Ohio horse show jumping fans will need to head toward Columbus to see the finest horses and riders compete in the Buckeye State this year. Although Ohio is the home of the birth of grand prix show jumping in North America (the Cleveland Grand Prix), the only elite level competition in 2014 is being held at the New Albany Classic, on Sunday, September 21.
The New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix – – The nation’s 30 best horses and rider will compete for $125,000 in prix money at the 17th annual New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix. Competition will take place at 2 p.m. on the grounds of the Wexner home at 4589 Reynoldsburg Road, in New Albany. www.NewAlbanyClassic.com
The event is dedicated to raising funds for The Center for Family Safety and Healing and 100 percent of the proceeds go to the beneficiary. In addition to show jumping, activities include the Tweens Brands Concert which will feature Fifth Harmony, Jake Miller, AJR and Sabrina Carpenter for Disney’s Hit Show “Girl Meets World”; family attractions including zip lines, pig races, strolling story book characters, and amusement rides.
Ohio’s Rich Show Jumping History – – As you already know, the annual Cleveland Grand Prix which boasts a proud tradition at the Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field outside Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is on hold nearly 50 years after its 1965 birth in Ohio. That event launched the sport of grand prix show jumping in America. www.clevelandgrandprix.com
Nearly 50 years later there are 350 grand prix around the country as the sport has exploded. There have been five different show jumping grand prix in Ohio from Cincinnati to Cleveland. They included Northeast Ohio’s: Cleveland Grand Prix, and the U.S. Open Jumping Championships and American Gold Cup; Southern Ohio’s grand prix events in Cincinnati at Kings Mills and Central Ohio’s New Albany Classic Invitational, 17 years young.
It’s sad that after all these years there is only one, but we are fortunate that the New Albany Invitational lives on! I love it that the prize “Authentic Cup” is named after the Wexner’s wonderful horse, Authentic, ridden to international glory by Beezie Madden.
I’m looking forward to a wonderful competition this year and plan to attend the New Albany Classic. I am going early in the day to help out at the Equus Now shop and sign books (The Cleveland Grand Prix: An American Show Jumping First from 11 a.m. until the competition begins at 2 p.m. Proceeds go to the fundraising effort for The Center for Family Safety and Healing. www.EquusNow.com
Beezie Madden aboard Authentic (Ken Kraus photo) 