The 47th annual Canadian National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (Canadian Nationals), affectionately known as “The Royal Red,” kicks off Aug. 23 at the Regina Exhibition Park. The weeklong event features top-level horse show competition and a commercial trade fair.

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) of Aurora, CO, produces the event, which is held Monday, Aug. 23 through Saturday, Aug. 28, and is open to the public. Admission (Canadian dollars) is $7.50 for adults and $4 for seniors and children under 12 per session. Commercial trade fair admission is free. Events will run from 8 a.m. through 10 p.m. most days in three sessions at 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily.

Canadian Nationals stands alone as the only AHA championship show offering a full range of competition with Canadian flair. Spectators can enjoy 145 different classes in youth, western, dressage, hunter and English disciplines. Last year’s largest class was Arabian Hunter Pleasure with 43 entries. New additions for the 2004 show include sport horse under saddle classes and more options for amateur reiners. More than $400,000 in Breeders Sweepstakes and Halter Futurity prize money is available for class winners. Last year’s event drew more than 25,000 spectators and brought in approximately 1,000 horses from Canada and the United States. The Economic impact to Regina is estimated at $5.5 million (U.S. dollars).

In addition to horse show competition, held in amateur and open divisions, the event features a shopping expo and several special events. The shopping expo is free to the public, offering more than 30 booths with items such as tack, equestrian gifts, clothing and jewelry and is open from 9 a.m. through 8 p.m. daily (9 p.m. on Aug. 27 and 28). On Monday, the public can visit the Fred Mill Mall in downtown Regina for Royal Red Day; anyone wearing red will receive two free tickets to a show session. Other special events include a BBQ lunch for Canadian Nationals exhibitors on Tuesday, August 24, sponsored by the Royal Red Host Committee and Regina businessmen.

AHA’s corporate partners include: Arabian Saddle Company, Inc., Equisure, Inc., MBNA, MD Barns Inc., Pegasus Vans and Trailers, Pfizer Inc., and Turtle Neck by Paint Rock Designs. Event sponsors include Pellar Estates, Regina Exhibition Park, Regina Hotels Association, Royal Red Host Committee, Sask Power, The City of Regina, The Leader Post, The Province of Saskatchewan and Wolf Springs Ranch.

The AHA press office is located in the Canadian Nationals show office at Regina Exhibition Park. Press passes, show programs and current class schedules are available here, as are tentative class and special events schedules. Show results can be found at ArabianHorses.org/CNL.