarily based on the Thoroughbred horse, Kentucky has become quite a diverse horse community. He pointed out that not only is Kentucky home to North America's leading equine research center, the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, but also two of the best equine hospitals in the world are based here. Nicholson also noted that there are more veterinarians in Fayette County Kentucky than any other county in the country. "When you add up all these things, you can see that we're in a position because of our horse culture to really have a Games that has an infrastructure that would be superb," stated Nicholson.

In regard to pyroplasmosis, which was an issue directly involved with importing horses during the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and more recently at the World Cup Show Jumping Championship in Leipzig, Germany, the Kentucky Horse Park has had a topnotch team of researchers from the Gluck Center led by Dr. Peter Timoney and Dr. David Powell do a thorough risk assessment of the disease along with a tick survey performed by the University of Kentucky in Lexington. "We anticipate that the news will be good regarding the issue of pyroplasmosis, especially in comparison to some of the bad feelings engendered in the 1996 Olympics," said Nicholson.