Also vying for a ticket to the World Cup Final in Sweden in August aboard Belair, is Ann Glaus, wife of Troy Glaus, ex-Angels baseball short-stop and currently third baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Glaus will be up against the experienced Canadian Olympic team member in Athens, Hawley Bennett who could have a hometown advantage since she trains across the street from Galway Downs. There will no doubt be local support for another Olympian, Jil Walton, from Claremont, CA, who is returning for the third time with Liza Jane MacNaughton’s 13 year-old Thoroughbred, Truly Triton to ride in the FEI World Cup Qualifier.

Also making another run in the FEI World Cup Qualifier is Menlo Park native, Andrew Temkin with his nine year-old Thoroughbred cross gelding, Bucephalas. Stephanie Cooper from Hobart, WA, also had a practice run last year when she won the National Championship CCI** aboard her then 10 year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Kaelen. The pair will be back this spring in the World Cup Qualifier.

There is an increase of entries from 2004 in the CIC** & CIC* competitions, which include Gina Miles, who finished 4th last year in the FEI World Cup Qualifier with McKinlaigh. The horse on which she came third in the 2003 final in Pau, France. This year her partner will be Phillipa in the CIC** division.

This year’s event, organized by Robert Kellerhouse and Del Mar Eventing, which feature a total of twelve divisions, is a welcome return to the spring calendar for riders on the West Coast. As well as the showcase international classes, riders in these classes will also be competing for points in the prestigious USEA Gold Cup Series.

Other attractions during the weekend will include performers from the Temecula Jazz Festival and a variety of trade booths.