Tag Archives: Central Park Horse Show

Breeds, Central Park Horse Show, Jennifer Wood

Arabian Horses Take NYC by Storm at Rolex Central Park Horse Show This Week

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Photo Courtesy of Arabian Horse Association.

New York, NY – The world stage is set. The path has been laid out. The weather, with clear skies and enjoyable temperatures, is predicted to be perfect. The historical unveiling of the Arabian horse at New York City’s Rolex Central Park Horse Show is just days away, aligning with the arrival of Pope Francis to the ‘Big Apple’.

The transformation of the famous Central Park in Manhattan is in full swing as New York City prepares for a historic week. Arabian horses arrive in Central Park for the U.S. Open Arabians the opening night of the Rolex Central Park Horse Show on Wednesday, September 23. Beginning at 6 p.m., this unprecedented event will showcase the Arabian breed to the world.

A mix of In-Hand/Halter and Performance classes will grace Wollman Rink Wednesday evening. In-Hand/Halter classes include Yearling Fillies, Yearling Colts, Junior Fillies, Junior Colts, Senior Mares and Senior Stallions.

These Halter horses are some of the world’s most beautiful, well conformed and magical horses of the breed. Their beauty, grace and quality have been dignified through Canadian and U.S. National Championship titles. Some have earned foreign titles from around the world, including honors from the World Arabian Horse Championship at the Salon du Cheval Paris, and the All Nations Cup in Aachen. Their handlers are professionals of the breed, claiming wins from these prestigious locations as well, and skillfully presenting these horses to their winning titles.

The Arabian Performance horses invited to the event include those from the disciplines of Western Pleasure, Country English Pleasure, Hunter Pleasure and Arabian Mounted Native Costume. These horses and their multi-National Champion riders bring to the limelight the diversity and athleticism of this amazing breed. These horses have earned National, Reserve National and Top Ten honors at the Canadian National and U.S. National Championship shows.

The Sport Horse discipline of the Arabian breed will be portrayed in the Sunday, September 27 exhibition, where invited horses claim both Open and National titles from the Arabian Sport Horse Nationals and Scottsdale Signature All-Arabian Horse Show. The exhibition is free to the public.

To purchase tickets to the U.S. Open Arabians and be a part of history on Wednesday evening, visit http://bit.ly/1AV2imv. Tickets are $150 per seat plus tax. For more information on the U.S. Open Arabians at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, visit the Arabian Horse Association or Rolex Central Park Horse Show websites.

Follow the Arabian Horse Association on Facebook, Twitter @AHAArabian and Instagram @arabianhorseassoc, using the hashtag #ArabianHorsesTakeNYC for live updates and pictures from the event.

About the Arabian Horse Association

AHA is a major equine association serving 85,600 Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horse owners across North America. AHA registers and maintains a database of more than one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses and administers approximately $3 million in annual prize money. AHA produces championship events, recognizes over 550 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities, education, and programs that promote breeding and ownership.

Media Contact:
Shin-Jung Hong
Nicholas & Lence Communications
ShinJung@nicholaslence.com
Tel: 212.938.0005

Equestrian Media Contact:
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Central Park Horse Show, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Stage Is Set for Inaugural U.S. Open Show Jumping Championship at Rolex Central Park Horse Show

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Georgina Bloomberg at the 2014 Rolex Central Park Horse Show. Photo ©Rolex/Kit Houghton.

Canadian Pacific Railway and Rolex sponsor the two-round competition where McLain Ward, Kent Farrington, Georgina Bloomberg, Todd Minikus, and Conor Swail lead the list of top riders vying for the U.S. Open Title

New York, NY – From Olympians to up and coming talent, the Inaugural U.S. Open Show Jumping competition will highlight the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, running Sept. 23-27 in the heart of New York City’s Central Park. Founded in 2014, the second-annual Rolex Central Park Horse Show is dedicated to attracting the best in equestrian sport to compete at a once in a lifetime location.

U.S. Open Jumper events at the 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show will welcome the world’s best to contest two rounds of competition over courses set by international designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. The $40,000 FEI Speed Class, presented by Canadian Pacific Railway, kicks off the schedule with an opening speed round on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 8 PM.

Faults from Thursday will be converted to points and carry over to the U.S. Open $212,000 FEI 3* Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, Friday, Sept. 25 at 8:00 PM. Riders will pilot the same horse in both rounds, and the highest ranked rider will not only be crowned the inaugural U.S. Open winner, but receive an exciting bonus. While cashing in on their share of the $212,000 purse, the winning rider will be presented with an additional $25,000 for the U.S. Open honor.

Hometown girl and accomplished international rider Georgina Bloomberg took top call in the 2014 Central Park Grand Prix and will return to her native city to defend her title this year in hopes of being crowned the first U.S. Open Jumper Champion. The world will be able to watch her efforts as the U.S. Open CSI 3* Grand Prix is scheduled to air on NBC Sports Network during prime time from 9-10:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 27.

“Winning last year’s Rolex Central Park Grand Prix in front of a New York City crowd was one of the highlights of my career,” said Bloomberg. “New York is my home and to be able to compete in this city is an experience like no other. I am proud to see show jumping return to New York and I can’t wait to showcase the sport that I have dedicated my life to in the heart of Central Park again this year.”

