News Archive
2018 – 2022
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October 5, 2022
Virginia Horse Center Foundation Names Colonel David R. Lands to Board Of Directors
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August 17, 2022
Virginia Festival of Champions 2022 Wraps Up With Lexington National
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June 2, 2022
VHCF Announces New Chief Development & External Relations Officer
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May 23, 2022
It’s A Wrap: 2022 Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival & Lexington CDI2
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April 15, 2022
Nutrena Named Official Feed of the Virginia Festival of Champions
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January 11, 2022
VHCF Announces Inaugural Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival & Lexington CDI 2*
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September 10, 2021
unTacked- The Equestrian Lifestyle Magazine Guide To Lexington
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September 8, 2021
Kym K. Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships Press Release
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August 16, 2021
Virginia Festival of Champions 2021 Wraps Up With Successful Lexington National Horse Show
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August 15, 2021
Day 4 at the Lexington National: Smith Wins $10,000 Nutrena Jumper Classic
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August 14, 2021
Derby Day at the Lexington National, Day 3: Alan Lohman Pilots Carero to the Win!
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August 13, 2021
The Lexington National, Day 2: Jesse Smith wins the $2,500 Nutrena Welcome Stake with Nadav
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August 12, 2021
The Lexington National Is Underway! Virginia Hunter Championship Results Are In
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February 10, 2021
John Nicholson Announces Retirement- Virginia Horse Center Foundation Plans Leadership Transition
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July 15, 2020
VHC Receives High Praise for Covid-19 Guidelines Compliant Show
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May 12, 2020
UPHA Bonnie Blue National Horse Show Rescheduled for June 17-20
The Virginia Horse Center is pleased to announce that the UPHA Bonnie Blue National Horse Show, previously scheduled for May 7-9, will take place on June 17-20.
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May 4, 2020
Virginia Horse Center Sees Financial Benefits From Horse Race Wagering
Read about how VHC benefits from wagering pools in this article published by Virginia Horse Racing:
April 3, 2020
Virginia Horse Center Announces Closure through June 10, 2020
NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release
April 3, 2020
Contact: Jennifer Donovan
434-996-4380
JDonovan@horsecenter.org
Virginia Horse Center Aggressively Pursuing Rescheduling Shows
Lexington, Virginia, The Virginia Horse Center Foundation (VHCF), reports that it will remain closed in order to comply with Governor Northam’s Executive Order Fifty-Five (see link below) which directs all Virginians to stay home except in extremely limited circumstances through June 10, 2020 unless amended or rescinded by further executive order.
It is VHCF’s goal to reschedule these shows as soon as it is safe to do so. “We are so grateful to all of our exhibitors, trainers, vendors, donors and friends for their cooperation during this most difficult and unprecedented time,” said CEO, John Nicholson.
The VHCF will continue to make updates as information allows.
March 17, 2020
Virginia Horse Center Announces Two-Week Closure As Precautionary Measure
Lexington, Virginia
The Virginia Horse Center Board of Directors has elected to close the facility temporarily due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For additional information, please read the Press Release HERE
March 12, 2020
Virginia Horse Center CEO John Nicholson Issues Statement Regarding Coronavirus
Lexington, Virginia
The Virginia Horse Center is currently continuing to adhere to its full schedule of events. To read more, please read the recently released statement HERE
’February 28, 2020
Virginia Horse Center’s Economic Impact Delivers $94.9 Million to Commonwealth in 2019
Lexington, Virginia
The Virginia Horse Center is pleased to announce that an economic impact study performed by Chmura Economics & Analytics demonstrates the vast economic impact of the Virginia Horse Center. According to the report, operations and capital spending, organization of events and visitors to all VHC events by the VHC were responsible for $94.9 million in economic activity, supporting 896 jobs. You may read more HERE in the press release.
