Kentucky Horsemen
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| Founded | 2003 |
|---|---|
| League |
NIFL (2003–2004) UIF (2005–2007) af2 (2008–2009) |
| Team history | Lexington Horsemen (2003–2008) Kentucky Horsemen (2009) |
| Based in | Lexington, Kentucky |
| Arena | Rupp Arena |
| Colors | Black, Royal Blue, White |
| President | Horsemen Charitable Foundation |
| Head coach | Tommy Johnson |
| General manager | Matt DiLorenzo |
| Championships | 1 (NIFL: 2004) |
| Division titles | 4 (NIFL: 2004 UIF: 2005, 2006, 2007) |
| Dancers | Fillies |
| Mascot | Spike |
The Kentucky Horsemen (known as the Lexington Horsemen from 2003 to 2009) were an indoor football team based in Lexington, Kentucky. The team played its home games at Rupp Arena. The organization began as a 2003 expansion member of the National Indoor Football League, where they were successful. Following the 2004 season, where they defeating the Sioux Falls Storm to win Indoor Bowl IV, the Horsemen and other NIFL teams joined the new United Indoor Football (UIF) as a charter member, where they made the playoffs. They yet lost to the Sioux Falls Storm (the team they beat in their last year in the NIFL). They made the playoffs again in 2006 advancing to United Bowl II; losing to the Sioux Falls Storm. From 2008 through 2009, the Horsemen played in the af2. The team had announced intentions to compete in the new Arena Football League following the dissolution of the af2, but instead ceased operations in October 2009.
During the 2007 season the Horsemen finished with an 8-7 regular season record and then advance through the playoffs to United Bowl III where they faced none other than their longtime playoff foe the undefeated Sioux Falls Storm they lost the game 62-59 after Collin Barber missed the potential game tying field goal as time expired. The game was Head Coach Mike Zuckerman's final game.
The team's official mascot is Spike, a hero-like horseman.
On August 22, 2007 Horsemen owner Lenny House announced that the Horsemen had played their final game. Citing poor attendance and lowered revenue, a fate not unusual for UIF teams.
However, on October 16, 2007, House opted to remain in operations by announcing he changed his mind and the Horsemen would be playing the 2008 season in arenafootball2, where they would have an in-state rivalry ("The War on I-64") with the Louisville Fire. With the move the Horsemen adopted new jerseys, that included a slight change in their blue color scheme.
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