In addition to Bloomberg, the prestige of show jumping in Central Park has attracted a star-studded cast of high-performance riders all vying for the U.S. Open title, including the likes of Kent Farrington, Todd Minikus, Conor Swail and McLain Ward, to name a few.

“New York City’s Central Park is a unique host and presents a change from the typical venue for both us as riders, but also our horses. However, it’s worth the effort to have a show in the center of the city and highlight the sport with many top riders,” said Ward, who most recently took home an individual gold medal for the USA at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.

Show jumping was last seen in New York City’s Central Park in 1981 and at Madison Square Garden in 2001, but the Rolex Central Park Horse Show found a home at Wollman Rink last year. “We all miss what showing at the Garden was, and this is bringing that back in a similar way,” added Ward.

“I was both overwhelmed and encouraged by the positive response from participants, spectators and media outlets to last year’s event in Central Park,” said Mark Bellissimo, CEO of International Equestrian Group, LLC (IEG). “There is no better place to showcase horse sport through the U.S. Open than in the iconic New York City. I have confidence that the Rolex Central Park Horse Show’s U.S. Open will become one of the premiere events on the show jumping calendar.”

Tickets can now be purchased at http://bit.ly/1AV2imv. To request table information in the Hospitality Tent, please e-mail Anne Caroline Valtin at vip@centralparkhorseshow.com or call 561-784-1133.

Additional information can be found at www.coth.com and www.centralparkhorseshow.com.

Media Contact:
Shin-Jung Hong
Nicholas & Lence Communications
ShinJung@nicholaslence.com
Tel: 212.938.0005

Equestrian Media Contact:
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Central Park Horse Show, Dressage, Hunter/Equitation, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping

Rolex Central Park Horse Show Returns to New York

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Georgina Bloomberg Aims to Defend Her Title

New York, USA, 16 September 2015 – From 23-27 September, top equestrian athletes will gather at one of the most stunning venues worldwide for the second annual Rolex Central Park Horse Show. Attempting to defend her Rolex Grand Prix title will be Georgina Bloomberg, daughter of former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.

New York City’s Rolex Central Park Horse Show was a smash hit in its inaugural year in 2014. The enthusiastic New York audience was gripped by the spectacular performances of top-class horse and rider combinations in this unique setting – and this year’s expanded renewal is set to be even more impressive. Rolex’s longstanding relationship with horse sport is well-known, which made it the automatic first choice as title sponsor for 2015.

The showpiece class will be the Rolex Grand Prix on the Friday night of the event (25 September), where the world’s finest horsemen and women will battle it out in the heart of the city. Bloomberg was a highly popular champion last year in front of her home crowd, and will most likely be set on maintaining her champion status.

CENTRAL PARK VISIONARY

The Rolex Central Park Horse Show is the brainchild of Mark Bellissimo, Managing Partner and the largest shareholder in Wellington Equestrian Partners LLC, which stages the annual three-month Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Florida.

Bellissimo wanted to bring the thrill of equestrian sport to a wider audience and conceived the daring idea of staging a show in Central Park – in the Trump Rink.

Mark Bellissimo said, “The Rolex Central Park Horse Show made a spectacular debut and is poised for an even greater year as we introduce the U.S. Open for Equestrian Sport. We will be welcoming more equestrian disciplines to the heart of New York City as a showcase for equestrian sport in the United States.” He added, “Showcasing the many facets of the horse world in the heart of New York City is an exciting endeavour for us and the equine industry in general. We are also very proud to continue our relationship with NBC Sports and we will be broadcasting the event to equestrian enthusiasts across the nation and the world.”

FIVE DAY SHOW

The five-day Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature action from several equestrian disciplines, including Show Jumping, Dressage, Hunters and Arabians, and is the perfect showcase for equestrian sport in the United States.

The luxury Swiss watchmaking brand has been associated with the very best equestrian athletes, through its family of Testimonees and international shows for more than 60 years. The attributes of precision, performance, courage and sportsmanship for which equestrian sport is recognized resonate through Rolex’s approach and philosophy.

Rolex Show Jumping Testimonee Kent Farrington was among the winners of the inaugural show, and said, “I think this is one of the best venues we can have to showcase our sport. It is really exciting to be here and be a part of this event.”

DRESSAGE SUPREMO ISABELL WERTH

Rolex’s Dressage Testimonee, the incomparable Isabell Werth, travelled from her home country of Germany to take the show’s maiden Dressage challenge, and has recently confirmed that she will return to compete in 2015.

She said, “Central Park is such a nice show. There have been some great improvements for this year and horses are now allowed to stay in the park overnight. This will make it more of a real competition and adds excitement to the show and the sport.”

When asked which of her top horses she will take to New York, the former Olympic gold medallist said, “I will probably take El Santo; he is very experienced with large arenas and flying to events. It is a very special atmosphere, heightened by the great crowd.”

Many more of the world’s most illustrious equestrian athletes have already announced their intention to compete in this special venue. There is no doubt that the Rolex Central Park Horse Show will join the select list of the most desirable equestrian events for both spectators and competitors.

