WELLINGTON, Fla., Jan. 15-Excitement is in the air as the 2008 CN Winter Equestrian Festival prepares to open its gates on Wednesday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The long-running equestrian sporting event opens under new management, with Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC (ESP) taking over the reins. The change of ownership has seen extensive renovations to the show grounds, located on Pierson Road, in an effort to make the 12 weeks of international sport as comfortable as possible for spectators, competitors and horses.
“The opportunity that exists here is unique in the world,&#xu201D; said Mark Bellissimo, Managing Partner of ESP. “We are embarking on three great challenges-organizing the facility and building the facility, which are both reaching completion and the next challenge is to get the spectators here. We think it will be the finest facility in the U.S.&#xu201D;
The changes taking place met with approval from Eugene Mische whose Stadium Jumping Inc. developed the Winter Equestrian Festival to its current status as one of the most prestigious horse show circuits in North America.
“It is great to pass the torch to Mark,&#xu201D; Mische said. “You can see his enthusiasm, and it is amazing what he has got done in such a short time. It takes wanting to do it and it takes the people behind it who have the initiative and yes, the financial resources, too. He’s done a great job, it is a great thing for the sport, and I look forward to being here and giving whatever help I can give to the new organization.&#xu201D;<br />
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Hunter Harrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of CN that is the title sponsor of WEF, said: “Part of CN’s internal strategy has been trying to grow like this sport has been trying to grow. Now CN has expanded around the world, and we want to help the sport expand around the world. The difference we’ve been lacking is the spectators for the sport. This is a hell of an effort this team is making.”<br />
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The top athletes from around the world have gathered in Wellington to spend the next 12 weeks competing for more than $5 million in prize money. Olympic champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil and eight-time Canadian Olympian Ian Millar join such well-known American athletes as Beezie Madden and McLain Ward, both from New York, as well as local favorite Margie Engle in competing in at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival as part of their bid to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games. Decorated U.S. Equestrian Team member Peter Wylde has also moved from his base in the Netherlands to compete at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival for the first time since 2000.<br />
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“There is a huge amount of excitement,&#xu201D; noted Wylde who has brought 12 horses to Florida including the Olympic contenders Campino and Esplanade. “We need to raise the standard in our country and catch up to Europe. What Mark Bellissimo is doing is what we need in our country for our horses, our riders and our owners. It is tremendously exciting, and I want to support it and be a part of it.&#xu201D;<br />
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Wylde’s thoughts were echoed by Kent Farrington, who won more Grand Prix events in 2007 than any other American rider. Farrington said, “Like most of the riders, I believe this facility is going to be incredible when it is finished.&#xu201D;<br />
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Other riders at the news conference were jumper riders Pessoa and Georgina Bloomberg, Geoff Teall and Louise Serio from the hunter discipline and dressage competitor Susan Dutta.<br />
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One of ESP’s main objectives is to make equestrian sport more spectator friendly, and they will be adding an element of entertainment to the events in order to make it more enjoyable. On Sunday, Olympic medalist Ashley Holzer will perform a Grand Prix Freestyle dressage demonstration, which can be described as ‘horse dancing’ as the horse and rider perform highly technical movements in time with the music. This will expose audiences to other types of horse sport while Sunday’s show jumping will also undergo a make-over. Instead of the typical Grand Prix event, Sunday will feature a $25,000 Six Bar competition as well as a $25,000 Speed Derby beginning at 1 p.m.</p>
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<div class="entryfooter">January 15th, 2008 <strong>|</strong> Ken Braddick <strong>|</strong> </p>
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