New York, NY – August 24, 2016 – The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature show hunters for the second consecutive year in one of the most spectacular horse show venues in the world. Held at Wollman Rink in Manhattan’s Central Park on September 21-25, 2016, the Rolex Central Park Horse Show welcomes some of the country’s best professional, amateur, junior, and pony hunter riders to compete on Saturday, September 24. Tickets are now on sale for this one-of-a-kind event, so CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/29LwkkD to buy yours today! Visit www.CentralParkHorseShow.com for more information.
Hunters warm up under the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline.
Some of the best hunter riders in the United States will return in 2016 to compete at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show in The Gochman Family U.S. Open Hunters Duchossois Cup, also sponsored by Meralex Farm and Dr. Betsee Parker. Riders include: Liza Boyd, three-time USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals winner; Kelley Farmer, who has won more than $1.3 million in USHJA International Hunter Derby prize money; Scott Stewart, six-time World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Finals winner; and Louise Serio, top rider and trainer and winner of the WCHR Finals.
Additional top riders expected to attend are Hunt Tosh, John Bragg, Katie Gardner, and more.
The $50,000 U.S. Open Duchossois Cup, sponsored by The Gochman Family, was a great success in its inaugural year. The U.S. Open winner was Jennifer Alfano of Buffalo, NY, on Miss Lucy. Preceding the professional class was a $2,500 Junior/Amateur Hunter class, won by Giavanna Rinaldi of Wayne, IL, on Taken.
Course designer Bobby Murphy and street artist Max Collins used inspiration from New York City’s boroughs to collaborate on the design of some of the most artistic and unique jumps ever seen in the hunter ring.
One of the innovative hunter jumps from 2015.
Sponsor Becky Gochman commented, “The course that Bobby Murphy designed was incredibly beautiful against the backdrop of the city.”
This year, Murphy is working with fresh, new artists to create unbelievable jumps with a “New York Pop Art” theme, including a soon-to-be-unveiled “Big Apple” jump.
Gochman was “blown away” by the effort and hard work put into making the hunter classes a success at Rolex Central Park Horse Show. Gochman’s daughters, Sophie and Mimi, took first and second place in the $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic, which included a novel element where the young riders competed to a song of their choice.
Last year’s Pony Hunter Classic winners, Sophie Gochman and Bit of Love.
She also noted, “Care was taken that the horses would be comfortable walking from the tents to the ring and the footing, and ring proved to work nicely. I loved watching people who were walking through the park see and enjoy the horses, even if they did not have tickets. Exhibitors all commented positively about coming into the city. It was all very innovative. I chose to sponsor the show to give a city show a chance to succeed and to have a special place to showcase the hunters. New ideas are good for the growth of our sport.”
Although Jennifer Alfano won’t be able to repeat her performance in 2016 due to an injury, she looks back fondly at her Central Park experience and urges people to watch and support the hunter classes that take place at this historic event.
Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy at the 2015 RCPHS.
“We had such an amazing time at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show,” she said. “It was so exciting to compete with the New York City skyline as the backdrop. The fences were fun and interesting for the horses and riders, and they all performed so well in the venue. Although I’m disappointed that I can’t compete this year, I am making my plans for 2017!”
Fans of equestrian sport won’t want to miss Saturday’s hunter competition at Rolex Central Park Horse Show, in addition to a full schedule of equestrian disciplines returning in 2016. Make your plans to visit the Big Apple for U.S. Open equestrian competition and see the top names in horse sport.
Giavanna Rinaldi and Taken won the Junior/Amateur Hunter Classic in 2015.
The complete schedule of the 2016 Rolex Central Park Horse Show is as follows:
Wednesday, September 21st:
U.S. Open Arabian Horse Show
Gate opens at 6:00pm. Show begins at 6:30pm. $50 per ticket
Thursday, September 22nd:
U.S. Open $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix 6:30pm, followed by the exciting
U.S. Open $40,000 FEI Speed Class at 8:00pm, concluding with
Puissance at 9:00pm.
Ticket includes all 3 events
Gate opens at 6:00pm. Show begins at 6:30pm. $125 per ticket
Friday, September 23rd:
U.S. Open CDI Dressage Grand Prix
Gate opens at 1:00pm. Show begins at 1:30pm. $50 per ticket
Friday, September 23rd:
Junior/Amateur 1.20m Class at 6:30pm, followed by the thrilling
U.S. Open $216,000 Grand Prix CSI 3*, presented by Rolex
Ticket includes both events
Gate opens at 6:00pm. Show begins at 6:30pm. $125 per ticket
Saturday, September 24th:
U.S. Open $50,000 Hunters Duchossois Cup
$1,000 Small/Medium Pony Hunter Class and the
$2,500 Junior/Amateur and Professional Classes
Gate opens at 1:00pm. Show begins at 1:30pm. $50 per ticket
Saturday, September 24th:
U.S. Open $75,000 CDI Dressage Freestyle.
Gate opens at 6:00pm. Show begins at 6:30pm. $125 per ticket
Sunday, September 25th:
Family Day. Free General Admission.
Pony rides, face painting, Arabian Horse presentation, equestrian
demonstrations, and More!
Gate opens 12:00pm-3:00pm.
A portion of ticket sales will benefit a lengthy list of New York, as well as equestrian based, charities.
Seating is limited and the demand for tickets is expected to be high.
All seats have unobstructed views.
All ticket sales are final, non-transferable; no refunds and no exchanges.
Gates open 30 minutes prior to start of event.
All prices listed above exclude tax and fees.
For Reserved Seating questions, please contact 1-844-319-CPHS (2747) or email cphs.tickets@img.com.
For VIP Table Sales, please contact vip@centralparkhorseshow.com.
For questions on rider participation, please contact acaroline@centralparkhorseshow.com.
For more information on The 2016 Rolex Central Park Horse Show, please visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com.
Special room rates are available at the Marriott Essex House during the 2016 Rolex Central Park Horse Show. Click here http://bit.ly/1qV3FBt to book – rooms sell out fast!
About Rolex Central Park Horse Show
Launched in September 2014, Rolex Central Park Horse Show is the first-ever outdoor, multi-day equestrian sporting event in New York City, showcasing some of the best show jumpers and dressage riders in the world as they vie for top prizes against a backdrop of skyscrapers in one of the world’s most iconic venues. As the event founder, Mark Bellissimo is the CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions and International Equestrian Group LLC; Managing Partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEF), Tryon Equestrian Partners and Colorado Equestrian Partners; and Publisher of The Chronicle of The Horse magazine. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport and performances, ranging from Arabians and Dressage to Hunters and Show Jumping. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will also host the second annual U.S. Open in the following categories: Jumpers; Dressage; Hunters; U25 Jumpers; and Arabians. For more information, visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/CPhorseshow and follow @cphorseshow on Twitter and Instagram.
Photos copyright Meg Banks.