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Gulf Coast Winter Classic Prize List Online

Photo by MH Hamm.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic Company is excited to announce that its Gulfport prize list is now available online! Check the mailbox next week because both prize lists for Pensacola and Gulfport will be waiting for you. But in the meantime, check out the increased prize money being offered now on the Gulf of Mexico this winter!

February 5 kicks off the sixteenth annual Mississippi Gulf Coast Winter Classic Show Circuit and offers exhibitors extensive class offerings as well as more than one million dollars in prize money over six weeks.  That’s right!  More than a million up for grabs!

The show offers brand new barns with 400 extra stalls this winter, the best grand prix turf field in the country, ten minutes to beach side accommodations, dining, boating and shopping, fresh gulf coast seafood, shopping in unique boutiques and factory outlets, five star casino resorts, signature golf courses, International and National Hunter Derbies, and more jumper classes with plenty of prize money to go around!  Don’t forget, the complimentary rider lounges complete with restrooms, heat, tables and chairs and TVs are adjacent to the grand prix and hunter rings.  The RV parking provides everything you need to keep your mobile home in top shape.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic Company provides its signature parties at least twice a week.  “Our motto is come for the show and stay for the fun,” said Janet McCarroll, Show Coordinator.  “The Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic horse shows are so much fun and we plan all year for the thousands of folks heading to the Gulf to show with us each winter,” she said.  “No one leaves disappointed,” said Bob Bell, President of Classic Company and Gulf Coast Winter Classic Show Producer.  “We offer the best horse showing experience at a fraction of the cost of other show companies at the best facilities in the most desirable location on the water each winter,” he said. “And we’re offering more than a million dollars this winter,” he added, “so come on down!”

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic shows’ bio-security measures last winter made the Harrison County Fairgrounds a safe haven for horses and riders looking to show.  “We saw what was happening in Florida and we were very diligent in our efforts to keep our show grounds healthy and everyone showing all winter,” said Bell.  “We will again have bio-security measures in place and plan on having a very successful show season ahead of us,” he said.

The USHJA International Hunter Derby is scheduled to take place this year during Week 5. Photo by MH Hamm
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The USHJA International Hunter Derby is scheduled to take place this year during Week 5. Photo by MH Hamm

The schedule this winter offers weekly USHJA National Hunter Derby & Classics and an International Hunter Derby Week 5.  Some highlights include:

Week 1  $5,000 Welcome – $25,000 Grand Prix
Week 2  $25,000 Welcome – $35,000 Grand Prix
Week 3  $25,000 Welcome – $50,000 Grand Prix
Week 4  $25,000 Welcome – $50,000 Grand Prix
Week 5  $25,000 Welcome – $77,000 Grand Prix, $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Week 6  $5,000 Welcome – $25,000 Grand Prix, Plus Rodeo.

“I have been coming to Gulfport for eleven years,” said Adult Amateur rider Cheryl Rubenstein of Houston, Texas.  “I think this show gets better every year and the facilities are excellent,” she said.  “We probably have 16 to 18 horses over any given week, sometimes 20.  Most of them do the hunters and we have about 25% of them doing jumpers,” she said.

The new permanent barns offering 400 additional stalls are in close proximity to the hunter rings. “The footing here is fabulous,” said Rubenstein. “The slope of the rings lets the water drain really well and the rings never feel slick or dangerous even if it does rain,” she added. “The rings are very well managed, and the footing never feels like you’re sinking or like you can’t get out and it and they [the rings] get dragged enough.  I don’t have to do this,” Rubenstein said. “I do this because I love it.  I need to feel safe – I’m an adult and I don’t want to get hurt,” she said. “Bob and his staff take excellent care of the rings from the decorating to the footing and we know that we are his number one priority,” she added.

Cheryl Rubenstein and Casino compete each winter at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic. Flashpoint Photography
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Cheryl Rubenstein and Casino compete each winter at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic. Flashpoint Photography

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is easily accessible by trailer or plane.  The airport is no more than a twenty minute drive to the show grounds which are located directly off the interstate.  Some of the competitors even rent beach front homes when showing at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic shows.

Location Location Location!

Check out Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic Company’s Official Lodging Partners!

The Gulf Coast Classic Company is pleased to announce the return of its Official Show Lodging Partners through Equestrian Connections.  Hotel properties range from Best Western to Hilton to Marriott brands.

The Gulf Coast Winter Classic shows are always fun and this year have over a million dollars in prize money for you!  There is never a credit card fee charged by the show office and never an add/scratch fee – you pay only for what you show in!  Make the Mississippi Gulf Coast Winter Classic your showing destination this winter. Come for the show and stay for the fun!

The Gulf Coast Classic Company and the Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States.  Together, they offer the best exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events each winter.  Please visit them at www.gulfcoastclassic.com and www.ClassicCompany.com or call them at 843.768.5503.  All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director, at lisa@classiccompany.com or call 908.310.6248.

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See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd.
www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX:  (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311  Johns Island  SC 29457

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