The Animal Planet television network will televise a special 90-minute broadcast of the 2007 Rolex FEI World CupTM Finals on Saturday, May 12, beginning at 9:00 p.m. (EDT). The telecast will include the finals in both jumping and dressage.

Las Vegas, the world’s premier city for exciting entertainment, will once again be the backdrop for the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Finals in both jumping and dressage when they return to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, April 18-22. In 2005, the FEI World Cup Jumping and Dressage Finals were held in the same location simultaneously for the first time in history. The record-breaking success of those dual Finals prompted the FEI to bring them back to Las Vegas again this year.

“Interest in this year’s FEI World Cup Finals is at an all-time high, and we are truly excited that Animal Planet will bring the Finals to a national television audience,” said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events, Inc., producer of the Finals in Las Vegas. “Now, fans will have the chance to relive the event’s great moments, and those unable to attend will also be able to enjoy the accomplishments of the world’s best horses and riders.”

A re-broadcast will follow the original primetime broadcast on Sunday May 13, at 2:00 pm and another re-broadcast will air on Saturday, May 19, at 2:00 p.m. The broadcasts will be produced by Carr-Hughes Productions.

“With the World Cup Finals broadcast, Animal Planet is proud to showcase the incredible bond between world-class horse and rider athletes performing at the top of their sport,” said Victoria Lowell, Animal Planet Senior Vice President.

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 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.

For more information on the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping and Dressage Finals, including how to order tickets, please visit the official Las Vegas World Cup website at www.worldcuplasvegas.com.
~~~For more information, please contact Maria Partlow, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, at (859) 225-6941, or via e-mail at [email protected].