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Join us on Saturday, August 31 for a very special bike ride from Hillcroft Farm.  All pace groups will spend part of the ride on this beautiful farm open on this weekend for the 2019 Kentucky Classic Combined Driving Event (see below for more information about the event).  The folks who own the farm contacted us about the possibility of hosting a bike ride on the Saturday of the event,  to bring more people out to the farm, in hopes that some will stay and watch the event.  Parking is free, and there will be food trucks, linflatibles and other family activities.  There will be a 10 mile loop from the farm that folks can ride without a ride leader.  We will also offer the following distances with ride leaders:


C (Steele Hinton and Bob Lewis)  and B/C pace (Jeff Pearson and Peggy Littrell)  - 19 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30886274

B (Tim Klesk and James Ramsey)  and Short A/B paces (Troy Hearn)  - 29 mileshttps://ridewithgps.com/routes/30634933 

Long  A/B (Gayle Tomkinson and Paige Haydon-Lutz  and A paces (Gene Fowler and Bena Halecky) - 40 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30634931

Here is the 10 mile loop that will not have a ride leaderhttps://ridewithgps.com/routes/30863894 - 

Cyclists should follow signs for "Spectator Parking" and should park in the spectator parking lot.  Look for a pop up tent for ride sign in sheets and ride start location

NOTE: The starting point for the ride as illustrated on the maps is slightly different from where the starting point will actually be - organizers got nervous that bikes might spook the horses, so they've changed where we are parking and starting from on the farm property.  Your ride leaders will know what to do!


Maps and cue sheets will be available and there are restrooms on site.  

To see a video of the marathon click here

To learn more about the event and the farm - read the info below. 

Hillcroft Farm of Paris, Kentucky, owned by Misdee Wrigley Miller anE James Miller, is pleased to host the 2019 Kentucky Classic Combined Driving Event for the first time this year. Running from Thursday, August 29th through Sunday, September 1st, this equestrian-oriented event is sure to be one of a kind.

 

For those who are unfamiliar with the sport, Combined Driving is a thrilling three-phase carriage discipline testing drivers’ abilities together with their horses’ obedience, speed and athleticism, in three demanding phases with a carriage in tow: Dressage, Marathon, and Cones. The sport, conceptualized by HRH Prince Phillip, is modeled after the mounted equestrian discipline of three-day eventing or the human equivalent of a triathlon.

 

As an elite level three-day competition, the Kentucky Classic CDE attracts many of the top combined driving competitors in the country. Formerly held at the Kentucky Horse Park, Hillcroft Farm will proudly host this elite equestrian event for the first time this year.

 

Traditionally the fan-favorite phase of the competition, Marathon, is held on Saturday, August 31^st, and features drivers competing at high speeds through intense and rousing obstacles. As combined driving is a relatively unknown sport to the equestrian world, we would like to invite you to join us for this fantastic event. The farm will be open to the public on Saturday, August 31st. Kicking off the morning is a bike ride courtesy of the Bluegrass Cycling Club. The marathon competition starts promptly at 9AM and competitors will be on course throughout the day so there will be exciting things to watch at any point! This event will be family-friendly. Food and drinks will be available for purchase on-site. For the kids, there will be inflatables as well as an animal petting corner thanks to the Paris Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). Spectators are welcome to hop on a wagon ride and get a quick tour of the farm while watching some of the top competitors in the country compete for the blue ribbon. Admission is free. All are welcome! We hope you will join us!