Spectator Information

The Kentucky Border Collie Association welcomes spectators and members of the media to attend the Bluegrass Classic Stockdog Trial.  The success of this premier competition depends on your support!  KBCA is a non-profit organization with the primary mission of continuing the Bluegrass Classic tradition.  We offer dog-handler teams a world-class field on which to run, right here in Lexington, Kentucky.  As a result of the growing interest in trialing and the superior quality of the Bluegrass Classic competition, the demand for entry into the Bluegrass Classic trial has exploded!  The Bluegrass Classic has become the largest stockdog trial in North America, running over 660 handler-dog teams during the five days of the trial competition.  Spectators often comment on the beauty of the park, as well as how impressed they are with the demonstration of herding dogs doing what they were bred to do.

Our thanks to the hard working men and women of Lexington Parks & Recreation!  Without them, we would not be able to hold the competition on the gorgeous fields of Masterson Station Park, year after year.   In addition to two fields of competition we feature a vendor area, silent auction and a raffle with a large selection and variety of prizes and items for purchase to help support the expenses of the trial.  The Boy Scout pancake breakfast on Saturday morning is not to be missed! 

Bring a picnic blanket or a chair!  Spectators are encouraged to attend and your dogs are welcome at Masterson Station Park.  Volunteers are available to answer questions about the competition and Bluegrass Classic programs are distributed free of charge.  Come watch the trial!  It is a wonderful way to spend an enjoyable afternoon with friends and family.  Food concessions are available on site.  There is something for everyone at the Bluegrass Classic!

Reporters, photographers and film crews are also welcome and encouraged to attend the Bluegrass Classic. To schedule an interview with a trial official, a photo session or filming in advance, please contact Susan Carvalho at carvalho@email.uky.edu. Otherwise, you may stop by our hospitality area located in the pavilion behind the handler's tent, to pick up a press package and obtain any information or assistance you require.

History of the Border Collie Trials

The tradition of sheepdog trialing began in Great Britain in the mid-1800’s when a few shepherds and farmers got together and were having the “my dog is better than your dog” discussion. It was decided then that a competition to test the prowess of the shepherds’ dogs would be the way to find out who really had the best dog.

The dogs used for herding livestock were primarily Border Collies, a breed developed on the borders of Scotland and England by a selective breeding program of working dogs. Foundation breeds included Scottish collies (“Lassie” type rough collies), Welsh collies (a smaller farm collie with less coat and usually brown and white in color), hunting spaniels and lurchers (the ancestors of the greyhound). Desirable traits included speed, strength, endurance, a drive to control prey, and the ability to use eyesight to seek out prey. The result was a medium-sized dog that bonded and worked closely with its owner and had a natural ability to find, gather and move livestock.

While today’s Border Collies are thought to be predominantly black and white, their foundation includes a variety of colors, markings, coat types and ear sets. The working Border Collie’s appearance holds little importance compared to its ability to work livestock. One will see Border Collies that are not only black and white, but also black, white and tan (tri-color), and even dogs who are red and white in color.  Border Collies may have the freckles (known as “ticking”) of spaniel forbearers.   Ears may prick up, tip over, sweep out to the sides, or lay flat on the head. Coats may be fluffy (rough) or flat (smooth), and come in various lengths.

The earliest trial competitions between farmers and their dogs decided which dogs should be used for breeding.  Their qualities and abilities would be carried on in offspring.  In addition to willingness and enthusiasm for working, a good dog needed to be trainable and biddable. The livelihood of shepherds and farmers depended on having a good working dog; a dog who would work with them as a true partner.  Originally used primarily on sheep, Border Collies adapted to working cattle and other livestock and became known as “stockdogs,” rather than just “sheepdogs.”

In today’s Border Collie competitions, one will see dogs who work full time on farms and ranches, as well as dogs who live in non-farm homes, being trained to work sheep as a hobby.  Regardless, the precision and pressure of running a trial course requires specialized training.  Trial handlers come from many different professions and all walks of life.  All have this in common - dedication to regular training.  Every dog receives the highest level of mental stimulation, physical exercise and conditioning required by a competitive athlete.

As Border Collies became more and more popular in the U.S., the American Border Collie Association (ABCA) was established as the working registry.  Trial competitions also became more widespread, so the United States Border Collie Handler’s Association (USBCHA) was founded in 1979 to maintain a set of standards for competition based upon Great Britain’s International Sheepdog Society’s guidelines.  You may also find additional information about the Border Collie breed and history by visiting the Border Collie Museum.

You may find the website of the above listed organizations by clicking on the corresponding link to the left of the page.