Lexington, KY – In a month where the average American wanders out to the garden wishing for Summer, equestrian sport has taken the lead—and the reins—to bring the country into full bloom. Leading us first to the entertainment capital of the world on April 20, the 2005 FEI World Cup Finals promises to feature some of the best show jumping and dressage the world has to offer. The United States will be sending 16 of its finest riders to face off against the world in Las Vegas, during the first dual World Cup Finals in history. Following the Finals, fans will race back to Kentucky to usher in the one-and-only 2005 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Farnam on April 28. From Rolex veterans to Olympic champions, America’s best will be gracing the Bluegrass State—each deserving of the world spotlight.

It would be an understatement to say April has fans excited, athletes anxious, and media scurrying to capture it all as it happens. But we’ll say it anyway. Back-to-back competitions of this caliber simply don’t come along in just any old month. Neither does the chance to reclaim titles, settle world rivalries, and center our talented equestrians in front of the world’s eye. Tens of thousands of fans will attend both events, alongside hundreds of media representatives—all in support of our equestrian heroes, both human and horse.

Many of you will be paying homage to one or both events during the next two weeks. For those who can’t get away (and for the rest of us who want to relive every action-packed moment) NBC will broadcast highlights from Rolex and the Show Jumping Final on May 8, from 4:00 to 6:00 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). These prestigious events are not only considered a yearly who’s who in the equestrian world, they also mark a rite of passage for Spring, and lifelong fans and converts alike will surely agree: Spring doesn’t get any better than this!

For more information about the 2005 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Farnam, log on to www.rk3de.org.

For more information about the 2005 FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, see our on-line media guide at www.usef.org/worldcupfinals; hard copy guides will be available to media representatives on site.
~~~For more information, please contact Sarah Lane, Public Relations Manager at (859) 225-6974 or via email at [email protected]. USEF press releases are available on our web site – www.usef.org.