DEL MAR, CA—Horse enthusiasts, get ready for the 61st annual Del Mar National Horse Show! This premier show, which features three separate disciplines during its three-week run, will be at the Del Mar Equestrian Center on the Del Mar Fairgrounds from April 20 through May 7.
Western competition, such as trail, reining and speed events, takes place April 20-23. Dressage competition follows April 27-30, and Hunter/Jumper competition concludes the show May 2-7.
Each week’s premiere event takes place Saturday at 7 p.m., beginning with Western Week’s “Night of the Horse,” presented by Mary’s Tack and Feed, on Saturday, April 22. Back by popular demand will be the hilarious comedy routine of Tommie Turvey Jr. and his talented paint horse, Pokerjoe. Turvey last performed at the Del Mar National to a delighted audience at the 2004 Night of the Horse. He is a second-generation horse trainer who was born at Camp Pendleton and who now lives in Illinois. Pokerjoe travels over 100,000 miles a year performing in front of thousands of people, “upstaging” Tommie in the “Riding Instructor” comedy act.
Night of the Horse also will feature many other equestrian acts, and is a great evening of entertainment for horse lovers of all ages. Among other acts will be the Mane Event Drill Team, Mules Wild West Show and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Vaulting. Musical entertainment starts at 5:30 p.m. featuring Hill Country, the official band of country radio station KSON 97.3 FM.
Other popular events during Western Week will be the Friday, April 21 evening featured events, “Triple Crown Feeds Challenge of the Breeds” and the “Sliding Contest,” presented by Del Mar Feed & Tack and Equine Facilities Management.
The Challenge of the Breeds, which is contested over two days, determines which breed is the best all-around at a variety of challenges, such as Pleasure Driving (pulling a carriage), Trail (negotiating obstacles on a trail), Hunter Under Saddle (jumping fences) and Western Pleasure (slow, controlled movements). The Western Pleasure class concludes this competition Friday night. In the Sliding Contest, horses gallop, then stop abruptly and slide along the ground. The winner is determined by the longest parallel sliding tracks.
The Del Mar National Horse Show will continue with Dressage Week April 27-30, featuring the classic elegance of its premiere event, Evening of Musical Freestyles, at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 29. Hunter/Jumper Week completes the show May 2-7. The Del Mar National’s showcase event, the $100,000 HBO Grand Prix of Del Mar an AGA event, takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6. Those who follow world-class horse jumpers will want to attend to see if two-time defending champion, Rich Fellers on McGuinness, can make it three in a row in one of the Western United States’ top jumping competitions.
The Del Mar National Horse Show runs April 20-May 7, 2006, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, CA. For ticket information, call the Del Mar Equestrian Office at (858) 792-4288, or Ticketmaster at (619) 220-8497. Tickets also are available at Mary’s Tack and Feed in Del Mar and San Juan Capistrano, or online through www.ticketmaster.com. Admission on weekdays is free. Admission for the show’s featured evening and weekend events ranges from $10 to $17 for grandstand seats.
Visit www.delmarnational.com for more information
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