Horse Shows In The Sun Will Present Award to Special Olympics Massachusetts Riding Coach Barbara DeNitto

VIP Reception in Worcester's Centrum Centre Cat Club on Saturday, September 25, from 5:00 - 6:30 pm.

Worcester, MA - September 21, 2004 - Barbara DeNitto, a volunteer equestrian coach for Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA), will be presented with a lifetime achievement award on Saturday, September 25, during an elite equestrian competition at the Centrum Centre in Worcester, Massachusetts. DeNitto has devoted over 20 years of her life to the sport she loves, teaching horsemanship to SOMA riders and helping these dedicated athletes achieve their dreams. SOMA is the exclusive non-profit partner for the Marshall & Sterling League National Indoor Finals Horse Show, which runs from September 22-26.

Beginning at 5 pm, a VIP reception will be held in the Cat Club at the Centrum. At 6 pm, SOMA riders will do a 15-minute riding demonstration in the arena, which will open the evening session of the horse show. And at 6:15 pm, the lifetime achievement award will be presented to DeNitto on the arena floor. Members of the media are invited to attend all of the activities.

The National Indoor Finals will showcase the highest levels of show jumping and the best hunter competitions anywhere in New England. Approximately 2,000 horsemen will take part in the horse show, which culminates with the $100,000 Grand Prix on Sunday. The show is produced by HITS (Horse Shows In The Sun), creators of the Marshall & Sterling League, and will award more than $250,000 in prize money during the competition. Classes run Wed-Sat from 8 am to 9 pm, and Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm. For more information, please visit the online newsroom: http://www.hitsshows.com/marshallsterling/newsroom.html