New York, NY-August 23, 2001-The National Horse Show (NHS) presented by Budweiser, America's premier equestrian competition, will host its 118th edition at New York City's Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena, November 2-4, 2001.

This year's show features the nation's top horses and riders in hunter, jumper and equitation competitions. A total of $335,000 in prize money will be awarded to professional, junior and amateur-owner competitors.

Throughout the weekend, the country's finest hunters will compete for top honors in year-end championship classes. Only the horses that have earned the most points throughout the previous year are eligible, making these classes the ultimate in hunter competition. The hunter competition kicks off the horse show on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. and continues through Saturday evening when it culminates with the $100,000 NHS Hunter Championship. Horses eligible for the championship include those competing in Green Conformation Hunter, Green Working Hunter, Regular Conformation Hunter, Regular Working Hunter, Small Junior Working Hunter, Large Junior Working Hunter, Amateur Owner Working Hunter for ages 18-35 and Amateur Owner Working Hunter for ages 36 and over.

On the evening of Friday, November 2, spectators will get their first glance at the international and Grand Prix riders as they compete in the NHS's $50,000 Welcome Grand Prix.

Saturday features the opening rounds of the prestigious Maclay National Championship for the ASPCA Horsemanship classes. The Maclay Championship, which is open to riders under the age of 18, is a showcase of future show jumping champions. Past winners of the Maclay trophy include such top riders as Olympic veterans William Steinkraus, George Morris, Frank and Mary Chapot, and Leslie Burr. Later on Saturday afternoon the finest young equestrians will compete in the NHS Saddle Seat "Good Hands" Championship. The final rounds of the Maclay Championship will take place on the morning and afternoon of Sunday, November 4. In addition to the prestige of being named the nation's top junior equitation rider, the winner will also be awarded the ASPCA Horsemanship Trophy.

Judges for the Maclay National Championship include Ralph Caristo of Hauppauge, NY; Susan S. Humes of Peconic, NY; and Jeff W. Wirthman of Island Lake, IL.

The $15,000 BET On Jazz Junior Jumper section will kick off on Saturday evening with the $5,000 BET On Jazz Junior Jumper class. Action continues on Sunday with the crowning of the $10,0000 BET On Jazz Junior Jumper Grand Prix champion and the BET On Jazz Junior Jumper High Point Award winner. Following the BET On Jazz Junior Jumper series, the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Jumper Grand Prix will be held. The culmination of the year-long National Horse Sports Foundation Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Grand Prix will be followed by year-end series awards which will be given to East and Central Conference champions. The West Conference championship award is given at the Los Angeles National Horse Show later in November.

The culmination of the National Horse Show will be the $150,000 Budweiser Grand Prix of New York on Sunday, November 4. The Grand Prix is the final event of the $235,000 Jumper Division, which is open to riders by invitation only. Invitations will be extended to riders from Argentina, France, Ireland, and Mexico, as well as the individual Gold Medalist from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, and the winner of the 2001 World Cup Final in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Judges for the International Jumper Division include FEI ground jury international president John D. Ammerman of Dickerson, MD; Ralph A. Alfano of Lebanon, PA; and foreign judge Jose Gamarra of La Paz, Bolivia. Chairman of the National Horse Show is Eugene R. Mische, president of Stadium Jumping Inc., the nation's premier producer of hunter-jumper horse shows. Mrs. Kenneth M. Wheeler is Vice Chairman. Show manager is Michael Rheinheimer, and manager emeritus is Clarence "Honey" L. Craven. Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL is course designer for the jumper courses, and Blake Alder of Germantown, TN is designer for the hunter courses.

Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America's oldest indoor horse show, and a traditional fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National is America's most prestigious year-end championship show, offering the country's top horses and riders a chance to decide the ultimate champions.

To purchase tickets, please call 212-307-7171 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, please visit www.nhs.org.