Gay Polo League to transform Kentucky Horse Park into Pink Pony Club
Two very distinct worlds will trot side by side into Lexington the first week of August — the prestigious sport of polo and gay people.
The International Gay Polo League Tournament, which produces events globally, will take place Aug. 3 at Lexington’s famous Kentucky Horse Park.
Chip McKenney, founder of GPL, said his horse loving friends in Kentucky and local tourism organizations including The Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau (VisitLex) and Louisville Tourism, reached out to him about bringing the prideful event to the Bluegrass.
“It was wonderful to be encouraged to come here and have two open venues available to us,” McKenney said. “Ultimately we chose Lexington because of the Kentucky Horse Park, which is internationally known. As a horse crazy kid, you grow up with Lexington being the magnificent horse mecca with rolling hills and white fences. I buy into all of that.”
VisitLex has been striving for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the city, specifically through events such as GPL and Queer Kentucky’s Bourbon and Belonging event.
“The Gay Polo League’s tournament at the Kentucky Horse Park is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Lexington’s welcoming spirit and celebrate diversity in sports,” says Mary Quinn Ramer, President of VisitLEX. “At VisitLEX, we’re thrilled to see this unique event attract visitors from across the globe, bringing new energy and economic impact to our city. The GPL tournament will be a fun and competitive event and a chance to break down barriers and create a more inclusive Lexington for everyone.”
GPL is the only LGBTQ+ polo organization in the world and is dedicated to producing high-end polo events with lighthearted enjoyment and community building, while also advocating advances for the LGBTQ+ community in athletics.
McKenney said that he started GPL after retiring from showjumping because he wanted to increase his social network within the LGBTQ+ community, but he’d grown weary of standing around in bars sipping cocktails. He wanted to create something that was unique to himself, his love of horse culture and building community.
“I wanted to share my passion for horses and have fun doing it — then it started to take off,” he said. “Horses are the most majestic animals in the world and I thought a sport that celebrated them so much would be appealing to LGBTQ+ people.”
Sports are often forgotten in the LGBTQ+ culture and that is something McKenney wants to change.
“This really elevates awareness of LGBTQ+ athletes,” he said. “I was a sports crazy kid who never saw one gay athlete on TV or anywhere. Even today I couldn’t name six professional athletes who are gay.”
Considering that the men and women athletes compete as equals at the olympic level, gender inclusion is a pillar of Polo.
“The whole culture is based upon inclusion, support and encouragement,” he said. “We want people to come and make it fun for everybody. We’re players with different levels and everyone is respected and everyone should feel safe and supported.”
For more information and tickets for GPL, visit here.
