ALEXANDRIA — Amber Messenger was the reserve high point champion (senior division) in her class at the Kentucky State Fair this year, but Monday she said she wouldn't miss competing in the smaller Alexandria Fair & Horse Show.

        The fair, in its 145th year, opens Thursday and runs through Labor Day, with competition in a variety of equestrian classes.

IF YOU GO

• What: 145th annual Alexandria Fair & Horse Show.   • When: 6-10 p.m. Thursday; 6-10 p.m. Friday; noon-10 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday,   • Where: Alexandria (Campbell County) Fairgrounds, Fairgrounds Road off Ky. 10.   • Attractions: Little Miss and Mister Alexandria Fair, Miss Teen Alexandria Fair and Miss Alexandria Fair pageants 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday; horse shows every evening Friday through Monday; martial arts demonstration by Shaolin Kempo Studios, 5 p.m. Saturday; plus a children's farm, dog show, commercial exhibits, rides, food and drink.   • Admission: $6 (includes all shows, exhibits and rides); free to children under 3.   • Directions: I-471/I-275 to U.S. 27; go south on U.S. 27 to Ky. 10 in Alexandria, left on Ky. 10 for about three-quarters of a mile. Free parking and shuttle service available Friday and Saturday between fairgrounds and Alexandria Village Green Shopping Center on U.S. 27.

        “The Alexandria Fair is so much fun,” said the 19-year-old Northern Kentucky University student from Grants Lick. “Everyone I've ridden with for years is there. It's a chance to see everyone again, sometimes people you haven't seen since the last fair.”

        Ms. Messenger, who trains at the Saddlelake Equestrian Center under the instruction of Missy Jo Hollingsworth, has been riding since she was 8. She'll compete in October at the American Quarter Horse show at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Co lumbus, the largest sanctioned horse show in the country.

        Shannon Carr of Alexandria is only 13 but she's been riding since she was 4. She also took several ribbons at the state fair and will be riding in several events at the Alexandria fair.

        The Campbell County Middle School student will compete in the English pleasure class on Friday, two different classes on Sunday, and in the 4-H show and the championship show on Monday.

        The fair actually starts at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday with the annual parade through Alexandria along Ky. 10 to the fairgrounds.

        On Thursday, highlights of the evening are a trio of pageants, including the Little Miss & Mister Alexandria Fair (ages 4-7), the Miss Teen Alexandria Fair (ages 13-15), and the Miss Alexandria Fair.

        Friday features the 4-H cattle show and the regular cattle show along with a horse show and karaoke on the entertainment stage.

        Saturday's highlights include the sheep show, the 4-H steer and sheep auction, and a martial arts demonstration.

        Sunday's events include the open Western classes horse show, the Alexandria Fair Princess pageant (girls 8-101/2), the Miss Pre-Teen pageant (girls 10 1/2 to 12), and awards presentations for 4-H and the exhibit hall.

        The fair concludes Monday, Labor Day, with another 4-H horse show, a dairy goat show, a “Just For Fun” dog show, and the championship horse show as the finale.
       The $6 admission includes rides.

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