The Lexington National wrapped up after five days of top competition with more than 750 horses on the grounds at the Virginia Horse Center. A WCHR week plus the VHSA/EMO Junior…
The 2022 Lexington National marked the first Grand Prix Alicia Wilkinson and Salut Ca-Va competed in the US. One year later, they celebrated their anniversary with a win in the $25,000 Lexington National…
The hunters were out in force all Friday as the Sandy Gerald Ring set the stage for top hunter competition and good fun and was capped off with the…
Virginia is horse country! And with over 750 horses at the Virginia Horse Center, the rings are jumping! The second day of the Lexington National saw top competition in the…
The TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter kicked off in the Sandy Gerald Arena today. Taking top honors in the over fences and under saddle classes was EMO Stables’ Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, ridden by Maria Shannon.…
Lexington, Va. In response to USEF recommendations related to the ongoing Vesicular Stomatitis outbreak in California, the Virginia Horse Center will not permit entries from USDA-confirmed VS-affected states (currently CA) and are restricted from…
The Lexington National prize list is online, and entries are open! Click here for the schedule and reserve your stalls now! The Lexington National takes place August 9 -13 and is the final installment of the Virginia…
“Otis Mead and his team of some 90 people in Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County delivered for the legislators a finely crafted binder of information on the Rockbridge site,…
LEXINGTON, VA. As we reported in our press release of June 24, 2023, every stall and all grounds equipment, such as Bobcats, tractors, muck buckets, rakes, etc. have been sanitized by…
LEXINGTON, VA. As we reported in our press release on June 22, 2023, The Virginia Horse Center has navigated the recent Equine Herpes Virus exposure by following the instruction of the…
LEXINGTON, VA. On June 22, the State Veterinarian’s Office of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) was informed two horses from the same barn tested positive for Equine…
Lexington, Virginia: The Virginia Horse Center and Virginia Horse Center Eventing are pleased to announce that the inaugural VHC Eventing presented by Capital Square was a huge success. We are so thankful…
Lexington, Virginia: Virginia Horse Center Eventing presented by Capital Square wrapped up yesterday after a fun-filled weekend of top competition. The Virginia Horse Center welcomed riders of all levels from Olympic to beginner eventers.…
Lexington, Virginia: Capital Square, the presenting sponsor of Virginia Horse Center Eventing, recognizes those dedicated to the sport of eventing, which includes owner Annie Eldridge and rider Ariel Grald. Eldridge owns…
The Virginia Festival of Champions’ Lexington Spring Premiere and Encore wrapped up today after two successful weeks at the beautiful Virginia Horse Center. Thank you to everyone for contributing to…
The $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by TTR Sotheby’s International Realty kicked off the hunter competition today in the Wiley arena under sunny skies. Twenty-six horse and rider teams went on…
History repeated itself during the Lexington Spring Encore when Addison Reed rode Reed Training & Sales’ Goliath to the win in the $15,000 Welcome, just beating out Marylisa Leffler and Rolling Acres’ ZaZa…
The Lexington Spring Encore got underway today at the Virginia Horse Center for the second installment of the Virginia Festival of Champions. Highlights in the Wiley Arena included the 3’6/3’9”…
Afonwen Rihanna Steel Your Heart [Steel Your Heart] won the Sarahlisa Trophy Best Child Pony Type. The trophy was donated by longtime Virginia Horse Center supporter Leslie Brown and her son Andrew. Leslie…
Sunny skies over the Virginia Horse Center set the stage for top competition today in the $35,000 Rockbridge Grand Prix. The Stave Mill Pavilion was packed with spectators, and the…
Virginia Horse Center Plans State-of-the-Art Riding Arena
The press release is available to read at the links below.
Lexington, Virginia — The Virginia Horse Center Foundation announces the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors, as they join the full slate of officers and board members for fiscal year 2018/2019. Joining the Board of Directors are Judith Heisley Bishop, Roxanne Booth, Steve Meadows, Lynn Rice and Jeffry Sterba.
“We are very excited to welcome these five individuals. They each bring a unique set of perspectives from their experience with different disciplines as equine professionals, owners or amateur competitors and from those gained as professionals outside of the horse world,” said Gardner Bloemers, President of the Board.