The 64th Pennsylvania National Horse Show will host some of the biggest names in the sport of show jumping when it returns to the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex, October 8-17.

McLain Ward, who made history at the Hampton Classic Horse Show by winning the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup Qualifier for a record fourth time on his two-time Olympic Team Gold-medal horse, Sapphire, and followed that with a win on Sapphire in the $1-million CN International Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, will be one of the people to watch in the Open Jumper division. Ward is currently ranked #1 on the USEF Computer List, more than 3,000 points ahead of his nearest rival.

Kent Farrington will also be in the ring with his mount, Up Chiqui, to try and repeat their win of last year in the $75,000 Grand Prix de Penn National on Saturday evening, October 17. Farrington is a familiar site in the winner's circle at Harrisburg. In addition to his numerous open jumper wins, in 1998 he won the USEF Medal Finals.

Georgina Bloomberg will also be on hand for the Open Jumper competition with her new mount, the 11-year-old French mare, Street of Diamonds.

Harvard senior Hillary Dobbs with take some time away from her studies to compete at the Pennsylvania National with her spectacular string of horses. The 21 year-old daughter of TV personality Lou Dobbs can always be counted on to show the crowd how it is done.

Ireland's young Darragh Kenny will also be trying to win the top prizes in the Open Jumper division with his string of horses. Kenny has burst on the scene with some incredible results over the past season, including two wins during the Vermont Summer Festival and a third place in the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic Horse Show.

The 2009 Pennsylvania National Horse Show will run October 8-17, featuring 10 full days of hunter and jumper competition with both amateurs and professionals vying for the coveted championships. The Pennsylvania National hosts 10 national championships. The competition highlight is the $75,000 Grand Prix de Penn National on Saturday evening, October 17.

Special event highlights include: Kinsley Construction Company Hunt Night competition, Jack Russell Terrier races, the North American Fox Hunting Horn Blowing Championship, and family days with free pony rides. There will be demonstrations, as well as special educational events and barrel and carriage racing.

The show is entertaining and educational. Approximately 70 vendors are accepted offering a wide variety of items: clothing, gifts and antiques, custom signs and furniture, fine and costume jewelry, toys, pet items, t-shirts and tack shops. All offer a unique variety of items sure to please horse lovers and non-horse people alike.

The Pennsylvania National Horse Show is proud of its tradition of supporting both equine and youth programs. The show benefits the Harrisburg Kiwanis Youth Foundation and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.

Further information is available at the horse show's website at www.panational.org or by calling the horse show office at (717) 770-0222.