FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 29, 2017
MEDIA CONTACT: KIRA CALM LEWIS 301-446-3327; Kira.CalmLewis@pgparks.com
– or –
VERONICA MARSHALL 301-446-3313; Veronica.Marshall@pgparks.com
Prestigious Horse Show Hits New Highs
More than 1,000 entries to compete in the Capital Challenge Horse Show
Riverdale, MD – First-class athleticism and talent, new events, and an expanded schedule allows the Capital Challenge Horse Show to awe new audiences as the competition enters its 24th year.
This Saturday at the Show Place Arena, local horseback riding favorites like Mary Lisa Leffler, Erica Quinn, Katie Cooper, Samantha Schaefer, and Rachel Kennedy will go up against the best riders the country has to offer – with their friends and family members cheering them on from the stands.
Riders and horses - from places as far off as Alaska and Canada - have been training and competing all year for the chance to enter the World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Finals – and now it is time for that hard work to pay off.
Riders who have earned enough points from other shows leading up to the Capital Challenge Horse Show will show off their skills for the chance to take home the gold and the glory. They are competing for coveted year-end awards in their respective divisions, as well as prizes like ribbons, trophies, and thousands of dollars in cash prizes.
The nine-day show hosts several other horsemanship finals, such as the Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Children's Medal, the Ariat Adult National Medal Final, and the Palm Beach International Academy North American Junior Equitation Championships.
And for the first time ever, a new class of riders can get in on the action. New this year is the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Final. The new event is bringing in a new crowd –130 junior riders alone have signed up for the new competition.
But interest in the show is trending upward regardless. More than 1,000 horses are arriving to use the arena’s nearly 100 acres and four all-weather outdoor rings. The Capital Challenge Horse Show also received a record-breaking 1,300 entries this year - once again proving that this show is one of the most prominent events on the East Coast, hosted at one of the finest equestrian facilities in the nation.
WHAT: Capital Challenge Horse Show
WHEN: Saturday, September 30 - Sunday, October 8, starting at 8 AM daily
WHERE: The Show Place Arena, 14900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
COST: FREE for spectators
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is celebrating 90 years of excellence, since 1927. The Department of Parks and Recreation delivers an award-winning park system through progressive, innovative leadership and a commitment to the community and the environment in Prince George’s County.
For more on the Department of Parks and Recreation, visit www.pgparks.com and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and Instagram. The M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities in all programs and services.
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