2008 WEF Prize List Available On Internet

Wellington, FL - The 2008 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) Prize List offering a record of almost $5 million in prize money was available on the Internet Wednesday on the new website, www.equestriansport.com.

Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC (ESP), which has taken over management of the WEF that is expanded to 12 weeks in Wellington beginning on Jan. 16, posted the Prize List to www.equestriansport.com/registration.html and www.equestriansport.com/publications.html.

The Prize List is in PDF format so it can be down loaded for viewing on the Internet and printed out. Additions and changes to the Wellington competitions will be posted as details are confirmed.

ESP will complete its takeover of the Wellington show grounds now named the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) and management of the U.S. Equestrian Federation licenses for the horse shows there on Dec. 15.

"We wanted to make the Prize List of the competitions that are confirmed as soon as possible to exhibitors, owners, judges and officials," Mark Bellissimo, ESP Managing Partner said.

"We are working around the clock to complete the entire WEF schedule while we implement a major overhaul of the showgrounds to provide the best horse show facility in the United States by the time WEF starts."

While the National Horse Show is being held at the PBIEC this week, construction and landscaping crews are working on areas away from the competition rings.

The Show Grounds and the South Grounds that make up PBIEC encompass 15 rings allowing for expanded classes and divisions and better scheduling of rings to allow for shorter show days. The Stadium is reserved for high performance and special events.

Major improvements in Wellington include all-weather footing in the International Arena, upgraded footing in the Grand Hunter Ring, reconstruction and expansion of Ring 6, expansion of Magavaro Arena warm up, newly designed traffic patterns to improve the flow and safety of horses, pedestrians and golf carts and upgraded infrastructure and facilities including improved spectator areas, shaded trainer areas and extensive landscaping.

An all new Showgrounds Live software program is also being introduced to allow a wide range of electronic functions from online registration, up-to-the-second activities in all competition rings all day, every day to internet-based check out for open bills, all of which should dramatically reduce lines at the show office.