The persistent question of how the USA’s three major fall indoor shows could run during a pandemic-plagued season was answered today: They are going ahead, even though it won’t quite be business as usual in the Covid era.
It’s good news, following cancellation of such major fixtures as Devon, Lake Placid and the Hampton Classic due to the virus.
The 4-star National Horse Show announced it will remain indoors at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena. There has been no announcement from the 4-star Washington International and 3-star Pennsylvania National, but we hear they will be held outdoors at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.
The ASPCA Maclay Finals is a highlight of the National Horse Show, which will remain in the Alltech Arena. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)
Those involved with the shows, which get under way in October, have known for months that holding the fixtures would be a challenge because of Covid restrictions. So they took an innovative approach beginning in May, joining forces as they talked daily, working out a way to stage their fixtures.
There had been speculation that all three of the shows would be held either in Kentucky or at the same location in Florida, minimizing exhibitors’ need to travel, but that didn’t happen.
A three-way solution was precluded because Washington wraps up on the same weekend that the National begins with a group of well-attended equitation classes.
Details about the Penn National and Washington shows are expected next week, since they are still awaiting FEI approval.
As the pandemic ramped up in the spring, it was obvious major changes would be necessary, even for shows that wouldn’t be held until five months later. Washington’s usual venue, the Capital One Center, is not going to be open in October. This was to have been the final year of the show’s contract with the facility. Whether that can be extended to 2021 depends on the schedules of the arena’s basketball and hockey teams, which are not yet set for next year.
Highlights of the National Oct. 23-Nov. 1 include the ASPCA Maclay hunt seat equitation finals, the $50,000 hunter classic and the $213,300 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Lexington, as well as the Hamel Foundation National Horse Show 3’3” Equitation Championship and the Taylor Harris Insurance Services Adult Equitation Championship on its first weekend.
“I would like to commend all of the individuals who have worked tirelessly in recent months with the National Horse Show, to help us come to a decision that is in the best interest of our event,” said National President Jennifer Burger.
“We all kept saying our main goal was to have successful horse shows, and go into 2021 and beyond as stronger organizations.”
She is hoping to have the Taylor Harris VIP area open at Alltech, but noted, “that will come through guidelines of the state. We’re going to do everything we can to have everything we can. The National Horse Show is committed to safety and keeping the integrity of the horse show as intact as possible.”
