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CONTACT: Mary Margaret Colliver, (859) 361-1887

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Kids Participate in Polo

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 28, 2008) − Children can learn about polo and ponies at the Kentucky Horse Park Arena at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 5 as part of the U.S. Polo Association National Intercollegiate Championships.

Kentucky Children's Hospital is partnering with the Polo Association to provide fun for children and their families. Stitches, the Kentucky Children's Hospital mascot, will be on site for free pictures and the Kentucky Children's Hospital ambulance also will be in place.

Kids can learn to play foot polo with the polo players, pet the ponies, and can also get autographs from the UK Polo team and others. Championship games begin at 5 p.m.

"At UK HealthCare and the Kentucky Children’s Hospital we understand active kids are healthier kids," said Lisa Deaton Greer, Community Outreach Manager, UK HealthCare. "We are excited to help introduce new activities and encourage active healthy lifestyles for the youth of the Commonwealth. This is a great opportunity for us to help in the fight to get our children more active."

Five women's and four men's teams from universities and colleges nationwide will make the trip to the Bluegrass to participate in the competition. This year's championship is also expected to draw polo enthusiasts from around the country.

"This will be an educational and entertaining evening for anyone who loves horses," said Ed Armstrong, United States Polo Association (USPA) tournament director. "There will be plenty of action in the arena, entertainment between games and fun for the kids who will be able to get up close and personal with the ponies after the match."

Polo is a sport that began more than 2,500 years ago as a game played by Indian and Asian royalty. It is one of the oldest team sports in the world. Harvard University was the first college to have an intercollegiate team, predating the USPA which began in 1890. The USPA is responsible for governing the game in the United State and now consists of more than 300 clubs with more than 4,000 members worldwide. The UK polo team is relatively new and they will be participating in children's activities and will bring their horses.

This year's championships are sponsored by Lexington thoroughbred farms Mt. Brilliant and Warhorse Place. Other sponsors include the Polo Training Foundation, North American Polo League, Equisure Insurance, U.S.P..A. Properties, International Polo Club Palm Beach, Jaipur Polo Company, Bill Hilliard and Lexington Polo.

The women's final is at 5 p.m. and the men's final is at 7 p.m.

For more information about Kentucky Children's Hospital partnership, contact Lisa Deaton Greer at (859) 257-2618 or Lisa.greer@uky.edu. For more information about the U.S. Polo Association National Intercollegiate Championships, contact Ed Armstrong at (859) 219-1000 or earmstrong@.

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In striving to become a Top 20 public research institution, the University of Kentucky is a catalyst for a new Commonwealth – a Kentucky that is healthier, better educated, and positioned to compete in a global and changing economy. For more information about UK’s efforts to become a Top 20 university, please go to

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