I’m going to promote joining an organization for no other reason than I’ve found it to be a good deal for me.
For the record, I don’t get a cut if you decide to join. I receive no reward for talking up the group. Just so’s you know.
But I’m going to renew my Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) membership, even though I live in Connecticut and only get to Kentucky maybe once a year.
And even though KEEP plans to reduce its benefits for members.
What is KEEP anyway?
Some people consider it a public relations group for Kentucky’s horse industry, but KEEP does much more than that.
The group keeps statistics on the importance of the equine business and its support businesses to the state of Kentucky.
But KEEP also offers youth programs and annual scholarships to students preparing for a career in the equine industry.
And KEEP offers the various disciplines – from big thoroughbred breeding farms to the smallest local charity horse show – a “we’re in this together” umbrella, as well as an events calendar.
If I live out-of-state, so what?
If you travel into Kentucky, you can get free admission to some Kentucky horse-related attractions.
The racetracks
A $10 Individual membership will get you a card that gets you into any Kentucky pari-mutuel racetrack on any day except for Kentucky Derby Day, Kentucky Oaks Day and Breeders Cup days.
That free admission won’t get you a reserved seat, but it will get you onto the grounds. You can find a seat on the benches out on the track apron, only steps from the rail, or around the paddock.
And, if you buy a reserved seat ticket, your General Admission can be deducted from the price, as long as you have the KEEP card.
How I used it: Although I had planned a day at Keeneland for later in the weekend, I happened to have some free time on a late Friday afternoon. I used my KEEP card to enter the track. While there, I bought my reserved seat ticket for the Sunday of that weekend, which cost less because KEEP covered the General Admission.
My savings? My two trips to Keeneland paid for my KEEP membership.
The Kentucky Horse Park
Up until 2010, a KEEP membership card was a crazy good bargain because of the free admission to the Kentucky Horse Park.
According to KEEP spokesman Jayson Page in an email, KEEP is altering its horse park admissions policy from a free-for-the-member to a buy-one-get-one free situation.
I have to admit that I’ll miss the freebie entry because I generally visit the horse park alone. But I can understand the economic realities.
At least this way, families with a KEEP membership will be able to visit the park more economically.
Also, visitors shopping in the horse park’s large gift shop will receive a discount, but I always seem to forget about that, probably because it isn’t written on the back of the card.
How I used it – Usually, I visit the horse park twice during a week in Kentucky. This time, I went once. Granted, I went on a rainy day, but many services were closed for construction in preparation for the 2010 World Equestrian Games.
There was no food in the park because the restaurant was closed. The Hall of Champions was also closed and the horses had been moved to The Big Barn.
Also, an extended period of rain had truncated the daily Parade of Breeds into what was called a “shedrow show.” A crowd of schoolchildren and some international teams for the then-ongoing endurance trials saw horses walked past them while on a lead. After the show, the children and the other visitors were allowed to pet the horses.
The admission to the horse park without a KEEP card then was $15, plus a $3 parking fee. I only paid the $3 for parking.
KEEP and the WEG?
All the construction and the reduced services are in preparation for the horse park hosting the 2010 World Equestrian Games.
Would KEEP discounts still apply? Would KEEP members receive any kind of consideration?
The KEEP spokesman said that the group would have some kind of presence there. But after I had emailed him, I realized that the WEG is a world-class event on the same level as the Kentucky Derby-associated races and the Breeder’s Cup.
Since KEEP discounts do not apply on the days of those major events, discounts probably won’t apply to the Games, either. So, don’t get your hopes up about discounts then.
So, if you plan to visit Kentucky, consider checking out the KEEP website – especially as we get into 2010 — to look over the membership page and see if the benefits might come in handy for you.
Tags: Keeneland, KEEP, Kentucky Equine Education Project, Kentucky Horse Park, Kentucky travel
Leave a Reply