Rumors have been swirling about whether this spring’s Devon Horse Show and Country Fair will be cancelled for the second year in a row due to the Covid situation. But the welcome announcement came today that one of the country’s most beloved shows is slated to be held May 25-June 6.
The famous Devon sign says it all at the entrance to the Dixon Oval. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
The fixture on Philadelphia’s Main Line is ready to mark its 125th anniversary as the USA’s oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed competition.The show runs in conjunction with the Devon Country Fair, the production of more than 2,000 volunteers, offering a variety of boutiques, dining and special events, such as the annual hat contest.
The ladies’ hat contest is an annual highlight at Devon. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
With its accompaniment of lively organ music, the show has a delightful old-fashioned air, although the top-notch competition is cutting edge.
For many generations, Devon has been a highlight of the year that would be sorely missed if it went dark again, But “as of now, it’s a go,” said Peter Doubleday, who co-manages Devon with David Distler.
Although the prizelist is usually out by this time, it should go live March 1, Peter said.
“We’re planning on everything. We’re moving ahead and we’re very excited about it,” he noted.
At the same time, Peter cautioned, “But who knows what’s going to happen in another week or two weeks.”
He was referring to the way the Covid situation has a habit of changing everyone’s plans.The sticky wicket for so many competitions during the pandemic is whether spectators–the lifeblood of shows, including Devon, that are oriented toward the public–can attend. (See the story below on this website about how that affected the Land Rover Kentucky 5-star competition.)
The stands are always packed for the grand prix, but this year social distancing will have to be the rule. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
In Pennsylvania, it’s a question of how many people the state government will allow on the showgrounds. .Fans are an integral part of the show, whether they’re in the stands cheering, buying food, or visiting the vendors.
Looking at the state’s maximum occupancy calculator, if it’s assumed that 10,000 people are on hand for grand prix night in normal times, as some have estimated for the standing-room-only occasion, it appears to me that this year, perhaps 2,500 might be allowed at one time with social distancing on the 17-acre site. Naturally, that’s far from being an official calculation.
“The goal is to have a controlled number of people on the grounds, to have that atmosphere, somewhat,” said Peter.
“We’re trying to press on, regardless.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Equestrian Federation currently bans spectators under its Covid protocols, but is looking at easing the guidelines a bit further down the road. The question will be when, and how many people USEF permits to attend. The Kentucky three-day event got turned down by USEF in its request for 50 percent of its usual capacity, but Devon is a month after Kentucky..
Fan favorite McLain Ward is a perennial winner of the Devon Grand Prix, named in honor of his longtime mount, Sapphire. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
In response to my query about a timeline for the possibility of having spectators at licensed shows, USEF CEO Bill Moroney stated on Feb. 17, “The USEF COVID-19 Action Plan continues to remain in effect, including no spectators are permitted at USEF-licensed competitions.
“While we are hopeful that we will be able to allow a restricted number of spectators at outdoor competitions in the coming months, that decision is dependent on the evolution of the pandemic. In the meantime, USEF is developing protocols for limited numbers of spectators in order to be ready for when we determine this can occur. We continue to communicate with competition organizers and our members and recognize that fans are anxious to return to attending shows, but our collective goal is to protect the health and safety of the community first and foremost.”
At Devon, everything was rolled over from last year, from officials to competition offerings and tickets–if you bought a seat last year, it’s good for 2021.
According to the show’s announcement, online ticket sales start March 11. In-person sales begin April 1. For more information on tickets, click here
