Zurich started it. Louisville made it its own.
The idea of adorning animal statues, and placing them on the city streets, was initially born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1998. But instead of horses, they decorated cows. Chicago retailers were the first to bring the concept to America, and by the year 2000, approximately two-dozen cities adopted similar public art projects.
The inklings of Gallopalooza began when John Conti, CEO of john conti Coffee Company, and Hank Wagner, CEO of Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services, visited Chicago and noticed the decorated cows in front of Chicago storefronts. They also noticed how much attention the cows were getting and how much people enjoyed them, and knew the concept would be a big hit in Louisville.
In 2003 their vision of a community fundraiser found the support of a key figure in the community - the newly elected Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson. He believed the idea would be an ideal way to raise dollars for one of his beloved city programs, Brightside. With the Mayor on board and Meijer signing on as the presenting sponsor, Gallopalooza took off out of the gate.