Wellington, FL – March 1, 2004 – Norman Dello Joio, Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden, and McLain Ward comprise the U.S. team that will seek a third consecutive victory in the $50,000 Samsung Nations’ Cup, presented by CN, at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, on Friday evening, March 12, 2004.

The Nations’ Cup, an international team show jumping competition recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), will take place as one of the featured highlights of the CSIO United States Cosequin Finale that culminates the Winter Equestrian Festival’s stay in Wellington before it moves on to Tampa from March 24 through April 3.

This marks the third consecutive year that the Winter Equestrian Festival is hosting the Samsung Nations’ Cup, presented by CN. This year, for the first time, the Nations’ Cup is being held under the lights on the large grass field of the Internationale Arena at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, simulating the conditions of the upcoming Athens Olympic Games.

“The focus of everyone involved in the sport of show jumping is on Athens and the competition at this year’s Olympic Games,” said Eugene R. Mische, president of Stadium Jumping, Inc., producer of the Winter Equestrian Festival. “We thought it would be great to hold our Nations’ Cup under the same conditions, namely at night and on a grass arena, that horses and riders will compete under at the Games this summer.”

Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, France, Ireland, Mexico and Venezuela have all filed entries to compete in the Nations’ Cup and the week-long CSIO. This is the largest field for the Nations’ Cup since it first came to Wellington in 2002 and the U.S., which followed last year’s win with a Gold Medal performance at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will be tested as never before.

“We expect a great contest,” Mische said. “With everyone looking toward the Olympics this summer, each visiting team is coming with the hope of giving itself a boost by knocking off the home U.S. team.”

An exciting and unique addition to the program on the night of this year’s Nations’ Cup is The Rock & Roll Musical Quadrille presented by Play For T.I.M.E. and International Polo Club Palm Beach. The quadrille is an artistic program presented by six teams of horses and riders. Performing this year are internationally renowned Grand Prix dressage riders Lynda Alicki, Patrick Burssens, Pamela Goodrich, Bent Jensen, Betsy Steiner and George Williams. This crowd-pleasing synchronized performance showcases Grand Prix movements choreographed by Beth Zimski to music from the late ‘70s and ‘80s arranged by Terry Gallo of KlassicKur. The quadrille is part of the fundraising effort during the Nations’ Cup evening that will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The quadrille will be a special treat for spectators as they watch the incredible horse-and-rider pairs “rock and roll” to some very memorable tunes.

In 2002, when Wellington became host of the U.S.’s first-ever outdoor Nations’ Cup, it became only the fifth U.S. location for a Nations’ Cup since the first Nations’ Cup was held in London, England, in 1909. The first Nations’ Cup in the U.S. was at the National Horse Show in New York in 1911. The National Horse Show continued to host Nations’ Cups through 1998, missing only the years 1914-1924 and 1942-1945. Other U.S. cities to host Nations’ Cups are Boston (1929-1932), Harrisburg (1948-1963, 1965-1966, 1969-1972) and Washington D.C. (1973-2001).

The United States was victorious in both the 2002 and 2003 Nations’ Cups at Wellington. In 2003, the U.S. finished ahead of Ireland with Canada taking third. In 2002, Canada took second and Ireland took third while Argentina finished fourth.

2004 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL TICKET INFORMATION
Show days for the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival are Wednesday through Sunday. Gates open at 8:00 am. Ticket Prices: Wednesdays are free to everyone; Children 12 and under are admitted free every day; Young Adults 13 to 18 and Seniors are $5 on Thursday through Sunday; Adults are $5 on Thursday and Friday, $10 on Saturday, and $15 on Sunday. The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club is located on Pierson Road off South Shore Boulevard. For additional information, visit www.stadiumjumping.com or call 561-793-5867.