Posted March 4, 2006

Nick Skelton and Eric Lamaze Now One-Two On Budweiser American Invitational Qualifying List

Wellington, FL – March 3, 2006 - The $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational is the grand finale to the 2006 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and will be contested at 7pm on Saturday, April 1, 2006, under the lights at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. While some riders are guaranteed a spot in the nation’s richest and most exciting show jumping event, based on previous accomplishments, most have to earn their way into a starting spot using their prize money won during the nine week run of the 2006 Winter Equestrian Festival.

The thirty-fourth annual Budweiser American Invitational, a free event for those who qualify, is the nation’s most prestigious show jumping event. The event is limited to only thirty top riders. A rider may only ride one horse in the competition.

Invitations will be issued as follows:

1. ONE (1) invitation issued to the winning rider of the 2005 Budweiser American Invitational - Beezie Madden.

2. FOUR (4) invitations issued to riders in positions one through four (1-4) on the 2006 AGA Rider of the Year standings as of March 26, 2006.

3. TWO (2) invitations to be issued at the Organizing Committee’s discretion.

4. TWENTY-THREE (23) or all remaining invitations will be issued to riders based on money won in the WEF Challenge Cup Series Rounds I , II, III, IV, V, VI, VIII and the Final (does not include Round VII) and the following Grand Prix:

• *$50,000 Farr XTN Grand Prix of Palm Beach, presented by Western Hay, CSI 2*
• *$60,000 Wellington Cup presented by Carlisle, CSI 3*
• *$60,000 Kilkenny/ICH Internationale Cup, CSI 3*
• *$75,000 Bainbridge Idle Dice Classic, presented by the Palm Beach Post, CSI-W
• *$100,000 Zada Enterprises, LLC Masters Cup, CSI 3*
• *$150,000 Florida Open presented by Cosequin®, CSI-W
• *$25,000 CN Jumper Classic
• *$75,000 Grand Prix of Tampa, presented by Kilkenny/ICH, CSI-W

Budweiser American Invitational Qualifying List – Released 3/3/06

• QUALIFIED 2005 WINNER- $33,793 Beezie Madden USA
• 2 $37,705 Nick Skelton GBR
• 3 $34,613 Eric Lamaze CAN
• 4 $33,590 Mario Deslauriers CAN
• 5 $30,133 Margie Engle USA
• 6 $30,000 Robert Smith GBR
• 7 $25,950 Laura Chapot USA
• 8 $25,025 Leslie Howard USA
• 9 $21,750 Kimberly Prince USA
• 10 $21,160 Lauren Hough USA
• 11 $18,000 Kent Farrington USA
• 12 $17,423 Laura Kraut USA
• 13 $15,950 McLain Ward USA
• 14 $14,950 Chris Pratt CAN
• 15 $13,245 Ian Millar CAN
• 16 $10,350 Megan Lamaze USA
• 17 $9,200 Markus Beerbaum GER
• 18 $8,593 Georgina Bloomberg USA
• 19 $8,000 Leopold Van Asten NED
• 20 $7,300 Paige Johnson USA
• 21 $7,000 Francois Mathy BEL
• 22 $6,800 Todd Minikus USA
• 23 $6,500 Eric Flemeng BEL
• 24 $6,093 Frankie Chesler Ortiz CAN
• 25 $5,950 Rodrigo Pessoa BRA
• 26 $5,540 Laurie Bucci CAN
• 27 $5,500 Addison Phillips USA
• 28 $4,850 Luciana Diniz BRA
• 29 $4,500 Cara Raether USA
• 30 $4,250 Ken Berkley USA
• 32 $3,793 Santiago Lambre MEX
• 32 $3,450 Candice King USA
• 33 $3,250 Jeffery Welles USA
• 34 $3,195 Katie Prudent FRA
• 35 $3,000 Yann Candele FRA
• 36 $2,700 Conor Swail IRL
• 37 $2,693 Chris Kappler USA
• 38 $2,540 Schuyler Riley USA
• 39 $2,400 Jaime Guerra MEX
  • $2,400 Norman Dello Joio USA
• 41 $2,330 Jimmy Torano USA
• 42 $2,300 Angela Moore USA
  • $2,300 Anne Kursinski USA
• 44 $2,000 Cayce Harrison USA
  • $2,000 Federico Sztyrle ARG
  • $2,000 Keri Potter Pessoa BRA
• 47 $1,800 Robin Sweely USA
• 48 $1,750 Christine McCrea USA
• 49 $1,650 Ashley Fleischhacker USA
• 50 $1,500 Aimee Aron USA

PHOTO CREDIT: Nick Skelton and Russel. Photo by Randi Muster.