Media Contacts:

Rolex SA
Virginie Chevailler
virginie.chevailler@rolex.com
+41 22 302 2761

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
Rod Kohler
rod@revolutionsports.co.uk
+44 7770 647 662

Central Park Horse Show, Competitions

Matinee Performers to Headline Two Days of Central Park Horse Show

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Tommie Turvey and Pokerjoe. Photos provided by Matinee Performers, as well as David Handschuh and the Arabian Horse Association.

Tommie Turvey, “Wild Riders” Trick Riders, Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey, Pony Club Mounted Games, Pony Steeplechasing, Bebe Davis Dressage Exhibition, and Arabian Costume Class to provide interactive family fun in the heart of NYC

New York, NY – With a world-class lineup of the finest acts, performers, and athletes of equestrian sport and entertainment, the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, in its second annual year, wants you to join the fun as New York City prepares to host the most talented equestrian performers in the industry as they take on Wollman Rink in the heart of the Big Apple! Providing interactive family fun for audience members of all ages, the matinee performances are not to be missed at this year’s edition of the world-renowned Rolex Central Park Horse Show.

The matinee performances will be held on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, beginning at 10am in the iconic setting of Central Park under the New York City skyline. Tickets for the matinee performances are $30 each and can be purchased at http://bit.ly/1AV2imv.

Popular equestrian personality Tommie Turvey of Tommie Turvey Horsemanship will headline the matinee, engaging audiences with a showcase of the adaptability, versatility, and intelligence of the horse within the entertainment industry. Turvey has prepared and trained horses for numerous major Hollywood roles including appearances in The Walking Dead, The Blacklist, and Batman: The Dark Knight, as well as working with the Budweiser Clydesdales during their popular Super Bowl commercials each year. Turvey’s comedy act is considered one of the most entertaining equestrian performances and is sure to provide laughs, while he will also show off skills in trick roping, liberty horsemanship, and roman riding.

Alongside Turvey, the “Wild Riders” Trick Riders Meishja Petersen and sisters Shanae and Hannah Ritter will showcase captivating trick riding routines to get your adrenaline pumping while Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey and his Border Collie partner Boogie will also entertain the crowd with their impressive and comedic sheep herding skills.

The Shetland Pony Steeplechase
The Shetland Pony Steeplechase

The youngest of the featured entertainers will make a grand entrance in the big city as Pony Club Mounted Games and The Shetland Pony Steeplechase race into town.

These sports provide a learning platform for horsemanship and teamwork skills to young children while exemplifying the sturdiness and heart of the pony breed. Both events are sure to excite and capture the sentiments of any audience.

Barbara “Bebe” Davis, 17, a young American dressage phenom, will return to Central Park to provide a dressage demonstration and exhibition aboard her mount Rotano, on whom she was the 2014 U.S. Championships FEI Junior Level Silver Medalist. Davis is a two-time Pony National Champion, who has accumulated several top awards throughout her career, including two gold medal finishes at North American Junior Young Rider Championships in 2014 and 2015. The pair will showcase the foundation of dressage and beauty of the movements in an educational and dynamic demonstration of one of the world’s oldest equestrian sports.

An Arabian costume class will also highlight the matinee performances in a representation of the Nomadic people of the Arabian Peninsula, who were the first to breed and ride these ancient horses, now considered the oldest purebred breed in the world. You’ll feel as though you’re traveling through time to when Arabian horses roamed the desert and began their journey as ancestors to the now modern day light breeds. The Arabian Mounted Native Costume Class will present both horse and rider in full costume and depict the breed as they might have been while defending their tribes.

Arabian Mounted Native Costume class
Arabian Mounted Native Costume class

The second annual Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport. The schedule will include the inaugural U.S. Open in the following categories: Jumpers, Dressage, Hunters, U25 Jumpers, and Arabians.

Tickets are now on sale for all events at the 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show and matinee tickets will be $30 each. There are only a few hundred tickets still available for the event and they are anticipated to sell out. Tickets can now be purchased at http://bit.ly/1AV2imv. To request table information in the Hospitality Tent, please e-mail Anne Caroline Valtin at vip@centralparkhorseshow.com or call 561-784-1133.

Additional information can be found at www.coth.com and www.centralparkhorseshow.com.

Media Contact:
Shin-Jung Hong
Nicholas & Lence Communications
ShinJung@nicholaslence.com
Tel: 212.938.0005

Equestrian Media Contact:
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Central Park Horse Show, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation

Nation’s Top Hunters to Compete in Inaugural U.S. Open at Rolex Central Park Horse Show

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Scott Stewart with A Million Reasons at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo ©Sportfot.

The winner of the $50,000 U.S. Open Hunter Class will be awarded the inaugural Duchossois Cup in honor of the late Bruce Duchossois

New York, NY – Hunter riders will compete in the heart of New York City during the second-annual 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show on Sept. 26. The hunter competitions will feature a $1,000 Small/Medium Pony Hunter Class, $2,500 Junior/Amateur Class, presented by Meralex, and the $50,000 U.S. Open Duchossois Cup, presented by the Gochman Family.

Celebrating significant growth in 2015, the Rolex Central Park Horse Show has expanded with a more robust show schedule, growing sponsorships, and an impressive list of top equestrians ready to attend. The event generated more than 640 million media impressions in 2014.

