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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July 8, 2022

Virginia Horse Center Featured in Business View Magazine

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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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May 2, 2021

117th Annual Keswick Horse Show To Be Held At VHC

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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 Competitors Enjoy Trail Riding after a Day of Competition

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July 15, 2020

VHC Receives High Praise for Covid-19 Guidelines Compliant Show

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June 4, 2020

VHC Prepares to Open with Bonnie Blue National Horse 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: 

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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.

Download VHC Press Release

Download Governor Northam’s EO55

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 is Jumping!

By admin | August 11, 2023 | Comments Off on The Lexington National is Jumping!

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 Lexington National is Underway!

By admin | August 9, 2023 | Comments Off on The Lexington National is Underway!

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 National Exhibitor Update: Vesicular Stomatitis

By admin | July 26, 2023 | Comments Off on Lexington National Exhibitor Update: Vesicular Stomatitis

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…

Lexington National 2023

By admin | July 19, 2023 | Comments Off on Lexington National 2023

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…

Founders Celebration

By admin | July 12, 2023 | Comments Off on Founders Celebration

“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,…

VHC Status Update on EHV-1 Decontamination

By admin | June 30, 2023 | Comments Off on VHC Status Update on EHV-1 Decontamination

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…

VHC Status Update on EHV-1 Announcement

By admin | June 24, 2023 | Comments Off on VHC Status Update on EHV-1 Announcement

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…

VHC Response to EHV-1 Announcement

By admin | June 22, 2023 | Comments Off on VHC Response to EHV-1 Announcement

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…

Thank you to the sponsors of VHC Eventing presented by Capital Square

By admin | June 12, 2023 | Comments Off on Thank you to the sponsors of VHC Eventing presented by Capital Square

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…

VHC Eventing Presented by Capital Square Wrap Up

By admin | May 29, 2023 | Comments Off on VHC Eventing Presented by Capital Square Wrap Up

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.…

Capital Square Spotlight on Annie Eldridge & Ariel Grald

By admin | May 19, 2023 | Comments Off on Capital Square Spotlight on Annie Eldridge & Ariel Grald

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…

Lexington Spring Encore—That’s a Wrap!

By admin | May 8, 2023 | Comments Off on Lexington Spring Encore—That’s a Wrap!

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…

Mahalo and Ashley Foster Worthington Win the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

By admin | May 6, 2023 | Comments Off on Mahalo and Ashley Foster Worthington Win the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

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…

Goliath and Addison Reed Win the $15,000 Welcome

By admin | May 4, 2023 | Comments Off on Goliath and Addison Reed Win the $15,000 Welcome

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 is Underway Chime Shines in the 3’6″/3’9″ Hunters

By admin | May 3, 2023 | Comments Off on The Lexington Spring Encore is Underway Chime Shines in the 3’6″/3’9″ Hunters

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”…

That’s a Wrap!

By admin | April 30, 2023 | Comments Off on That’s a Wrap!

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…

ZaZa Z and Marylisa Leffler Win the $35,000 Rockbridge Grand Prix

By admin | April 29, 2023 | Comments Off on ZaZa Z and Marylisa Leffler Win the $35,000 Rockbridge Grand Prix

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…

Lexington Spring Premiere

By admin | April 27, 2023 | Comments Off on Lexington Spring Premiere

The big prize money of the day went to Addison Reed aboard Reed Training & Sales, LLC’s Goliath, for their win in today’s $15,000 1.35m Welcome. Of the nineteen horse…

Lexington Premiere Opening Day

By admin | April 27, 2023 | Comments Off on Lexington Premiere Opening Day

The Lexington Spring Premiere kicked off the first installment of the Virginia Festival of Champions yesterday at the Virginia Horse Center under sunny skies at the beautiful Virginia Horse Center.…

MadFest Announcements

By admin | April 21, 2023 | Comments Off on MadFest Announcements

Lexington, VA – April 21, 2023- Let’s get this party started! The Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival (MADFest) and Lexington 3* CDI presented by Täkt Saddlery are excited to announce our inaugural online auction…

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.