DARIEN, CT – May 16, 2002 – The 73rd annual Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show, held at the Ox Ridge Hunt Club in Darien CT, opens on Wednesday, June 12 at 8:00 AM and runs through Sunday, June 16.

The highlight of the Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show, the $35,000 Ox Ridge Grand Prix, features many of the nation’s top horses and riders including many Olympic veterans. Two-time Olympian Leslie Howard of Westport, CT, is expected to be in the line-up of participants. Howard, who won the 2000 Ox Ridge Grand Prix, recently tied for fourth place with 2001 Ox Ridge Grand Prix winner, McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, in the Show Jumping World Cup Final in Leipzig, Germany. In 2001, Ward rode his mount Xtatic to the win and placed 8th with another of his horses, Farrah, in the Ox Ridge Grand Prix.

Other Olympians expected to return include Nona Garson of Lebanon, NJ; Anne Kursinski of Flemington, NY; Peter Leone of Greenwich, CT; and Joe Fargis of Southampton, NJ. Kursinski recently won the $35,000 Garden State Grand Prix on May 5 riding her 1996 Olympic mount, Eros.

Another notable rider expected to be on hand is Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ who started the 2002 season with five grand prix wins during the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

The Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show is one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious competitions, drawing more than 1500 horses from around the country. Exhibitors compete over classically beautiful hunter courses and technically challenging jumper courses on the park-like facility at the Ox Ridge Hunt Club. The Country Boutique area offers a shopping event for the entire family. Shops include gifts for the home, clothing, paintings, jewelry, horse furnishings, and other unique items.

Sponsors of the 2002 Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show include Brooks Community Newspapers, Reuters, KOOL 96.7, CL Adams, Beval LTD, Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Scudder Private Investment Counsel, and Pharmacia Animal Health. Admission from June 12-15 is $5.00 per car. Admission on Grand Prix Sunday, June 16, is $7.00 per adult and $5.00 for Senior Citizens and children over 5 years old. For additional information, please call the Horse Show office at (203) 656-1745.