A talented cast of the nation’s top Professional Hunter riders will compete against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. The Professional Class will include 10 riders for a two-round competition. The 10 riders for the $50,000 U.S. Open Duchossois Cup will be Louise Serio, Peter Pletcher, Jennifer Alfano, Kelley Farmer, Amanda Steege, Liza Towell Boyd, Scott Stewart, Maggie Jayne, Peter Wylde and John French.

Becky Gochman commented, “I attended the Rolex Central Park Horse Show last year and believed it was important to include the Hunter disciplines. This venue offers a great opportunity to showcase these great riders, horses and the hunter discipline. Our family is thrilled to support this competition and believe it will only grow in stature over the next few years.”

Scott Stewart added, “Having competed at Madison Square Garden many years ago, it is great to be able to return to compete in the heart of New York City. I am honored to be included in the Inaugural U.S. Open and am inspired to be the first winner of The Duchossois Cup. I am grateful to the Gochman Family for their support and sponsorship of the Hunter discipline.”

After the 2014 debut of the sold-out Rolex Central Park Horse Show, Mark Bellissimo, CEO of International Equestrian Group, LLC (IEG), is proud to welcome varying disciplines to this year’s event.

“Seeing the reach of this very special event extend to Hunters is exciting for the Rolex Central Park Horse Show,” he said. “We are very proud to present the best in horse sport across so many disciplines in an iconic U.S. location.”

Competitors interested in the Junior/Amateur and the Small/Medium Pony Hunter divisions should send inquiries to Pbellissimo@coth.com.

Rolex Central Park Horse Show Hunter Schedule:

Saturday, September 26th
10:00 AM – Matinee Performance
1:30 PM – U.S. Open Hunters Duchossois Cup
– $1,000 Small/Medium Pony Hunter Class
– $2,500 Junior/Amateur Class presented by Meralex
– $50,000 Professional’s U.S. Open Duchossois Cup, presented by the Gochman Family

The second-annual Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport. The schedule will include the inaugural U.S. Open in the following categories: Jumpers, Dressage, Hunters, U25 Jumpers, and Arabians. For a complete schedule, go to www.centralparkhorseshow.com.

Tickets are now on sale for all events at the 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show. There are only a few hundred tickets still available for the event and they are anticipated to sell out. Tickets can now be purchased at http://bit.ly/1AV2imv. To request table information in the Hospitality Tent, please e-mail Anne Caroline Valtin at vip@centralparkhorseshow.com or call 561-784-1133.

Additional information, including matinee performances, will be announced in the coming weeks on www.coth.com and www.centralparkhorseshow.com.

Media Contact:
Shin-Jung Hong
Nicholas & Lence Communications
ShinJung@nicholaslence.com
Tel: 212.938.0005

Equestrian Media Contact:
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jenniferwoodmedia.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Central Park Horse Show, Dressage

Dujardin and Other Decorated Riders Announced for US Open Dressage Competition in Central Park

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Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro. Photos by Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén, Isabell Werth, Laura Graves, and Patrik Kittel will join Charlotte Dujardin to compete at the event.

Only a few hundred tickets still available!

August 14, 2015 – New York, NY – A star-studded cast of dressage riders will make their way to the 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show Sept. 25-26. The talented lineup that includes five of the world’s top 11 ranked riders will compete in the inaugural U.S. Open Dressage event.

The U.S. Open Dressage Grand Prix on Friday and the $75,000 Dressage Freestyle, presented by the Axel Johnson Group, on Saturday will highlight the schedule. The number-one dressage rider in the world over the last 24 months and double Olympic Gold Medalist, Charlotte Dujardin, will make a rare trip to New York City with her famed mount Valegro.

German rider Isabell Werth, one of the most celebrated equestrian Olympians of all time with five gold medals and currently ranked 7th in the world, will also make the trip to the U.S. along with Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén and Patrik Kittel, ranked 6th and 11th respectively. Spain’s Juan Matute Jr., recent European Junior Champion and one of the world’s most talented up-and-coming riders, will also compete.

North America will be well-represented with rising star and 9th ranked rider Laura Graves and her mount Verdades making a trip to the big city, along with Catherine Haddad Staller and Charlotte Jorst, all riding for the USA. They will be joined by Canada’s Ashley Holzer and Karen Pavicic to round out the competition.

Laura Graves and Verdades
Laura Graves and Verdades

Laura Graves commented, “I am beyond excited to be invited to this very special event in Central Park. This year will be a real showcase and I am looking forward to a strong competition. I have one thing on my mind going into 2016 and that is Rio. This show is the perfect stepping stone on that path.”

After the 2014 debut of the sold-out Rolex Central Park Horse Show, Mark Bellissimo, CEO of International Equestrian Group, LLC (IEG), is pleased to see the reach and impact of the thrilling event expand to more international talent this year.

“We work hard to make sure the show itself is as special as it can be, but it is the riders who truly make it unforgettable,” he said. “We are very proud to present the best in sport across so many disciplines in the heart of New York City.”

Rolex Central Park Horse Show Dressage Schedule:

Friday, September 25th
1:30 PM – U.S. Open Dressage Grand Prix

Saturday, September 26th
6:30 PM – U.S. Open $75,000 Dressage Freestyle, presented by Axel Johnson Group

The second-annual Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport. The schedule will include the inaugural U.S. Open in the following categories: Jumpers, Dressage, Hunters, U25 Jumpers, and Arabians.

