Las Vegas, NV—March 31, 2003—Fourteen U.S. show jumping riders have qualified to compete in the Budweiser World Cup 2003, the FEI Show Jumping World Cup Final, April 16-20, in Las Vegas, NV. The riders earned the right to compete in the Final by being the top finishers in their respective Leagues.

Eight riders qualified from the U.S.A. East Coast League – McLain Ward of Brewster, NY; Norman Dello Joio, Lauren Hough, Margie Engle, and Candace King of Wellington, FL; Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY; Leslie Howard of Westport, CT; and Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, WI.

In addition, four riders qualified from the U.S.A. West Coast League – Richard Spooner of Burbank, CA; Nicole and Will Simpson of Westlake Village, CA; and John French of Menlo Park, CA.

Peter Wylde, individual Bronze Medalist in the Show Jumping World Championships at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, was granted a Wild Card invitation by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and Robert Chelberg, an American living in Prague, qualified from the Central European League.

The Budweiser World Cup 2003 will be the fifth World Cup Final held in the United States. Previous Finals were held in Baltimore (1980), Tampa (1989), Del Mar (1992) and Las Vegas (2000).

When it hosted the Budweiser World Cup in 2000, Las Vegas treated spectators to spectacular laser light shows and dazzling performances by Las Vegas showgirls and celebrities such as Susan Anton and Clint Holmes. Other highlights of 2000 included bull riding, buffaloes, the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales, and a dressage demonstration by 1999 Pan American Games double Gold Medalist Debbie McDonald. World Cup riders Rodrigo Pessoa, Mario Deslauriers, John Whitaker, Leslie Howard, Ian Millar, and Ludger Beerbaum paired up with six world champion barrel racers in a spectacular barrel racing competition unlike any ever seen before.

“Las Vegas put on a fabulous World Cup in 2000,” said Brazilian superstar Rodrigo Pessoa whose brilliant riding in Las Vegas dazzled the large crowds and earned him a third consecutive World Cup Championship. “Las Vegas was definitely one of the best World Cup Finals I have ever seen.”

Tickets are still available for the Budweiser World Cup 2003. All-Session packages are available in Plaza Level Priority Seating for $300 per person or Balcony Level Priority Seating for $150 per person and include tickets for the warm-up competition on Wednesday evening; the first leg, the speed class, of the World Cup on Thursday evening; the second leg, a time-first jump-off, on Friday evening; the Grand Prix of Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon; and the third and exciting two-round leg of the World Cup on Sunday afternoon, after which the new World Cup champion will be crowned.

Exclusive VIP Packages are also available for $1,000 and include one premier All-Session seat, access to the private VIP hospitality area complete with complimentary deluxe food/beverage each day, and preferred parking.

For those wanting to sample one or more of the sessions, daily individual tickets for each of the five days of competition can be purchased for $10 to $85 depending on the seating and the session.

Las Vegas Events, Inc., organizer of the Budweiser World Cup, is a private, not-for-profit corporation whose charge is to bring special events to Las Vegas to support Southern Nevada’s tourism efforts and increase economic impact. In its 21-year history, Las Vegas Events has produced, presented, or supported more than 203 events including the National Finals Rodeo, NASCAR Winston Cup racing, Motocross racing, the Mountain West Conference Basketball Tournament, the Miss Universe Pageant, the Harley-Davidson Mile and a Half Tour, the CineVegas International Film Festival, the World Aerobic Championships and many others.

For Budweiser World Cup 2003 information, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.worldcuplasvegas.com or call (702) 260-8605 or toll free at (866) 388-3267.

.