Miller, Rowland talk Horse Park success at Rotary
The Mississippi Horse Park has come a long way from its gravel beginnings to being one of the top facilities in the nation in its 20-year existence.
“It started off as four metal buildings on a gravel road, it was just dreams and now it's become reality,” MS Horse Park Director and Rotarian Bricklee Miller said.
Jim Buck Ross was formerly the Commissioner of Agriculture and he used to say “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.”
Legislators were sold on that philosophy and today there are 72 publicly funded arenas in Mississippi.
Hattisburg, Jackson, Tunica, and Starkville are the four largest in the state.
In 1999, 23 events were held at the horse park. And in 2009, 37 were held and 134 in 2018.
Over 60,000 people through the gates in 2018.
Many tourists come to Starkville for basketball, football and other sports events but they also visit because of the horse park as well.
“Many of them would not come to Starkville, Mississippi as much as they do if they were not coming to this event,” Miller said. “And this is new dollar to our community, this is not a turnover of dollars.”
Entered participants come from all across the United States to participate in the various events.
Most come from 90 miles and further. came Around Town Forum Sports
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