Brentina, the only U.S. dressage horse to win the FEI World Cup Finals, will appear at the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Finals for her official retirement ceremony.
Brentina's retirement ceremony will take place on Friday afternoon, April 17. Once again hosted by Las Vegas Events (LVE), the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Finals, April 15-19, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, will bring spectators edge-of-their-seat entertainment as they watch riders compete for the title of FEI World Cup champion in the Olympic disciplines of show jumping and dressage.
Along with rider Debbie McDonald, owners Peggy and Parry Thomas, for whom The Thomas & Mack Center is named, and thousands of her adoring fans, Brentina, who has captured the hearts of equestrian enthusiasts around the world, will be honored for her illustrious career in the dressage arena.
"I cannot think of a more appropriate venue at which to honor Brentina than the Rolex FEI World Cup Finals right here in Las Vegas," said Pat Christenson, President of Las Vegas Events. "It was six years ago that Brentina and Debbie McDonald earned the United States' its first and only FEI World Cup Final Championship, so it is only appropriate that they return here to Las Vegas to celebrate a career that is one of the all-time best in the sport of dressage."
Brentina and McDonald represented the United States at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. At the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, they led the U.S. to the Bronze medal. In 1999, McDonald and Brentina put in an amazing performance at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, winning both the Individual and Team Gold medals.
"I am very excited to be with Brentina during her official retirement ceremony," said McDonald. "I cannot think of a better opportunity to celebrate her career than in Las Vegas with her owners and thousands of adoring fans."
Those interested in attending the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals can sign up for World Cup Club membership and order tickets at the official website at www.WorldCupLasVegas.com. Individual tickets are priced as follows:
Dressage Tickets
April 15: VIP-$250; Plaza-$55; Balcony-$35
April 16: VIP-$250; Plaza-$90; Balcony-$50
April 17: VIP-$250; Plaza-$90; Balcony-$50
April 18: VIP-$250; Plaza-$100; Balcony-$60
Show Jumping Tickets
April 15: VIP-$250; Plaza-$60; Balcony-$30
April 16: VIP-$250; Plaza-$70; Balcony-$50
April 17: VIP-$250; Plaza-$75; Balcony-$50
April 18: VIP-$250; Plaza-$75; Balcony-$55
April 19: VIP-$250; Plaza-$85; Balcony-$60
Everyone who purchases a ticket for the Finals, no matter which discipline or price, will automatically be entered in a drawing in which five lucky winners will receive their choice of prizes valued at $1,000.
Each winner will be able to select a $1,000 prize package, including either a hotel room at the MGM Grand, meals at some of Las Vegas's finest restaurants, tickets to exciting Las Vegas shows or official 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Finals merchandise.
The 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals will see exciting equestrian action during each of its five days. Wednesday, April 15, will feature the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Warm Up I and II at 9:30 a.m. and the Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage Warm-Up at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, will feature the Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage Grand Prix at noon and the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final I at 7:00 p.m. Things begin to heat up on Friday, April 17, with the Las Vegas Dressage Showcase at noon as well as Brentina's Retirement Ceremony. Friday will also feature the second Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final. Saturday, April 18, features the Las Vegas Jumping Grand Prix at noon. Dressage competition concludes on Saturday with the Rolex