Wellington, FL – November 30, 2010 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) announces that the draft prize list for the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is now available online at their website, www.equestriansport.com under the “Horse Show” tab and “Prize List” link. The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival is the world’s largest and longest-running horse show, combining hunter, jumper, and equitation competition for 12 weeks from January 12 to April 3.
“This year’s FTI Winter Equestrian Festival will be the biggest and best circuit yet,” said Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions, the management company of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
Once again one of the world leading financial firms, FTI Consulting, returns as title sponsor.
There will be over $6.2 million in prize money awarded over the 12 weeks. There are many exciting events throughout the circuit, and 70 divisions are offered weekly with classes for all ages and levels of horse and rider.
For show jumpers, there will be an increase in the FEI ROLEX ranking classes from 19 in 2010 to 26 in 2011. These seven new FEI ROLEX ranking classes will add 2170 extra ranking points, an increase of over 20% from last year. “Now there will be over 10,000 points available,” said Michael Stone, President of ESP.
G&C Farm has kindly sponsored the 1.45m Jumper division, including the additional FEI ROLEX ranking classes.
Featured competitions for the 2011 season will include: the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm, the $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, the $150,000 CSIO Grand Prix and $150,000 FEI World Cup qualifier (presented by Spy Coast Farms), the $75,000 Adequan Grand Prix, the $75,000 Pennfield Feeds Grand Prix at The Stadium, the $50,000 Equine Couture/Tuff Rider Grand Prix, the $40,000 Surpass Grand Prix, the $50,000 G&C Farm Palm Beach Jumping Derby at the Stadium, the $50,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby, the WCHR Hunter Classic Spectacular events, and events for collegiate and interscholastic riders.
New events for the 2011 season include the Artisan Farms Young Jumper Grand Prix Series, which offers qualifiers for the EY Cup in Leipzig, Germany; a $35,000 Hermes of Paris Puissance; and special match races.
The Artisan Farms Young Rider Series will consist of the three $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix classes and the Artisan Farms $20,000 Young Rider Team competition. Artisan Farms will also be the presenting sponsor of the George Morris Excellence in Equitation class on Friday, March 18.
The Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series will offer a $50,000 horse/rider combination bonus this year. The leading horse/rider combination at end of circuit wins a bonus of $25,000, second place is awarded $15,000, and third place receives $10,000.
Returning this year as well is the $100,000 FTI Rider Challenge, a rider bonus series that tracks the best rider in the grand prix classes over 11 weeks of competition. The top four riders receive bonus money.
Unique show jumping events are something that the FTI WEF has brought to the forefront of its horse shows in recent years. The $55,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes is a crowd-pleasing event that pits a team of men against a team of women and husbands against wives, in a three-round format of match races, a speed class, and a six-bar class.
The FTI Charity Challenge will be held on Saturday, February 19, with the target of raising $1 million for 30 charities. Anyone interested in sponsoring a team should contact Clara Belden at clara@equestriansport.com. The deadline is December 10. Teams made up of one professional and two junior/amateur riders will compete over a relay style speed course to determine which charity will win the biggest check.
ESP welcomes people worldwide to come experience this year’s circuit, which promises to surpass expectations as one of the best horse shows in the world. For more information on the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, please visit www.equestriansport.com.
The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 12 through April 3. WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $6 million in prize money will be awarded.
WEF is proud to be supported by their title sponsor, FTI Consulting, Inc. FTI Consulting, Inc. exists to help companies and their stakeholders protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex economic, legal and regulatory environment. FTI is the trusted advisor entrenched in many of the game-changing events that make headlines, move markets and create business history. For more information, please visit www.fticonsulting.com.
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.