Tickets are now on sale for all events at the 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show. There are only a few hundred tickets still available for the event and they are anticipated to sell out. Tickets can now be purchased at http://bit.ly/1AV2imv.

Additional information, including matinee performances, will be announced in the coming weeks on www.coth.com and www.centralparkhorseshow.com.

Media Contact:
Shin-Jung Hong
Nicholas & Lence Communications
ShinJung@nicholaslence.com
Tel: 212.938.0005

Equestrian Media Contact:
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jenniferwoodmedia.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Central Park Horse Show, Dressage

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro to Compete at Rolex Central Park Horse Show Sept. 25-26

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Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro at the 2015 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final. Photo by Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Rolex Central Park Horse Show Tickets Now on Sale

New York, NY – Double Olympic Gold Medalist Charlotte Dujardin, one of the most celebrated dressage riders in history, and her world-famous mount Valegro, will perform at the 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show Sept. 25-26. The world’s number-one ranked rider over the last 24 months, reigning European and World Champion, as well as 2015 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final Winner, Dujardin and Valegro will be making a rare appearance in front of their U.S. fans.

Catch Dujardin and Valegro Friday, Sept. 25, in the U.S. Open Dressage Grand Prix at 1:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 26, in the U.S. Open $75,000 Dressage Freestyle, presented by Axel Johnson Group, at 7 p.m. to see if they can beat the world-record scores they have already set in the Grand Prix and Freestyle.

“We are so excited and fortunate to be working with Charlotte, groom Carl and Valegro at the inaugural U.S. Open Dressage event. They are truly one of the great combinations in dressage history,” commented Mark Bellissimo, CEO of International Equestrian Group, LLC (IEG).

Abby Newell, principal of Piaffe Limited and agent for Charlotte and ten other British Dressage competitors, added, “Mark and International Equestrian Group have been an absolute pleasure to work with on securing Charlotte and Valegro. Both Carl and Charlotte are very aware of how visionary Mark has been in the U.S. and didn’t hesitate for a moment when he invited Valegro to take part [in the Rolex Central Park Horse Show]. Particularly, given the event is in such a stunning and high profile location, we are all very much looking forward to the show and exploring more ideas on working together in the future.”

Tickets are now on sale for the 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show. There are only 1,000 tickets available for the event and they are anticipated to sell out. Tickets can now be purchased at http://bit.ly/1AV2imv.

The following rooms are being offered to the Rolex Central Park Horse Show Attendees at the discounted rates indicated: Essex King: $499; Park View Essex King: $599; Central Park Queen with Park View: $599; Essex Junior Suite: $599; Manhattan Suite: $799. The above rates reflect a discount of $330 per night on all King and Queen sized rooms as well as the Junior Suites and a $201 discount on the Manhattan Suite. Rooms must be reserved by August 28, 2015 to qualify for these rates.

Rooms at the JW Marriot Essex House New York are limited and will sell out early, so early booking is encouraged. To book, please click here: http://bit.ly/1JFgbq5. In the “Please Select Guest Type” box, select “Attendee” when making a reservation.

For more information on the JW Marriot Essex House New York, please visit: www.jwmarriottessexhousenyc.com.

Additional information, including matinee performances, will be announced in the coming weeks on www.coth.com and www.centralparkhorseshow.com.

Media Contact:
Shin-Jung Hong
Nicholas & Lence Communications
ShinJung@nicholaslence.com
Tel: 212.938.0005

Equestrian Media Contact:
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Central Park Horse Show, Competitions, Dressage, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Mark Bellissimo Announces the Second Annual Rolex Central Park Horse Show

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The event will host the inaugural “US Open” in multiple equestrian disciplines over the five days.

New York, NY – July 17th, 2015 – As one of the most anticipated equestrian events of the year, the Rolex Central Park Horse Show will make a triumphant return to New York City’s iconic Central Park on September 23-27th 2015. The second-annual event will feature five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport and performances, ranging from Arabians and Dressage to Hunters and Show Jumping. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will now host the inaugural US Open in the in the following categories. US Open: Jumpers, US Open: Dressage, US Open: Hunters, US Open: U25 Jumpers, and US Open: Arabians. Qualifications and schedule for the US Open classes will be forthcoming.

After the 2014 debut of sold-out Rolex Central Park Horse Show, which garnered over 640 million media impressions, work immediately began to further the reach and impact of the thrilling event. The Show Jumping competition will again be sanctioned by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). In addition, the expanded schedule includes the beauty of the Arabian horse, Under 25 US Open Jumper Grand Prix, graceful Hunter competitions including the inaugural Duchossois Cup, a Puissance and both a Dressage Grand Prix and Dressage Freestyle.

Primed for growth in only its second year, The Rolex Central Park Horse Show has already accomplished significant expansion with a more robust show schedule, expanded sponsorship, and an impressive list of the world’s top equestrians ready to attend. The event will also benefit a lengthy list of New York as well as equestrian based charities to be announced at a later date.

“The Rolex Central Park Horse Show made a spectacular debut and is poised for an even greater year as we introduce the US Open for Equestrian Sport. We will be welcoming more equestrian disciplines to the heart of New York City as a showcase for equestrian sport in the United States,” said Mark Bellissimo, CEO of International Equestrian Group, LLC (IEG).

