With U.S. qualifying more than half over, the race to earn berths in the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final is tightening up. Final qualifying events in both the East and West Coast Leagues will decide which horses and riders will represent the U.S. in the World Cup Final in Las Vegas, April 18-22, 2007.

Las Vegas, the world’s premier city for exciting entertainment, will once again be the backdrop for the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Finals in both jumping and dressage. In 2005, the FEI World Cup Jumping and Dressage Finals were held in the same location simultaneously for the first time in history. In 2007, for the second time ever, Las Vegas will again host the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping and Dressage Finals concurrently.

Attendance at the 2005 Finals topped 90,000 (90,221 to be exact) as equestrian sports fans turned out in record numbers to share in the excitement. After the record-breaking success of the 2005 Finals in Las Vegas, excitement over the Finals’ return to the U.S. in 2007 is at an all-time high.

At the conclusion of eight out of 12 qualifying events in the U.S. East Coast League, Lauren Hough of Ocala, FL, leads the standings with 69 points. Following Hough, a 2000 Sydney Olympic veteran, are Chris Kappler with 63 points and McLain Ward with 61 points. Kappler and Ward were teammates on the United States’ Gold medal team at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

In the West Coast League, Richard Spooner of Glendale, CA, leads the standings with 88 points following the completion of six out of 12 qualifying competitions. Spooner has competed in seven World Cup Finals, including 1998 when his fourth place finish was the highest by a U.S. rider. He also won the Grand Prix of Las Vegas at the World Cup Final in 2003. In the second spot is Jill Humphrey with 77 points. Behind Humphrey with 67 points isMandy Porter.

The coming months of the qualifying season promise continued fierce competition in all 14 FEI World Cup Jumping Leagues. Approximately 45 of the world’s best show jumping riders will qualify for the Final. Every rider hopes to earn the right to compete in the Final in Las Vegas, representing his or her country against the world’s strongest competition.

Started in 1979, the FEI World Cup Jumping Final is an annual international showdown among the world’s best show jumping horses and riders. The 2007 event will mark the seventh FEI World Cup Jumping Final to be held in the United States, following Finals in Baltimore, MD, in 1980; Tampa, FL in 1989, Del Mar, CA in 1992; and the three in Las Vegas in 2000, 2003 and 2005. In the 28 finals held through 2006, United States riders have emerged with the most titles, having won the championship seven times.

First held in 1986, the FEI World Cup Dressage Final has been held in the U.S. only twice, in 1995 in Los Angeles and 2005 in Las Vegas. The Netherlands has dominated the competition, winning seven times, followed by Germany with six. The United States won its first title in 2003 when Debbie McDonald rode Brentina to the championship. Brentina is owned by Parry and Peggy Thomas of Las Vegas, for whom the Thomas & Mack Center, the venue for the World Cup Finals, is named.

Las Vegas Events, Inc. (LVE), producer of 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2007 FEI World Cup Finals, was founded in 1983. LVE has grown with Las Vegas as the city has emerged as one of the world’s top special event and resort destinations. A private, not-for-profit organization, LVE is funded by hotel room tax and serves as the exclusive major special events agency for the city. Since 1991, Las Vegas Events has produced, presented or supported more than 200 events, which have driven more than 2.8 million visitors to the area, resulting in a non-economic impact of more than $1.4 billion.

For more information on the 2007 Rolex