New York City, NY - September 22, 2003 - With the last three regional ASPCA-Maclay qualifying shows held over this past weekend, the selected riders are set for a show-down on November 2 in the ASPCA-Maclay Horsemanship Championship at the Metropolitan National Horse Show in New York City, NY. The complete list of national qualifiers follows this story.

Over the weekend, Lauren Van Eldik of Ocala, FL galloped to victory in the Regional Championships at the Camden Fall Classic in Camden, SC. Megan McDonald of Inverness, IL took the blue at the Kentucky National Horse Show in Lexington, KY, while Georgina Coolidge of Boston, MA won at the Grand Fall Classic in Westbrook, CT.

The prestigious American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)-Maclay National Horsemanship Championship showcases the top junior riders from the U.S. and Canada. The Championship will return to New York City at the new Metropolitan National Horse Show. The Metropolitan National Horse Show will take place from October 29 to November 2, 2003 at Pier 94 and the Showpiers on the Hudson Complex in Manhattan. Pier 94 and the Showpiers Complex has played host to many top-class events including gift shows, entertainment extravaganzas, and as a location for major motion picture filming and fashion shows.

The ASPCA-Maclay Finals have long been the proving ground for future top international stars. Such notable equestrians as William Steinkraus, Frank Chapot, Conrad Homfeld, Leslie Howard, Peter Wylde, Ray Texel, and Nicole Shahinian-Simpson won the ASPCA-Maclay National Championship prior to going on to international equestrian success.

The three judges named to officiate the 2003 ASPCA-Maclay Championship at the Metropolitan National Horse Show are Hap Hansen of Encinitas, CA, Matt Collins of Culpeper, VA, and Julie Winkel of Reno, NV.

The National Horse Show Association of America (NHSAA) is managing three shows this year. After the Metropolitan National Horse Show, the National Horse Show Indoor Championships will be held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV on November 19 to 23. The final show of the three events organized in 2003 by the National Horse Show Association of America is the National Horse Show Outdoor Championships in Wellington, FL from November 26 to 30. All three shows will be rated "AA" by the national federation. Started in 1883, this is the 120th year for the National Horse Show Association of America.

Prize lists and qualification information about the three shows may be downloaded from the Internet at the NHSAA website, www.nhs.org. Tickets are now on sale for all three shows. Ticket order forms may be downloaded at the National Horse Show website at www.nhs.org. To order tickets, please write to The National Horse Show Box Office, Pier 92, 711 12th Avenue, NY, 10019 or fax your order form to (917) 591-9082 or (212) 977-8826. At this time, advance orders may only be accepted through the mail or by fax. For further information, you may call the box office at (212) 315-1882 or toll free at (888) 674-2733.

Details on qualification for National Horse Show Association events and related information may be obtained by contacting the National Horse Show Association, PO Box 386, Greenvale, NY 11548, telephone (516) 484-1865, e-mail NationalHS@aol.com, or by consulting the official website at www.nhs.org. Further information may also be obtained by contacting show manager Bob Bell at bbell@classiccompany.com. Media inquiries can be directed to Hallie McEvoy at NationalHSNews@aol.com.