Lexington, Kentucky - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will be a co-sponsor for the 2009 American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Youth Auction.  The auction is set to take place at the Crowne Plaza during the World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS), during the 2009 Kentucky State Fair.

The silent auction will begin at 10 AM on Wednesday, August 26, in Crowne Room A. Bid numbers can be obtained at that time. Bidding in the Silent Auction will conclude for the day at 6 PM. Silent Auction bidding will resume at 10 AM on Thursday, August 27, and end with the conclusion of the Silent Auction at 3 PM.

The Live Auction will begin at 1:30 PM on Thursday, August 27, and will include such items as Kentucky Derby tickets, a Tommy Lovell Rocking Horse, Breeders’ Cup tickets, bound volumes of The Horseman dating back to 1891, and tickets to the sold out Taylor Swift Concert. As in the past, a free reception and cash bar will be offered beginning at noon on Thursday, along with a poster signing by winners at the previous year’s World’s Championship Horse Show (WCHS).

A $20,000 raffle drawing will also be held on Thursday, at 2:30 PM, as well as a $1,000 Grand giveaway, which will take place during the Silent Auction, for which a bid number is required, and participants must be at least 18 years of age and present to win.

The ASHA Auction and Youth Committees are currently in the process of gathering items for this annual event. The Auction is the sole fundraiser for ASHA Youth Scholarships and all ASHA Youth Programs (Junior Judging, Saddletime Awards, Academy Awards, Showmanship at Halter Awards, and the ASHA Youth Award). If you would like to donate an item please contact Brenda Newell, ASHA Sr. Program Administrator, atb.newell@asha.net , Ron Merwin, ASHA Auction Chairman at rmerwin919@aol.com, or Germaine Johnson, ASHA Youth Chairperson at auburntiger@insightbb.com. All donations are tax deductible, as the ASHA is a 501(c)3 corporation. A donation form can be obtained from the ASHA website, here.

Additional details about the 2009 ASHA Youth Auction and Raffle, and auction item photos can be found on the ASHA website, here.