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Jumper Riders Find Great Prize Money and Classes at Horse Shows by the Bay

Written by: Jennifer Wood
Client: Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc.
Release Date: 2008-05-19

Traverse City, MI - May 19, 2008 - Jumper riders that attend the Horse Shows by the Bay, an equestrian festival held from July 16 to August 3 in the scenic area of Traverse City, are in for three weeks of great classes and prize money. In addition to a weekly $25,000 grand prix, Horse Shows by the Bay offers numerous jumper classics.

In each week of competition, Horse Shows by the Bay hosts a $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix and a $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix. The $25,000 grand prix on week one is sponsored by Spy Coast Farm and week three’s grand prix is sponsored by D-BRAIDER. The grand prix events are held at a regional level, which encourages many riders to bring horses for experience and trainers to bring riders who want to move up their level of competition. The grand prix events at Horse Shows by the Bay are typically some of the largest in the Midwest during the summer, due to their inviting level and great prize money.

These highlight events will be held in the new competition arena. The new riding arena features approximately 106,000 feet of riding surface. It is 280 feet wide by 380 feet long and is set in an amphitheater style environment. There is tiered seating, as well as an entertaining area on two sides of the arena. The ring includes a built-in bank and has all-weather footing. In addition to the new show arena, an additional warm-up ring has been built. It also features all-weather footing.

Horse Shows by the Bay will have three top international course designers this year for the jumper ring. For week one, designer Chris Brandt of Ontario, Canada, will be on hand. Brandt is an Equine Canada “Senior” and United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) “R” Licensed Course Designer. Chris has built at Spruce Meadows since 1998, designing in every ring except the International Ring. In 2001, he was part of the course design team lead by Leopoldo Palacios responsible for the first million dollar class in show jumping.

Week two’s grand prix jumper course designer is Michel Vaillancourt, a Canadian native who now resides in Aiken, SC. As a rider, Vaillancourt won the individual silver medal in the 1976 Montreal Olympics and the team gold medal at the 1980 Rotterdam alternate Olympics. A course designer for 20 years, Vaillancourt is a “Senior” Course Designer for Equine Canada, and he is USEF and FEI licensed. He has designed at the Winter Equestrian Festival, the Royal Winter Fair, Spruce Meadows, and the North American Young Riders Championships.

Guilherme Jorge is the course designer for week three. In addition to his course designing skills, Jorge helped design and plan the new competition arena at Horse Shows by the Bay. A native of Brazil, Jorge is an FEI International Course designer as well as a veterinarian. Jorge has designed at the Horse Shows by the Bay series since 2004. Jorge has also designed at such prestigious competitions as the Winter Equestrian Festival, Spruce Meadows, Olympia in England, the Budweiser World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, and last year’s Pan American Games in Brazil.

In addition to the big prize money events, Horse Shows by the Bay offers classics for other jumper divisions. The Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers have a $2,500 classic every week, and the Children’s and Adult Jumpers have $2,500 NAL/WIHS qualifying classics in weeks one and two. During the third week, there is a $10,000 NAL/WIHS Children’s and Adult Jumper Prix, which will be held on Sunday, August 3. There are NAL Open Speed qualifiers as well as qualifying classes for the Young Jumper Championships.

The great prize money and variety of classes has attracted more and more jumper riders each year to the Horse Shows by the Bay. Last year, top Minnesota-based rider Scott Lenkart won two of the three grand prix events. Other top jumper riders attending this year are Olympic silver medalist Lisa Jacquin, Steve Schaefer from the Chicago area and Irish rider Shane Sweetnam, who represented his country in this year’s Nations Cup competition at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival.

In each week of the 2008 Horse Shows by the Bay series, there is an event for every jumper rider. Check out the schedule and list of classes at www.horseshowsbythebay.com.

Photo Credit: Scott Lenkart, winner of two grand prix events at the 2007 Horse Shows by the Bay series. Photo © 2008 Chrissy Lane/PMG. This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.

2008 HORSE SHOWS BY THE BAY FAST FACTS

EVENT: Horse Shows by the Bay

WHAT: A three week equestrian festival that is “AA” rated, World Champion Hunter Rider sanctioned, and hosts a $25,000 grand prix each week. Horse Shows by the Bay hosts 1,200 horses and offers more than $360,000 in prize money.

