Santa Fe will host the second annual New Mexico Grand Prix on Memorial Weekend 2005, May 28-29. The event takes place on the Polo Fields of the Santa Fe Horse Park. A huge step toward the goal of making Santa Fe a premiere equestrian destination, this major sporting event will feature top riders from all over the country who will compete for prize money. The event will attract equine professionals, amateur exhibitors, horse lovers, owners and riders, tourists and spectators. Proceeds from the event will support Santa Fe’s new Therapeutic Riding Program, Equistars, a non-profit organization that opened in January 2004.

“The equestrian sport is unique in its beauty and grace. The combination of rider and horse-–of concentration and power-–provides emotion and excitement that no other sport offers,” stated Brian Gonzales, event coordinator and one of the cofounders of Grand Prix de Santa Fe. “There are more than 400 grand prix show jumping events per year in North America, but until now, there has not been an event hosted in New Mexico. Santa Fe, as one of the highest-ranked tourism cities in the world, is a prime event location to attract horse lovers from all over the country.”

Mary Amelia Howell, a director of Grand Prix de Santa Fe, said, “Our first year has been a great success. It’s a great cause--anything to get people involved with horses. Horses give you so much freedom, unlike any you have ever had, and this is a whole opportunity for all kinds of people; you can do all kinds of disciplines, and I think this is great because it introduces so many of them.”

Grand Prix Brunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. on May 29 and the Grand Prix will begin at 2 p.m. Live exhibitions in reining, vaulting and dressage are scheduled throughout the day on May 29.

In addition to the Grand Prix, there will be a $7,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic and $5,000 Children/Adult Amateur Jumper Classic. The Grand Prix de Santa Fe Gala and Charity Auction will be held on May 28 at the El Dorado Hotel in downtown Santa Fe. Tickets for the ball are $125 per person with tables of 10 for $1,200. This dinner dance will allow the competitors, sponsors and the spectators an evening to relax and enjoy themselves before the competition.

The Santa Fe Horse Park is New Mexico’s premier multi-discipline state-of-the-art equestrian facility. Open year-round, the Horse Park’s facilities include polo fields, five arenas, over 350 stalls, a clubhouse, tack store and a spa.

Complete information about this event can be obtained from Brian K. Gonzales, PO Box 5363, Santa Fe, NM 87502; (505) 983-9646; [email protected]; or Guy McElvain, PO Box 88, Lemitar, NM 87823; (505) 835-1845; [email protected].~~~