Galway Downs International Three-Day Event Draws Riders From Across The Globe

Edited Press Release

Kristin and Joey will be heading to the Galway Downs CCI3* International Three-Day Event, Nov. 4-6 in Temecula, California. A total of 33 horses, representing the United States and five other nations, have been entered in the CCI3*. These riders are seeking world-class competition in the sunny Southern California climate and, for many, a shot at Olympic glory.

U.S. riders are coming to the Galway Downs CCI3* from 11 states, plus California (Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Texas, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Arizona and Washington).

Buck Davidson, of Ocala, Fla., has entered Ballynoe Castle RM, the horse he rode at the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games and is Davidson’s No. 1 mount for the 2012 Olympics in London. But he’s also entered Park Trader and Titanium at Galway Downs, hoping to have a deep well of qualified horses for the U.S. selectors to observe next spring.

Michael Pollard, of Dalton, Ga., will be just home from Guadalajara, Mexico, as a member of the 2011 U.S. Pan Am Games team, and he plans to bring two of his Olympic hopefuls, Jude’s Law and DV8. Stephen Bradley, of Leesburg, Va., rode on the 1992 Olympic team and is bringing his 2012 Olympic candidate In The Fog. Sandra Donnelly, of Calgary, Alb., has already tasted Olympic glory, and she’s hungry for more, so she’s entered her 2008 Beijing Olympic mount Buenos Aires.

Because it’s the final CCI3* in the world during 2011, the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event has emerged as a key qualifying event for riders from around the world hoping to achieve a qualifying score for the 2012 London Olympics. That’s why Merel Blom of The Netherlands is flying her two horses—Umberto DB and Rumor Has It—halfway around the world.

Ronald Zabala of Ecaudor has entered three horses (Wise Equestrian Brer Fox, Wise Equestrian Master Hill and Che Kairo) as as a step in his Olympic bid. Zabala represented Ecuador at the 2011 Pan Am Games, and now he’s aiming for his first Olympic start.

Two U.S.-based foreign riders are also looking to establish their Olympic credentials. Nina Ligon, of Esmont, Va., is a citizen of Thailand who’s making her first Olympic bid. She trains with Olympic silver medalist Kim Severson and has entered Jazz King and Butts Leon. With his previous rider, Andreas Dibowski of Germany, Butts Leon won team gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

James Alliston of Great Britain has lived in Castro Valley, Calif., since 2009, and he’s entered Jumbo’s Jake, with whom he won the Woodside CIC3* on Oct. 7-9, and Parker, with whom he finished third at Woodside. Jumbo’s Jake and Alliston finished third in the 2010 Galway Downs CCI3*.

Before competition begins, all the horses must be accepted by the ground jury of Angela Tucker of Great Britain, Cara Whitham of Canada, and Jane Hamlin of the United States at the first horse inspection on Thursday, Nov. 3. Competition will begin with dressage on Friday, and Saturday will feature cross-country, the heart of the competition. The event’s climax will come on Sunday, with the show jumping phase.

The total prize money this year is $33,000, with a $21,000 purse in the CCI3*.

Land Rover, the Professional Riders Organization, Del Mar Eventing and Professional’s Choice are the presenting sponsors of the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event.

A portion of the general admission and patron's ticket revenue at Galway Downs will benefit Operation Homefront, the official charitable partner of the Professional Riders Organization Tour and of Galway Downs.

The mission of Operation Homefront is to provide emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our nation’s service members. Since its founding in 2002, Operation Homefront has provided more than $92 million to programs that benefit military families.

General admission for the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event is $8 per day in advance, $10 at the gate. VIP tickets—which include seating in the ringside tent, lunch and a full selection of beverages—are also available for $55 per day in advance. For advance reservations, go to www.galwaydowns.com.

For more information on the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event, visit www.galwaydowns.com or call 951-303-0405. To learn more about eventing, visit the U.S. Eventing Association’s website (www.useventing.com).