BUSINESS NOTES

KENTUCKY

LEXINGTON FARRIER GROUP PICKED

The American Farrier's Association has been named the Official Certified Farriers of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, organizers announced Thursday. The Lexington-based association will operate a farriery at the Kentucky Horse Park from Sept. 11, 2010, about two weeks before the games, to Oct. 10, the closing day. Two farriers will be at the farriery before the Games, and as many as six will be there during the 16 days of competition, the association said. Horse owners will be charged on a case-by-case basis. An estimated 900 horses and 800 riders from around the world are expected to compete in the Games for eight world championships.

DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON CORP. NAMES VP

Sandy Straub is leaving her position as vice president of business development at the Downtown Lexington Corp. to take a post at Downtown Cincinnati Inc. Jessica Gies, who most recently worked as an advertising consultant for Idearc Media, will become the new vice president of business development. Downtown Lexington was formed in 1988 as a membership organization that works to promote "a clean, safe and vibrant downtown."

NATIONAL

WIRELESS COMPANIES LEAD AIRWAVES BIDS

The nation's cell phone companies won big in a record-setting government airways auction, the Federal Communications Commission announced Thursday. AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless, the nation's two biggest cell phone carriers, were some of the top bidders, dampening hopes that the auction would dramatically increase competition for wireless services. Google Inc. was not among the winners, meaning the search engine giant will not be entering the cellular telephone business.

FINANCIAL MARKETS CLOSE FOR GOOD FRIDAY

U.S. financial markets are closed Friday in observance of Good Friday, so there will be no stocks or mutual funds listings in Saturday's Herald-Leader.