NEWS RELEASE
Jan. 05, 2008
Grand Hunter, Rost Arenas Receiving New Footing for WEF
WELLINGTON, Fla., Jan. 5--In response to requests from exhibitors, the Grand Hunter Field and the Rost Arena are undergoing an overhaul and new footing installed in time for the start of the CN Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Jan. 16.
"Requests for improvements to the Grand Hunter Field and the Rost Arena started to pour in after word got out about the work we were performing on the International Arena, Ring Six and other competition areas," said Mark Bellissimo, Managing Partner of Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC that operates the PBIEC shows.
"We were already working flat out with only a single day off for Christmas to make improvements throughout the entire facility in the period of about one month from the time we took over to the start of WEF.
"We decided to add extra crews and equipment to upgrade the Grand Hunter Field and Rost Arenas instead of waiting until the end of WEF.
"ESP looks on the outpouring of requests from exhibitors as a vote of confidence in our ability to meet such high expectations in a very short time frame."
Ian Millar, known as "Cap'n Canada" and an eight-time Olympian (nine Olympic teams counting the 1980 alternate Games) and aiming to represent Canada in the 2008 Olympics, said after touring the facility.
"What I'm seeing done here is fairly amazing.
"I've always believed that the Wellington facility should be to the United States what Aachen is to Germany and Spruce Meadows is to Canada--the calling card of our sport."
In addition to the competition arena upgrades, three additional work rings and a lunging area are being made available to trainers for WEF.
Two of the arenas and the lunging area are at the south end of the show grounds and the third ring will be at the South Grounds, formerly Littlewood Farm.
"Although we received offers from some trainers to lease the arenas exclusively for the season," Bellissimo said, "we decided to make them available to all trainers. We will create a schedule that works for as many people as possible."
Bellissimo said that he will schedule a trainers' meeting for the third week of WEF from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3 to get feedback on operating efficiencies at the show grounds. Date, time and location of the meeting will be announced closer to the time.
Michael Stone, former secretary general of the International Equestrian Federation who is a key ESP executive, will be in Wellington for the duration of WEF and will be the primary on-the-show-grounds interface with trainers and exhibitors.
A massive overhaul of communications infrastructure requiring laying miles of fiber optic and electric cabling under ground is nearing completion to link show offices, competition and warmup arenas, judges boxes, the press box and other areas vital to the operation of WEF.
Demand for stabling has been so great that additional tents are being installed. The increases mean a total of more than 3,560 stalls for hunter, jumper and dressage competitors at the Show Grounds and the South Grounds.
With the expansion of WEF in Wellington to 12 weeks from eight weeks, more than 80 per cent of exhibitors renting stalls on the show grounds have reported their horses will be on the property by Jan. 16.
A double digit increase has been logged for vendors renting space on the show grounds and prize money has increased to $5 million from $4 million compared with 2007.
Photo: Trucks bringing in new footing for the Grand Hunter Field and Rost Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Saturday, A high resolution version is available on request.