Las Vegas, NV—August 8, 2002— The race to Las Vegas has started! Some of the world’s best show jumpers have already begun vying for the right to represent their countries at the Budweiser Show Jumping World Cup Final to be held at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV, April 16-20, 2003.

The qualifying season for the 25th Annual Show Jumping World Cup is well underway in Canada and competition is getting fierce in the Canadian League as the final Canadian World Cup Qualifier draws nearer. Currently, Victoria, British Columbia-native, Karen Cudmore and Conejo occupy the top position in the standings with 54 points. Kudmore’s win in the $60,000 Quebec City Air Canada Jazz World Cup Qualifier, held June 30, gave her the initial lead in the series. After that win Kudmore went on to win the $60,000 Blainville, Quebec World Cup Qualifier, July 7.

Kudmore’s two wins have given her a substantial lead over Ainsley Vince, of Milton, Ontario, and Catch 22, who currently sit in second place with a total of 30 points. Vince took over the second place position after her performance in the $60,000 Blainville, Quebec World Cup Qualifier where she collected 13 points. Former World Cup Champion, Mario Deslauriers, of Bromont, Quebec, and Big Sir fell from second place to third place but trail close behind with a total of 28 points.

The World Cup Qualifiers will make one more stop on the Canadian Circuit in Caledon before the final qualifier at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show in November. At the end of the qualifying season, the top two Canadian riders will be invited to join some of the world’s other best show-jumpers at the Budweiser World Cup Final in Las Vegas. While the Canadians’ qualifying season is well underway, riders in the United States and Europe will begin their qualifying season this fall. September begins the qualifying season in the U.S, which will continue through March. Riders from both the East and West Coast Leagues will be chosen to compete amid the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas for the World Cup Championship.

Started in 1979, the World Cup Final is an annual showdown among the top show jumping riders in the world, as they compete for the prestigious title of World Cup Champion. This will be the fifth World Cup Final held in the United States. Previous Finals were held in Baltimore (1980), Tampa (1989), Del Mar (1992) and Las Vegas (2000). The excitement of international show jumping competition amid the bright lights, theatrical shows, fine dining, and shopping found in Las Vegas promises a grand time for all.

The World Cup competition takes place over three days with a warm up class on Wednesday evening, April 16. Thursday, April 17, kicks off the main event with the first leg of the World Cup Final, a heart-stopping speed class run under Table C specifications—with faults converted into penalty seconds. Riders go all out in the speed class, knowing that in order to have a chance at a top placing in the Final standings they need to produce a slick, fast ride.

The second leg of the Final takes place the following evening, Friday, April 18. This leg features a lengthy and grueling first-round course followed by a jump-off round where competitors again show their mastery of the speed format. Saturday, April 19, is a day off from World Cup competition, but not from top show jumping action as the prestigious Grand Prix of Las Vegas takes place in the afternoon. Some riders bring multiple mounts to the Final and use a second horse in the Grand Prix, which also features World Cup horses not going in Sunday’s last leg. So once again spectators have a chance to watch a class filled with the national and international legends of the sport.

The grand finale of the weekend is Sunday afternoon, April 20: the final leg of the Budweiser World Cup Final, a challenging two-round class run under Table A with a jump-off if needed to break a tie for first place. The field of starters is winnowed down to only the top twenty riders who are granted the privilege of returning for the second course. The rider with the fewest faults emerges as the new World Cup Champion.

A variety of ticket packages for all price ranges and interest levels is now available for purchase. All-Session Plaza Level Priority seating is available for $300 per person. All-Session Balcony Level Priority seating is available for $150 per person. VIP Packages are available for $1,000 and include one premier All-Session seat, access to the private VIP hospitality area complete with complimentary deluxe food/beverage each day and preferred parking. Daily individual tickets for the five days of competition range from $10 to $85 depending on the seating and the session.

To order tickets or for more information on the excitement of the 2003 Budweiser World Cup Final, please visit www.worldcuplasvegas.com or call (702) 260-8605.