NEW YORK, NY-September 12, 2001-Kristy McCormack of Clermont, NJ won the ASPCA Maclay East Regional Final at the Autumn Classic in Port Jervis, NY on September 8.

McCormack, who led a field of 37 competitors in the East (Region 2) Maclay Final, was one of eight competitors who qualified for the Maclay National Championships for the ASPCA Horsemanship Classes. Also qualifying were Lexi Becker of Albany, NY, who finished second, Emily Wood of Bronxville, NY, who finished third; Mary Alexis Healey of Mt. Holly, NJ (4th); Krista Freundlich of Locust, NJ (5th); Jennifer Champagne of Troy, MI (6th); Gabby Slone of Riverdale, NY (7th); and Kate Landau of Rye, NY (8th).

Fifty finalists from eight Maclay Regional Championships will qualify to compete for the Maclay National Championships for the ASPCA Horsemanship Classes at the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 2-4. The qualifying events are: Northwest (Region 7), held at the Northwest Autumn Finals in Monroe, WA on September 8 includes competitors from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

Central (Region 5), held at the St. Louis National Charity in St. Louis, MO on September 15 includes competitors from Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Mountain (Region 6), held at the High Prairie Fall Classic in Parker, CO on September 15 includes competitors from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.

West (Region 8), held at The Oaks Fall Classic in San Juan, Capistrano, CA on September 15 includes competitors from California, Hawaii and Nevada. Southeast (Region 3), held in Alpharetta, GA on September 16 includes competitors from Alabama, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Midwest (Region 4), held at the Kentucky National in Lexington, KY on September 22 includes competitors from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio.

Northeast (Region 1), held at the Grand Fall Classic in Westbrook, CT on September 23 includes competitors from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The Maclay National Championships for the ASPCA Horsemanship Classes, which is open to riders under the age of 18, is a showcase of future show jumping champions. Each year more than 1,000 riders participate in local and regional events to earn the right to compete in the National Horse Show's Finals. Fifty of the country's top riders demonstrate their talents to a panel of three judges for the most prestigious title for young hunt seat riders.

The opening rounds of the prestigious Maclay National Championship for the ASPCA Horsemanship classes will be held at Madison Square Garden during the National Horse Show in New York City on Saturday, November 3, while the final rounds of the Maclay Championship will take place on Sunday, November 4.

Past winners of the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Trophy include such top riders as Olympic veterans William Steinkraus, George Morris, Frank and Mary Chapot, and Leslie Burr.

For more information, please visit www.nhs.org.