Haley Porter and Versailles.

SHELBURNE, VT — The 2011 Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show® is shaping up to be another monumental event in the show's 39-year history. More than 1,000 of the world's finest Morgan horses from across the United States, Canada, and overseas will meet in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, October 8-15 to compete for $250,000-plus in prize money.

Since 1973, this show has represented the pinnacle of achievement in the Morgan horse world. For the fifth year in a row, Fred Nava of Kingston, Massachusetts, joins as the show's manager, and this year, C. A. "Tony" Lee of Birmingham, Alabama, serves in the capacity of show chairman.

Oklahomans can be proud to know that all eyes from the Morgan world will focus on Oklahoma City in October, as the city displays some of the best athletes of America's first breed. The Morgan community is honored to call OKC home for the past 37 years.

"The partnership of Oklahoma City, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, and the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds make this area the best place to hold a horse show in the country," said Lee. "We invite everyone to join us and enjoy the show. You won't be disappointed!"

Nava, with a dedicated and hard-working show committee and staff, joins an impressive list of sponsors, officials, and volunteers to make this year's show the best ever.

"It is with great excitement that I come to Oklahoma each year as the manager of the Grand National," Nava said. "This horse show is where the best of the best in Morgans compete and world champions are crowned. It's history in the making!"

Competition begins Saturday, October 8 with three shows daily through Saturday, October 15. Show times are 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 7 p.m., daily. Admission is free throughout the week.

The Morgan, America's first breed, was founded on a sire named Justin Morgan. His offspring have contributed to every other American breed of horse. Today, Morgans win in nearly every type of competition, from trail and jumping to reining and dressage.

Today the Morgan horse is many things to many people, from a working range horse and scholar of obedience to an animated creature of precision unparalleled in equine beauty, he excels in and out of the show ring; under saddle or in harness; or as a trail horse, roadster, or jumper.

Founded in 1909, the American Morgan Horse Association is a non-profit organization serving more than 50,000 Morgan horse owners, breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts throughout the United States. AMHA serves as a parent organization to more than 90 recognized Morgan horse clubs and national service organizations. It also provides an important link to foreign Morgan horse registries and clubs.

The Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show® is owned by the American Morgan Horse Association and licensed to the American Morgan Horse Institute, a not-for-profit organization committed to education and scholarship.

For more information and updates on the Morgan Grand National, go to www.morgangrandnational.com.