NEWS RELEASE
Jan. 02, 2008
Earlier Grand Prix Jumping Start So Jumping, Polo Fans Can Enjoy Both on Same Day
Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC (ESP), the new management company for WEF, announced Thursday that it will start the Sunday Grand Prix at 1 P.M., an hour earlier than previous years. The Grand Prix will be held on an all-weather surface in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center which is the venue for WEF, at 12 weeks and more than $5 million the largest and richest horse show in the world.
In another move to enhance spectator enjoyment of high performance jumping action, ESP announced the introduction of "pre-loading" entries in the Grand Prix. By this procedure, horses are admitted to the show ring while the previous entry is still jumping the course. When the first horse finishes the course the second horse is essentially starting. This can reduce the total time of the event substantially. In a Grand Prix of 50 riders, the event time can be reduced by up to 40 minutes.
The Sunday match at the nearby International Polo Club (IPC) starts at 3 P.M.
IPC has become the center of one of the largest polo leagues in the world and it runs concurrently with WEF. IPC is also the venue for the Stanford Financial Group U.S. Open Polo Championship.
Mark Bellissimo, ESP Managing Partner, said:"We took this initiative because many sport horse fans have told us they want to enjoy both the Grand Prix jumping and international polo on Sunday afternoons. John Goodman has done a great job creating a world class polo venue. John and I agreed that this was in the best interest of the two sports and I think a first step in better coordinating our efforts.
"The steps that we can take to start the Grand Prix earlier and shorten the length of the event by pre-loading while maintaining all the exciting action will, we believe, be a winning move for jumping and polo, and for the spectators."
IPC Founder John Goodman said: "This one seemingly small step in the start times of the two major Sunday attractions could have a huge impact on both our sports.
"Fans of the finest polo and show jumping in the world won't have to make a choice which event to go to. They can now enjoy both on the same afternoon with amenities at both venues that are unsurpassed.
"This is very exciting for me that we have worked out a way for everyone to benefit and we are looking for other ways to cooperate for the good of horse sport and the spectators."
Grand Prix riders were equally enthusiastic.
Olympic medalist Norman Dello Joio said, "This is a decision that everyone can get behind. It's good for both our sports and helps both venues to build on their spectator bases."
Todd Minkus, another U.S. equestrian team member, said, "The earlier the better from a spectator standpoint and from that of the horse. In the past the Grand Prix classes with jump-offs have gone on so late in the day that they have run into the horses' dinner times. Horse schedules need to be as consistent and regular as we can make them."
Chris Kappler, 2004 Olympic team gold and individual silver medalist, endorsed the earlier start and said, "hopefully it will allow more spectators to enjoy both jumping and polo."
Anne Kursinski, a member of American teams at four Olympics, said she thought the change in start times was "wonderful" and a good idea to improve spectator attendance.
Beezie Madden, an Olympic gold medalist and the U.S. rider ranked highest in the world, said she appreciated the change that would end a conflict for fans and a shorter competition day that would be good for horses and riders.
Photo: Mark Bellissimo, Equestrian Sport Productions Managing Partner (left), and John Goodman, International Polo Club Founder (right), cooperating in the making of a television commercial in December designed to promote high performance horse sports in western Palm Beach County. Photo: Ken Braddick-HorseSport USA. A high resolution version is available on request.
