Three of four members of the US WEG team will compete at this year’s National Horse Show.
Photo by Susan Stickle
Riders from around the globe all have their eyes on the big cash prizes and the numerous prestigious titles. This year’s show will be offering an impressive $755,000 in prize money. The National Horse Show offers an International Open Jumper division with $460,000 in prize money, while the top rated hunter sections have a total purse of $195,000. Meanwhile, $100,000 in total is offered to the Amateur-Owner and Under 25 Jumper sections.
Katie Dinan, who soared to victory in last year’s main event on Saturday night, is scheduled to return to defend her title in Lexington. She’ll be faced with a roster of riders, all trying to make sure that Dinan does not double up this year in the new CP National Horse Show Grand Prix.
Topping the list are three of the four riders on the 2014 Bronze medal winning team at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France.
Kent Farrington, Bronze medalist at WEG, is on the roster for the 2014 NHS. Photo by Sue Stickle (Right)
The above list of some of the all-time best show jumpers in the United States are credited with an amazing total of over one thousand grand prix wins among the group.
Part of the next generation of show jumping stars, Georgina Bloomberg, fresh off her win in the Central Park Grand Prix in New York City will be joined by Jessica Springsteen, winner of the celebrated American Gold Cup this year. Last year’s American Gold Cup champion, Brianne Goutal, is joined by the last two Individual Gold Medal winners from the North American Junior and Young Rider Championship Wilton Porter, the Gold medal winner this summer at the Horse Park in Lexington and Lillie Keenan, who claimed the top of the podium in 2013.
Georgina Bloomberg captured the inaugural Central Park Grand Prix in NYC. Photo by The Book LLC (Right)
A star-studded international field of riders is also making the journey to the heart of the Bluegrass this year. They include a strong Irish contingent led by the red-hot Darragh Kenny, along with Shane Sweetnam, Richie Maloney and Conor Swail.
South America is well represented with Paulo Santana of Brazil and Daniel Bluman and Roberto Teran of Colombia.
Top riders from Europe include Belgium riders Francois Mathy and brothers Nicola and Olivier Philippaerts and Switzerland’s Beat Mandli who comes to Lexington fresh off a victory in the FEI World Cup Grand Prix De Penn National at Harrisburg.
Photo by Kendall Bierer
Tickets for each prime-time show on Thursday evening,Friday evening, Saturday evening and Sunday daytime can be purchased now at Ticketleap.com at: http://nationalhorseshow.ticketleap.com/nhs2014/
The highlights for this year’s show include on Thursdaynight, the Copernicus Stables, LLC $75,000 International Open Jumpers – Time First Jump Off.Friday night’s feature is the Chansonette Farm $45,000 Gambler’s Choice Top Score Costume Class in honor of Halloween night. On Saturday, it’s the main event, the $250,000 CP National Horse Show Grand Prix. On Sunday afternoon the National Horse Show plays host to the Maclay National Championship for the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Class Presented by Dover’s Saddlery beginning early in the morning and continuing with the final round at approximately 3:00 PM.
All evening sessions begin promptly at 7:00 p.m.
For tickets to this year’s show visit TicketLeap.com at: http://nationalhorseshow.ticketleap.com/nhs2014/
The prize list for the National Horse Show can be downloaded at: https://www.nhs.org/prize-list-and-entry-forms/
2014 National Horse Show Fast Facts
