Kentucky Horse Park to be honored

NEW YORK, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- The Kentucky Horse Park has been selected to receive the 2007 Special Eclipse Award for outstanding contributions to thoroughbred horse racing.

The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1978 as the first national horse park. It was the home for 23 years to two-time Horse of the Year John Henry, which died this year at age 32.

"We are exhilarated to be honored with the Special Eclipse Award," said John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park. "This is the culmination of enormous efforts by many people over the past three decades who played a central role in the celebration of that special bond between man and the horse."

The 2007 Eclipse Awards ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 21 in Beverly Hills, Calif.