“Showcasing the many facets of the horse world in the heart of New York City is an exciting endeavor for us and the equine industry in general,” he added. “We are also very proud to continue our relationship with NBC Sports and we will be broadcasting the event to horse enthusiasts across the nation and the world.”

Grand prix show jumping will welcome New York City native Georgina Bloomberg as she returns to defend her Title victory in last year’s inaugural $210,000 Central Park Grand Prix CSI 3*, presented by Rolex. The US Open CSI 3* Grand Prix, taking place the evening of Friday, September 25, will air on NBC Sports Network during prime time on Sunday, September 27. The US Open format with be a two class competition.

The schedule kicks off with the US Open Arabian Horse Show on Wednesday, September 23, and continues with the Canadian Pacific $34,000 FEI Speed Class and a $10,000 1.2m Junior/Amateur class on Thursday. Friday welcomes Grand Prix Dressage, $25,000 Under-25 Jumper Grand Prix, and the $210,000 CSI 3* Grand Prix before the weekend gets underway with Dressage Freestyles as well as an Exhibition from the top Pony, Amateur, and Professional Hunters.

Spectator information, including matinee performances, Hospitality Tent opportunities and ticket sales, will be announced in the coming weeks. To request table information in the hospitality tent, please click on the following link: http://bit.ly/1V6PZO7, or Email Anne Caroline Valtin at vip@centralparkhorseshow.com or call 561-784-1133. For all other information, please use the “Contact Us” form on the website or click the following link: http://bit.ly/1OgK8Rr.

Wednesday, September 23rd

6:00 PM – US Open Arabian Horse Show

Thursday, September 24th

6:30 PM – US Open $25,000 – U25 Grand Prix
8:00 PM – US Open (Round 1) $34,000 FEI Speed Class presented by Canadian Pacific

Friday, September 25th

1:30 PM – US Open Dressage Grand Prix
6:30 PM – $5,000 Junior/Amateur 1.20m Class presented by Price Waterhouse
8:00 PM – US Open $210,000 (Final) FEI 3* Grand Prix presented by Rolex

Saturday, September 26th

10:00 AM – Matinee Performance
1:30 PM – US Open – Hunters – Duchossois Cup with Pony, Jr./Amateur, and Professional Classes
6:30 PM – US Open – Puissance $50,000
8:00 PM – US Open $75,000 Dressage Freestyle presented by Axel Johnson Group

Sunday, September 27th

10:00 AM – Matinee Performance
1:30 PM – Special Equestrian Event (TBA) presented by Chronicle of the Horse

For more information, please visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com or follow Central Park Horse Show on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Please join our mailing list for more updates on the front of the webpage.

Media Contact:
Shin-Jung Hong
Nicholas & Lence Communications
ShinJung@nicholaslence.com
Tel: 212.938.0005

Equestrian Media Contact:
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Dressage, Polo, Pony, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping, Vaulting

First Annual Central Park Horse Show Concludes

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Wins for Isabell Werth and Georgina Bloomberg

22 September 2014 – New York, USA – The first annual Central Park Horse Show, presented by Rolex and produced by The Chronicle of the Horse, yesterday concluded four days of top horse sport featuring the world’s best horses and riders in Show Jumping and Dressage, in New York City’s Trump Rink.

Georgina Bloomberg Wins Inaugural $210,000 Central Park Grand Prix CSI 3*

Twenty-three of the world’s best horses and riders jumped in the inaugural $210,000 Central Park Grand Prix CSI 3*, presented by Rolex, with an exciting victory for New York’s own Georgina Bloomberg riding Juvina on Thursday 18 September. The Central Park Grand Prix was televised live on NBC Sports Network as the first live primetime broadcast of equestrian sport on a major sports network. Later in the evening, New York native Lucy Deslauriers rode her horse Hester to victory in the $20,000 Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by PwC.

Thursday’s competition was just the beginning of an exciting four days of equestrian sport in New York City’s beloved Central Park. The Central Park Horse Show continued with its second day of show jumping competition on Friday 19 September under the beautiful New York City skyline. The evening featured a $50,000 “NYC vs. The World” Team Speed Challenge, presented by Donald J. Trump, with a win for Suncast® Corporation’s World Team. Representing his home nation of Ireland, Conor Swail won the competition overall with the leading round aboard Lansdowne.

A $5,000 Junior/Amateur Speed Challenge was held later in the evening with a win for 22-year-old New York based rider Hilary McNerney and Oscar. Rolex Testimonee Kent Farrington, the number 3 ranked rider in the world, guided the winning efforts in both competitions serving as captain of the victorious Suncast World Team as well as training McNerney to her win.

Farrington commented on the event following another great evening of competition representing his winning team. “I think this is one of the best venues we can have to showcase our sport,” he stated. “It is really exciting to be here and be a part of this event, getting it off the ground. A special thank you to everybody that has put big efforts into making this happen – Mark Bellissimo, Donald Trump, Rolex being our sponsor here, all the staff of the park, and everybody that has helped. I think for the first year, it’s a success, and I know there will be big efforts into making it better. I think that this could turn into a major stop on our tour and turn into a world-class event.”

