Preparations are Underway for the Start of the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament

Oncenter, War Memorial and two parking garages transformed into equestrian haven

Syracuse, NY, November 1, 2005: Turning a hockey arena into a world class venue for equestrian competition is a major task. All of the preparations from stabling the horses to setting up shops and entertainment areas are underway for the start of the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament that begins tomorrow and runs through Sunday at the Oncenter Complex in downtown Syracuse.

The Tournament is spread across three city blocks and four buildings. Horses are led across the street to travel from one venue to the next. Police and “horse crossing” signs keep people and animals safe. Crews started on Saturday setting up the warm-up area in the Convention center then moved on to creating the competition ring in the War Memorial. Scores of stalls have been set up in the Oncenter Garage, the AXA underground garage and the basement of the War Memorial for the expected 465 horses. The first horses, those of the foreign riders, arrived on Monday and hundreds more will arrive throughout the week. A transportation staging area at the State Fairgrounds ensures that there is not a traffic jam of tractor-trailers trying to unload in the city all at the same time.

The transformation of the cavernous Convention Center into a warm-up area combined with a food, shopping and entertainment area is another enormous task. Special footing for the horses was trucked in, fencing installed, dozens of pine trees, mums, ferns and bark mulch along with some Amish-built wooden houses bring a country feel to the middle of downtown. The Budweiser Clydesdales and their trusty Dalmatian have already moved into their temporary home in the Convention Center where visitors can see them all week starting on Wednesday.

It takes a lot of materials, trucks, tractors and people to put on this event. An estimated 250 people, in fact, are involved in the set-up. Local businesses, workers from out-of-town, volunteers and Oncenter employees are all working together to make a safe and comfortable environment for the horses, competitors and spectators that will descend on downtown. Luisa Batki of Syracuse, the volunteer in charge of volunteers for the Tournament, estimates that she has another 65 people who will be helping during the event. Several have been working hard in the months prior as well. Batki says that like her, people volunteer because they love horses and want to support the horse community in Central New York.

John Madden, Chairman of the Organizing Committee emphasizes the team effort that goes into putting on an event of this magnitude. “Everyone’s been great,” he said. “From Mayor Driscoll’s office to the people at AXA who are letting us use their garage, to the County, everyone’s been very supportive of what we’re trying to do for the sport and for the city.”

The Syracuse Invitational is a not-for-profit organization that benefits Vera House and the Cornell University Equine Hospital. All competitions are free except for featured performances. Admission to the Oncenter exhibition hall is $5 (seniors and children under 12 free, everyone free on Wednesday) and free with a ticket to the day’s performance. Tickets are available at the Oncenter Box Office (315) 435-2121 or through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com) and range in price from $7.50 to $20.00.

Photo Credit: Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament

Right: A sure sign that it’s time for the Sporthorse Tournament at the corner of Harrison and Montgomery in downtown Syracuse

Left: The basement of the War Memorial has been transformed into a stable for International Open horses. Other horses will live for the week in parts of the Oncenter and AXA garages.