Year-End Championship Horse Show To Debut At Syracuse, NY, October 29-November 2

SYRACUSE, NY—February 25, 2003—The Syracuse Sporthorse Tournament, a new year-end championship horse show set for this fall in Syracuse, NY, will provide a culminating jewel for the hunter-jumper horse show season.

The new horse show will debut October 29-November 2 in Syracuse’s spectacular Oncenter Complex. Longtime trainer John Madden, one of the leading figures in the hunter-jumper industry, has joined forces with the city of Syracuse to bring about the new horse show which will present a full schedule of classes, including year-end championship finals, for Grand Prix, amateur-owner and junior jumpers, as well as an intriguing line-up of classes for hunter horses and equitation riders.

“In developing the concept for this horse show, I spent a lot of time talking to hunter, jumper and equitation trainers,” Madden said. “I asked them what they felt our industry needed and tried to develop a concept that would address those needs and at the same time provide a platform to showcase our sport to the general public.”

Along that line, the horse show will feature a Grand Prix with prize money of at least $75,000 and designed to attract international competitors as well as this country’s leading riders. In addition, there will be other open division classes including such possibilities as a speed class, gambler’s choice, match race and more. Hunter divisions will be open to the top 20 of the year from each division who will compete head to head for championship honors. An equitation championship will feature the top finishers from the traditional equitation championships held earlier in the fall.

The schedule will run Wednesday through Sunday with four feature performances designed to attract sellout crowds to the War Memorial at Oncenter set for Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening and Sunday afternoon. An equestrian fair with vendors, demonstrations and educational exhibits is planned for the adjacent Convention Center.

“This horse show will not be business as usual,” said Madden who, teamed with Robert Ridland, has helped to make the Oaks Blenheim CSI in San Juan Capistrano one of the hottest new events in the country. “It’s not often you get the full commitment of the local community behind you, but we have that in Syracuse and that will allow us to pull off the fabulous kind of year-end show people have told me they want.”

Syracuse Mayor Matthew J. Driscoll is pleased to welcome the new event to his city. “The City of Syracuse is excited to host this inaugural event in our convention center,” Mayor Driscoll said. “I am impressed with the quality of the show management and the fact that a world-class horse show and jumping event will be in our city this fall.”

Assemblyman Bill Magee, Chair of the New York State Assembly Agriculture Committee, said, “The Syracuse Sporthorse Tournament truly puts Syracuse and Central New York on the map in the equine world. With over 350 horses and almost 1000 people connected with the event coming to the area, there is an expected economic impact of potentially $1.5 million; this is clearly of great importance to New York State.”

Irwin Davis, Executive Vice President of the Metropolitan Development Association, which promotes economic growth in central New York, said that the business leadership of the area is throwing its support behind the new event. “The central New York business community is thrilled with the idea of this event and what it can mean to our area,” he said. “We believe strongly that this event can quickly become a highlight of the region’s fall season and we pledge to do what we can to help it succeed.”