LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The American Saddlebred horse was developed to give early settlers a comfortable ride and tool for carrying out difficult jobs on the farm.

Kentucky, which played a role in breeding what equestrians have long viewed now as royalty, is preparing to showcase roughly 2,000 of the prized horses in a competition that has more than $1 million at stake.

The 118th annual World’s Championship Horse Show (WCHS) is scheduled for Aug. 21-28 at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds in Louisville. The deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. on July 6.

“This is the Kentucky Derby for Saddlebreds,” said Ian Cox, spokesperson for the WCHS.  What’s billed as the most prestigious competition since 1902 will be held in conjunction with the 117th annual Kentucky State Fair.

Cox said top Saddlebred horses from throughout the United States and other countries like Canada will compete in different divisions that include Five-Gaited, Three-Gaited, Fine Hand Division and Saddlebred Pleasure.

There will also be divisions for Harness/Hackney Ponies and Roadster Ponies.

“The people who want to present their horses and want to win and have the gold standard achieved for what they do, the World’s Championship Horse Show is their place to do that,” Cox said.

Cox said the show endorsed by the American Saddlebred Association will be inside Freedom Hall, which is the former home of the University of Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team.

The 18,000 seating capacity of the stadium connected to the fairgrounds will be reduced to 11,000 to provide adequate space for the oval show ring, he said.

“The people that come to the event are there to see the best of the best,” Cox said.

Single day tickets to the show are $8 and $11 during the final two days of the competition. A ticket for the entire week that also covers the daily price of admission to the fair is $168.

Cox said the judging is based not only on how well the horses respond to commands and execute the maneuvers but their appearance while circling the ring.

Some of the horses presented with a garland of real roses adds to the prestige of the show.

Also unique is green colored wood shavings on the six different types of dirt covering the floor of the show arena. “That’s one thing that really sets the tone for being in a different environment,” he said.

The atmosphere is also hallowed from Kentucky being known as the birthplace of the Saddlebred line.

According to historical research, the American Saddlebred stems from breeding Galloway pacing horses brought to America from England in the 1600s with Thoroughbreds about a century later. Further breeding techniques produced a horse suitable not just for riding but pulling wagons and doing other strenuous work on farms.

The breed eliminated the need to keep one type of horse for plowing and other breeds for different or less strenuous tasks.

The Saddlebreds were also popular for use in the military not just for their speed and strength but the style in which they looked and performed. “They were a very versatile horse,” Cox said.

The horse also became known later as the Kentucky Saddler because of the work in developing the modern breed occurring in the state.

Eventually, Cox said the American Saddlebred Horse Association wanted to create a show for the line of horses and Kentucky jumped at the opportunity. The state has hosted the event annually ever since. “We’re proud really that it was made in Kentucky and it was something we wanted to show off,” he said.

Cox said all of the horses will be housed on site in permanent and temporary stalls on the more than 340-acre fairgrounds throughout the competition.

Entries can be made at horseshowonline.com.