Posted April 10, 2006

Laura Kraut Wins $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte

Charlotte, NC - April 9, 2006 – Laura Kraut and Panic won the $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte today, rounding out Kraut’s second place win in the 2004 Charlotte Jumper Classic and her third place win here last year. Kraut, an Olympic Alternate in Barcelona and the winner of five Nation Cups and Seven World Cups delivered two clear rounds on her mount Panic to take the trophy.

“I think the crowd really helped today,” said Kraut. This is a great venue for spectators, which makes it more fun for us.” Kraut is a southerner at heart. “My mom’s family is from Charlotte and I lived in Camden, SC for a long time so this win is especially sweet.”

Kraut’s horse Panic is a relatively inexperienced horse, but Kraut thought the time was right. “My horse was fantastic today,” she said. “Right before the round I told him he would get a long rest after this one last run.”

Kraut beat out Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward and the number three ranked rider in the World Rodrigo Pessoa to take the class. She was the only rider to deliver two clean rounds in the finale.

Top Results of Class 3 – Grand Prix of Charlotte, CSI Qualifier for the 2007 FEI Eurpoean Senior Jumping Championship; Member Event of the AGA Grand Prix Series of Show Jumping

Laura Kraut – Panic – 0/34.02
McLain Ward – Goldicka – 4/31.06
Rodrigo Pessoa – Baloubet du Rouet – 4/32.58
Norman Dello Joio – Glasglow – 4/32.93
Margie Engle – Hidden Creek’s Perini – 4/35.23
Michael Morrissey – Crelido - 4/35.81

The Charlotte Jumper Classic is a charitable event for the Charlotte Bobcats Charitable Foundation. Net proceeds from the 2006 Charlotte Jumper Classic benefit the Presbyterian Hemby Children's Hospital.

The Charlotte Jumper Classic is an annual event and an important stop on the million-dollar AGA Grand Prix circuit. The Fourth Annual Charlotte Jumper Classic will take place April 13-15, 2007 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena for a purse of $400,000.

Charlotte Bobcats Arena, located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, opened in fall 2005 and is home to the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, WNBA’s Charlotte Sting, and ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers. The state-of-the-art arena is host to more than 125 events a year including sports, concerts and family entertainment.

CONTACT: Jamie Banks, Charlotte Bobcats Arena, (704) 688-8789 (o); (704) 258-3901(c); jbanks@BobcatsSE.com

PHOTO CAPTION: Laura Kraut makes a jump on her horse Panic during the Grand Prix of Charlotte, CSI during the 2006 Charlotte Jumper Classic Sunday, April 9, 2006 at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, N.C. Kraut won the Grand Prix of Charlotte with a jump off time of 34.02 and no faults. Photo by Chris Keane