Isabell Werth and El Santo NRW Win First Ever Central Park Dressage Challenge

Five-time Olympic Gold Medallist Isabell Werth of Germany won the inaugural $40,000 Central Park Dressage Challenge, presented by The Axel Johnson Group, riding El Santo NRW on Saturday 20 September. The United States’ Steffen Peters brought his superstar mount Ravel out of retirement for one special freestyle, and Jan Ebeling retired his famous mare Rafalca after the duo had their final performance together. It was an incredible night celebrating the beauty, grace, and power of dressage.

Performing their freestyle in Trump Rink with an incredible backdrop of skyscrapers in the New York City skyline, Rolex Testimonee Isabell Werth and El Santo NRW received a score of 82.042% from the judges to take top honors in the dressage challenge. Dutch rider Hans Peter Minderhoud showed his mount Glock’s Flirt to a score of 78.833% to finish second, and Canada’s Karen Pavicic and Don Daiquiri scored a 73.500% to place third. El Santo NRW is a 13-year-old Rheinlander gelding by Ehrentusch x Rythmus owned by Madeleine Winter-Schulze and Isabell Werth. The rider has had great success with the talented horse in Europe and decided to bring him to the United States for the first time for this very special evening.

“I have to say thank you in the name of all riders for the great idea for this event,” Werth stated. “In the beginning when I heard it, I couldn’t believe, but I was waiting to see if it was really coming true, and it really came true. I say a big thank you. It is a special event. If you go here through Central Park and if you arrive in New York, you can’t imagine that you will compete here in this arena. It was a lot of fun and a pleasure to be here.”

Along with the evening’s freestyle competition, dressage star Steffen Peters brought his famous Olympic and World Equestrian Games partner Ravel out of retirement for one special performance. The 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding last competed with Peters in 2012 after a career that launched them to the front of the world dressage stage, including an individual fourth at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, wins in the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Final (Las Vegas) and the 2009 Aachen CDIO (GER), two bronze medals at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (KY), and two U.S. Equestrian Federation National Grand Prix Championship titles. The exciting evening at Trump Rink showcased the world-renowned duo for one final performance of their award-winning freestyle.

U.S. Pony Club Games and The Shetland Pony Steeplechase

Saturday also featured two matinee performances with various exhibitions representing different disciplines of equestrian sport. The United States Pony Club Games highlighted New York’s top young Pony Club riders in a series of entertaining and competitive games. The inaugural Central Park Grand National Shetland Pony Steeplechase races, part of the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Series presented by Charles Owen, saw jockeys age seven to 16 riding atop one of the world’s most adorable pony breeds.

U.S. Vaulting Team & Polo

The 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games’ U.S. Vaulting Team showcased their world-class horseback gymnastics thanks to sponsor Akiko Yamazaki. Polo’s rising stars also took to the ring thanks to support from Wellington’s Grand Champions Polo Club. The U.S. Polo Association Central Park Polo Challenge concluded a fantastic weekend on Sunday afternoon.

For more information on the inaugural Central Park Horse Show and full results on all the competitions held over the four days, please visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com.

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
www.revolutionsports.co.uk

Competitions, Polo

US Trust Team Wins Inaugural U.S. Polo Assn. Central Park Polo Challenge

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Photos © Kit Houghton/Rolex and David Handschuh.

New York, NY – September 21, 2014 – The Central Park Horse Show (CPHS), presented by Rolex and produced by The Chronicle of the Horse, concluded a fantastic inaugural event on Sunday with matinee performances and an afternoon of polo in Central Park’s Trump Rink in New York City. The U.S. Polo Assn. Central Park Polo Challenge served as the weekend’s finale competition with a win for the U.S. Trust Team made up of players Kris Kampsen, Marc Ganzi and Wesley Finlayson. The Central Park Horse Show would like to thank its wonderful sponsors, competitors, staff, and spectators for making the event’s debut an incredible success.

Capping off four days of world-class equestrian competition, the U.S. Polo Assn. Central Park Polo Challenge featured match-ups of three teams each made up of three highly talented American polo players. The winning team for U.S. Trust celebrated victory with Kampsen, Ganzi, and Finlayson. The FlexJet team of Melissa Ganzi, Charlie Muldoon, and Juan Bollini finished second, and the U.S. Polo Assn.’s team of Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini, and Grant Ganzi earned a third place finish. All of the players rode horses generously provided by the Ganzi Family and Grand Champions Polo Club. Kampsen was named MVP, and Open Corchos was Best Playing Pony.

“This has been an extremely exciting event for us to have polo here in Central Park,” stated Jackie Harrigan, Vice President of Marketing for the U.S. Polo Assn. “All of our money goes back to funding the sport of polo, to growing it, and developing intercollegiate and interscholastic programs. This is a really special event for us, and we hope to be a part of it next year.”

Leading his U.S. Trust team to victory, top player Kris Kampsen had fun competing in the wonderful location with close friends.

“It was incredible. It was a great experience to be in New York playing polo, and playing with your friends was unbelievable. The event, the venue, the organization that it took to get this done was bar none. It was phenomenal,” Kampsen stated. “When you are out there playing you zone everything out and then all of a sudden there is a stoppage of play and you look up and you are like, ‘Wow, look at the venue that we are in!’ It is unbelievable.”