WHERE: Flintfields Horse Park, 6535 Bates Road, Williamsburg, MI 49690 – 10 miles east from the beautiful Resort town of Traverse City

WHEN: July 16-August 3, 2008

HIGHLIGHTS:
Friday, July 18, July 25, and Thursday, July 31
$10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix

Saturday, July 19
$10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix
$5,000 Adult Hunter Classic, sponsored by Lisa A.H. Cudahy
$5,000 Children’s Hunter Classic, sponsored by Lisa A.H. Cudahy
Kid’s Day Program

Sunday, July 20
$25,000 Spy Coast Farm Grand Prix of Traverse City
$5,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, sponsored by Lanes End
$5,000 Pony Hunter Classic, sponsored by Peter Pletcher

Saturday, July 26
$10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix
$10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Janet P. Read - member event of the ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Dietrich Insurance, featuring Walsh Harness & Saddlery.
$1,000 Ride for the Ribbon 2’6” Non-Pro Hunter Classic

Sunday, July 27
$25,000 Grand Traverse Bay Grand Prix

Friday, August 1
University of Michigan vs. Michigan State University Polo Match & Charity Fundraiser

Saturday, August 2
$25,000 D-BRAIDER Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix

Sunday, August 3
$10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix
$10,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Prix

ADDITIONAL WEEKLY FEATURES:
$2,500 Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classics
$2,500 Children’s & Adult Jumper Classics
$3,000 NAL Open Speed Qualifiers
USEF “AA” Hunter Divisions
“A” & “C” Rated Hunter Classics
Young Jumper Championship Qualifiers
New Hunter Breeding Divisions
New Short Stirrup and Children’s Pony Hunter Classics
Non-rated Hunter, Jumper, & Equitation Classes
Charity Fundraisers
Daily and Weekly Exhibitor Socials and Parties

HOURS:
Wednesday through Sunday, beginning at 8 a.m.

ADMISSION:
Wed and Thursday - Closed to the Public
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays - $5/person, Children under 5 are free
July 19 - Children under the age of 18 Free
General admission tickets can be purchased at the gate

PARKING: Available on-site; included in admission price

DIRECTIONS:
From South East Michigan (Detroit Area):
I-75 North to M-72 West (@ Grayling); Follow M-72 West through Kalkaska; @ Williamsburg continue 1.9 miles to Bates Road; after Rail Road Crossing turn right onto Bates Road; Show Facility on Left 1 mile

From Mid Michigan (Lansing Area):
Follow US-127 north to Clare; Merge onto M-10 Wes/M-115 West towards Ludington/Cadillac to Route 115 North; Merge onto M-131 North; Turn left onto Fife Lake Road/CR-605; Follow jog left staying on CR-605 to Williamsburg; Turn left on M-72 West; @ Williamsburg continue west 1.9 miles to Bates Road; after Rail Road Crossing turn right onto Bates Road; Show Facility on Left 1 mile

From South West Michigan (Grand Rapids Area):
East I-96 north to Grand Rapids; take US 131 north to Cadillac; Turn left onto Fife Lake Road/CR-605; Follow jog left staying on CR-605 to Williamsburg; Turn left on M-72 West; @ Williamsburg continue 1.9 miles to Bates Road; after Rail Road Crossing turn right onto Bates Road; Show Facility on Left 1 mile

From Northern Michigan (Petoskey Area):
US 31 South to Acme; East on M-72 3 miles; just prior to Railroad Tracks, turn left on Bates Road; Show Facility on Left 1 mile

From Traverse City:
Follow US 31 East to Acme; turn East on M-72 3 miles; just prior to Railroad tracks,
Turn left on Bates Road; Show Facility on Left 1 mile

By Air :
Use the Cherry Capital Airport—Traverse City; Follow Directions from TC

OFFICIAL HOST HOTEL:
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
Michigan’s finest and most comprehensive resort experience, 3 miles west of Flintfields Horse Park, Group Block Rate expires May 16, 2008
www.grandtraverseresort.com
800-236-1577

FEATURE HOTEL:
Park Place Hotel
In the heart of downtown Traverse City’s shopping and dining district, group block rate expires June 1, 2008
www.park-place-hotel.com
231-946-5000

ADDITONAL BLUE RIBBON HOST HOTELS:
Grand Beach Resort, 231-938-4455
Park Shore Resort, 231-947-3800
Sugar Beach Resort, 231-938-0100
Super 8- East Bay, 231-938-1887
Traverse Victorian Inn, 231-947-5525
Holiday Inn-West Bay, 800-888-8020
Pointes North Resort, 800-968-3422
Shanty Creek Resorts, 800-678-4111
Timber Ridge RV Resort, 800-909-2327
For all other Group Rates & Additional Hotel Listings, contact 1800-TRAVERS

STABLING/SPONSORSHIP CONTACT:
Alex Rheinheimer
561-723-6287
alexrheinheimer@aol.com
www.horsesportsbythebay.com

MEDIA CONTACT
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
13833 Wellington Trace
Unit E-4 #221
Wellington, FL 33414
Tel: 561-753-3389
Fax: 561-753-3386
E-mail: pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
Web site: www.phelpsmediagroup.com