The stunning announcement came today that the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is cancelled for the second year in a row, as the organizers and board cited “far-reaching operational and financial implications due to on-going (Covid-related) restrictions imposed by U.S. Equestrian (USEF) regarding spectators and other important issues at their sanctioned events.”
Representatives of Devon had been in talks with the USEF about how many people could be allowed on the grounds of the suburban Philadelphia show, which has attracted as many as 126,000 people over its 11-day run, where the fair and carnival are also a draw.
USEF has barred general public attendance at its licensed competitions under Covid protocols, but advised last week it was “optimistic” that by mid-May, it would be able to permit a limited number of fans at USEF-licensed competitions. The federation planned to offer details in the next weeks “so that organizers and spectators have time to prepare in advance.”
According to the show’s chairman, Wayne Grafton, that timeline doesn’t work for Devon, which was scheduled to run May 27-June 6.
“We’ve been asking for the last 75 days,” he said.
As of April 1, the state of Pennsylvania began permitting 50 percent occupancy for outdoor events under its Covid rules.
Wayne noted that since USEF has its own health guidance and “we’re under license for them, we agreed to be in that boat when we agreed to their sanction. I tried to say to them…just leave the health issue to the state. We could have gone forward a month ago with state guidance.
“April 10 is too late for us to respond,” he explained.
“Devon is unique. Aside from the show, you’re hurting the institution. You’re damaging us financially. There’s more to it than just the loss of the show, as painful as that is. We will not have money to get through the year–pay the taxes, insurance, utilities. It’s a quagmire. The organization was prepared to go forward and lose money on this show. We could have gotten reasonably close with (using the) state guidance.”
The USEF was taken aback by the Devon decision.
“We were extremely disappointed and surprised to read the press release posted by the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair (DHSCF) this morning announcing the cancellation of the 2021 competition by the Board of Directors. Over the past several weeks, Bill Moroney, CEO USEF, has met with multiple representatives of the DHSCF to discuss updates to the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan that would allow a restricted number of spectators and accommodate sponsors,” said a USEF statement.
“These conversations were positive and productive. Amendments to the COVID-19 Action Plan are slated to be announced this week. DHSCF is an important and historic competition on the USEF calendar. While it is ultimately the business decision of the DHSCF Board of Director to go forward or cancel the show, the USEF has taken steps and will continue to take steps to work with all organizers to provide opportunities for competitions to go forward viably and safely. We are reaching out directly to the DHSCF Board of Directors to determine if they have any interest in revisiting their decision.”
When I questioned Wayne about whether the board might reconsider and stage the show, he replied, “We couldn’t make it happen.”
Entries for the jumpers, hunters, equitation and coaching closed last Monday, with all other entries wrapping up May 3 for the country’s largest multi-breed show, which also includes saddlebreds.
Cancellation is a blow for riders, so many of whom treasure Devon–designated a USEF Heritage Show–as an annual stop on their schedule.
“It’s disappointing. It’s disheartening. We love Devon, it’s a phenomenal event and venue. I think it’s a huge loss for our sport,” said McLain Ward, who in 2019 for the 11th time won the show’s grand prix named after his longtime mount, Sapphire.
“I don’t know who’s directly responsible. I don’t think the federation is the problem here. USEF has been able to work with every organizer in our country to run show after show successfully and find a way to do it safely,” he continued, citing competitions in Florida and California, among others.
“It seems like this announcement came out all of a sudden today, when I think there were still some people making great efforts to make it happen. There was still room and time to find some more support to make up some of that ground to make it go forward. So many sporting events are making great effort to continue through this difficult time. I offered whatever resources I have as far as relationships to try to help.”
The Olympic gold medalist noted grand prix riders can find somewhere else to compete, but he expressed sympathy for the junior riders, who will have missed two Devons and may never have a chance to ride there..
“It’s an entire generation’s career. That’s pretty devastating for those kids who worked.very, very hard to be the best of their level and age group. I think that’s very sad,” he said.
He pointed out that Devon would be “allowed to have the box holders as sponsors; they’re allowed to have a certain amount of occupancy, which I believe is 30 percent, and yes, the carnival and country fair at the very least will have to be significantly reduced.”
“It’s an entire generation’s career. That’s pretty devastating for those kids who worked.very, very hard to be the best of their level and age group. I think that’s very sad.”.
In that regard, Wayne said, “What most people don’t realize is that the horse show depends on the country fair and the country fair depends upon the horse show.”
McLain, meanwhile, noted, “But they are sold out for horse show entries. Devon is about sport, not about the fair. The fair is part of it. I think it’s very disappointing to lose sport over having to make some modifications to the activities, which are wonderful, but they are around what the core event is.”
Looking ahead to running the show in 2022, Wayne said Devon will donate the $45,000 of personal protective equipment it bought for its fixture to the Brandywine show that runs in June at the venue. In terms of fundraising, he is hoping to boost the Fall Classic in September and attract people to a program on the legends of Devon at Ardrossan, a nearby estate that was owned by former show chairman Hope Montgomery Scott, said to be the inspiration for the main character in “The Philadelphia Story.”
“I am as sick as I can be over this,” said Wayne about the cancellation.
“Staff is really, really dejected. Now the issue is trying to pick everyone up and walk it forward. We’ve got to get some funding in place to keep us going here. I call on everybody to support the events we have this fall to make sure we do have a grand 2022.”