“This is a one-of-a-kind experience to be in the center of Manhattan doing this,” Kampsen added. “I could not have asked for a better outcome and better friends and teammates to play with and against. It was great.”

polo2Melissa Ganzi enjoyed her experience playing in the momentous game and thanked the organizers for their vision in making everything happen. “I want to thank Mark and Katherine Bellissimo for having the dream and making all of this possible and setting up this amazing venue,” Ganzi acknowledged. “It was quite complicated, the logistics of getting horses into Central Park, but with Michael Stone and Bobby Murphy, we were able to get all of that accomplished. I look forward to next year, and I am really honored and privileged to have been a part of it.”

“The atmosphere was energizing,” Ganzi noted. “I think the crowd really enjoyed the game. The spectators’ level of interest and attention was pretty exceptional for a lot of people that possibly have never seen polo before. I was impressed, and I could feel their energy while we were playing.”

Nic Roldan saw his help and support of the event pay off with the great success of Sunday’s competition. “There was a lot of work that went into making this all happen. Obviously Marc and Melissa Ganzi had a very big part, and if it weren’t for Mark Bellissimo, we would not be here,” Roldan stated. “We looked at the setting and just couldn’t imagine a better place to play polo. Our first experience here was better than any experience that I have had. The ring was amazing, the setting and the weather were great, and the fans were great. I think we had a great turnout. I think all in all the event was a huge success, and we look forward to coming back next year.”

CEO of the U.S. Polo Assn., Peter Rizzo, attended all of the weekend’s fun exhibitions and great competition and was thrilled to expose the sport of polo to a broad range of spectators in this historic event.

“The last time polo like this was played in New York was in 1876, so bringing it back to Manhattan and bringing it back to this kind of audience is remarkable,” Rizzo stated. “It was a pleasure being here with other horses and all of the other disciplines to be able to show our game to a wider audience, so we are very happy.”

As part of the United States Polo Association’s ongoing program to expose sports fans nationwide to the sport of polo, the match will be telecast on the NBC Sports Network (NBC SN) on October 4 at 3:30 p.m. EST. It will be the first ever nationwide telecast of an arena polo match.

U.S. Polo Association President Joe Meyer looks forward to seeing the Central Park Polo Challenge broadcast to help promote the sport across the country.

“We have 250 polo clubs in the United States, and I think that what happened here is probably the most historic event in a long time,” Meyer said. “The Bellissimos did a spectacular job of organizing this and figuring out how to pull it together, and the U.S. Polo Association is excited about working with them to continue to share the sport with the rest of the world through New York City.”

“One of the things that we are trying to do is to get polo to become well known throughout the United States, and doing that through TV has helped us significantly,” Meyer stated. “For the last couple of years we have been working with NBC Sports and showing some of our best and what I would call highest grade of polo in the United States. We are all players, we love the game, we love the horses, and the chance that people get to see this happen at this historic event here in Central Park in the middle of New York City has been fantastic.”

Sunday also featured two matinee performances with various exhibitions representing different disciplines of equestrian sport. The United States Pony Club Games highlighted New York’s top young Pony Club riders in a series of entertaining and competitive games. The inaugural Central Park Grand National Shetland Pony Steeplechase races, part of the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Series presented by Charles Owen, saw jockeys age seven to 16 riding atop one of the world’s most adorable pony breeds.

McLeanYoung dressage phenom Barbara “Bebe” Davis represented the next generation of dressage stars. Polo’s rising stars took to the ring thanks to support from Wellington’s Grand Champions Polo Club. One-of-a-kind inspirational equestrian entertainment concluded the matinees as Australian Horseman Guy McLean and his equine partners demonstrated the strong bond between horses and humans. McLean then returned for an encore performance following the polo match as fans could not get enough of his incredible horses.

Along with the wonderful competition and exhibitions, VIP guests enjoyed beautiful seating and dining thanks to VERANDA magazine. VERANDA magazine is the sponsor of the interior design of the VIP tent including crystal chandeliers from Troy Lighting and carpets from New Moon.

Sunday’s competition concluded the Central Park Horse Show’s momentous first event. For more information, please go to www.centralparkhorseshow.com.

“Like” the new Central Park Horse Show Facebook page and follow them on Twitter at @CPHorseShow, and on Instagram at @CPHorseShow!

About Rolex

Leading brand of the Swiss watch industry, Rolex, headquartered in Geneva, enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. Its Oyster watches, all certified as chronometers for their precision, are symbols of excellence, performance and prestige. A pioneer in the development of the wristwatch as early as 1905, the brand is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism introduced in 1931. Rolex has registered over 400 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Rolex is also actively involved in supporting the arts, sports, exploration, the spirit of enterprise, and the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities as well as philanthropic programmes.

About The Chronicle of the Horse

For 76 years, The Chronicle of the Horse has been the industry leader in providing news coverage of national and international sport horse competitions. Through our award-winning weekly magazine and web coverage we offer everything from competition results to compelling features and thought-provoking commentary. The Chronicle Untacked quarterly lifestyle publication launched in 2013 to rave review. Read more at www.chronofhorse.com.

Media Contact:
Shin-Jung Hong, Nicholas & Lence Communications
ShinJung@nicholaslence.com / Tel: 212.938.0005

Equestrian Media Contact:
Jennifer Wood, Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com