Show jumping returning to RJS

World Cup qualifying events also are scheduled for the Florida State Fairgrounds.

By CHRISTINA K. COSDON

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 19, 2000

TAMPA -- Powerful 1,200-pound equine athletes and their human partners will soar over high walls, fences and water traps as the $3-million Winter Equestrian Festival moves from West Palm Beach to Tampa for its final weeks.

Raymond James Stadium will host two of the nation's premier show jumping competitions. The $150,000 American Invitational returns on April 1. The $250,000 American Grand Prix Association Championship will be held for the first time at the stadium on April 8.

In recent years, the championship has taken place early in the festival at West Palm Beach. The timing made it mainly an eastern championship since riders on the western circuit in Indio, Calif., still were competing.

The reason for moving the event to the end of both show circuits is to create a national competition, said Gene Mische, president of Tampa-based Stadium Jumping, which produces the festival that began Jan. 26.

Having the championship early in the season wasn't a fair placement of that event, Mische said. The top four riders of the Indio circuit and their horses will fly from California to Tampa to compete in the new "national" event.

"To have two world-class events at such a professional venue is a real positive kick for the sport of show jumping," said Steve Stephens, course designer for the invitational and the championship.

"This is an opportunity for the horses and their riders to come back at the height of their game -- well-tuned and ready to play," said Gina Johnson, a show committee member. "It will be a lot of fun to see the East and West Coast players going head to head. We'll be watching the best in the nation."

Horse and rider of the year, as well as rookie of the year awards will be presented at the championship.

Two $25,000 Challenge Cup grand prix competitions will be in the indoor arena Thursday and and March 29 at the Florida State Fairgrounds. The March 29 event is a qualifier for the World Cup, which is to be held in an indoor arena next month in Las Vegas. And one of the two $50,000 grand prix competitions Saturday and Sunday will be indoors at night and also a qualifier for the World Cup.

While the indoor arena at the fairgrounds may seem small, it's quite a bit larger than the setting for the World Cup.

"It's 30 feet wider and 50 feet longer," Stephens said. "Tampa is a piece of cake compared to the World Cup arena -- you could put that one inside this one."

Even though the festival is an outdoor series, all but one of the events were moved inside to give World Cup hopefuls practice in an indoor ring.

"Horses jump differently indoors," Stephens said. "Everything is quicker, the jumps come up a lot faster." He said he doesn't think it was necessary to have so many of the main events indoors. "I don't see the practical need for it, this is an outdoor tour," he said. "But it will be interesting."

Veteran grand prix rider Jimmy Torano of Wellington said in past years riders have complained that the European competitors were better prepared for the World Cup because they show indoors all winter.

By having the indoor courses, Torano said, "Stadium Jumping is trying to do what they can to send a more prepared team."

Now in its 28th season, participation in the Winter Equestrian Festival has become a must for U.S. Equestrian team candidates and is used as a proving ground for the U.S. and Canadian teams.

The venues of West Palm Beach and Tampa draw equestrians from Europe, Latin American and Asia and competitors are an international Who's Who in the sport of show jumping.

The festival in Tampa will bring in nearly 2,000 horses and more than double that in riders, trainers, grooms, officials, staff and support personnel.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.