Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival Announces 2010 Dates

January 27, 2010

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Traverse City, MI –-– Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc. is pleased to announce the dates for the 2010 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. Held each summer at Flintfields Horse Park in beautiful Traverse City, MI, the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival is a month-long equestrian competition featuring some of the country’s best horses and riders competing in the hunter, jumper, equitation and dressage disciplines. Flintfields Horse Park has five all weather show rings and warm up rings, including the spacious Grand Prix Ring overlooking the scenic Traverse City countryside. The horse park is located just three miles east of Traverse City, offering first-class equestrian competition right in the heart of Michigan’s most popular vacation destination.

Following a fantastic 2009 season, the 2010 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival is rapidly approaching, and will feature much more exciting competition. This year’s festival will feature Dressage by the Bay Series I & II on July 8-11 and Horse Shows by the Bay Series I, II & III on July 14-August 1.

The 2010 Dressage by the Bay Series is a USDF Level 3 rated event and the only rated dressage show in Northern Michigan. The series will feature first-class competition, a breed show, complementary exhibitor parties, and a $5000 FEI Musical Freestyle.

The Horse Shows by the Bay Series will feature the country’s best horses and riders competing for a chance to accumulate year-end points and grab a share of the nearly $400,000 in total prize money in the hunters, jumpers, and equitation. Highlights include the $15,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby Classic, World Champion Hunter Rider sanctioning, $5000 Hunter & Jumper Classics and the weekly $30,000 Show Jumping Grand Prix.

Other special events scheduled are the weekly $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix and $10,000 SJHOF Junior/Amateur-Owner Prix plus the production of the Hunter-Jumper Association of Michigan Equitation Medal Finals. Children’s and Adult Jumpers will jump for big money too – with $30,000 in classic money being earmarked for distribution, which is a considerable upgrade from previous years.

Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc. is also pleased to announce a brand new addition to the year’s line-up, the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 2 Dressage Championships and Dressage by the Bay Fall Classic, which will run September 9-12, 2010. The honor of hosting this event was awarded based on show management’s prior performance producing quality dressage shows, as well as on rider recommendations, so it is a great credit to Horse Sports by the Bay to receive such an opportunity.

To date the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival has brought more than $40 million in tourism revenue to the immediate Traverse City area. Bringing an exceptional horse show to a popular vacation destination in Northern Michigan allows competitors to enjoy top equestrian competition while also experiencing the many special qualities of this unique town.

More announcements and news will follow in the months leading up to this exciting, vacation destination-oriented equestrian festival. For more information, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com or call 561.723.6287.

2010 HORSE SHOWS BY THE BAY FAST FACTS

EVENT: Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival

WHAT: A month long multi-discipline equestrian festival that attracts 1,500 horses and their riders who are in attendance to accumulate year end points and compete for $400,000 total prize money.

SANCTIONED BY: United States Equestrian Federation, United States Dressage Federation, United States Hunter-Jumper Association, North American League, Young Jumper Championships, Show Jumping Hall of Fame, World Champion Hunter Rider Awards Program, Washington International Horse Show Championships, Hunter-Jumper Association of Michigan, Ohio Hunter-Jumper Association, Ohio Professional Horseman’s Association, Indiana Hunter-Jumper Association, Wisconsin Hunter-Jumper Association, Michigan Horse Show Association, Great American Insurance Group, and USDF Breeder’s Championship Program.

RATING: “AA” Hunters; “Level 4” Jumpers; “Level 3” Dressage

WHERE: Flintfields Horse Park, 6535 Bates Road, Williamsburg, MI 49690 – 10 miles east from the beautiful Resort town of Traverse City

WHEN: July 8 – August 1, 2010

WEEK BY WEEK HIGHLIGHTS:

Week I, July 8 – 11:

• Dressage by the Bay Series I/II

• $5000 FEI Musical Dressage Freestyle Competition

Week II, July 14 - 18:

• $30,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City

• $15,000 International Hunter Derby Classic

• $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix

• $10,000 High JR/AO Jumper Prix

• $5000 Low JR/AO Jumper Classic

• $5000 Adult Jumper Classic

• $5000 Children’s Jumper Classic

• $1000 Pony Hunter Classic

• $1000 Children’s Hunter Classic

• $1000 Adult Hunter Classic

Week II, July 21 – 25: WCHR Sanctioned

• $30,000 Grand Traverse Bay Grand Prix

• $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix

• $10,000 High JR/AO Jumper Prix

• $5000 Low JR/AO Jumper Classic

• $5000 Adult Jumper Classic

• $5000 Children’s Jumper Classic

• $5000 Junior Hunter Classic

• $5000 Amateur-Hunter Classic

• $5000 Adult Hunter Classic

• $5000 Children’s Hunter Classic

• $2500 Pony Hunter Classic

• $2500 Pre-Green Hunter Classic

Week III, July 28 – August 1:

• $30,000 D-BRAIDER Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix

• $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix

• $10,000 High JR/AO Jumper Prix

• $10,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Prix

• $5000 Low JR/AO Jumper Classic

• $1000 Junior Hunter Classic

• $1000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic

• $1000 Pony Hunter Classic

• $1000 Children’s Hunter Classic

• $1000 Adult Hunter Classic

• HJAM Equitation Medal Finals

HOURS:

Wednesday through Sunday, beginning at 8 a.m.

ADMISSION:

Wednesday & Thursday, Closed to the Public

Friday – Sundays, $5/person for general admission ticket

PARKING: Available on-site; included in admission price

DIRECTIONS:

Directions obtained through GPS mapping devices are incorrect! FROM M-72 please turn NORTH on Bates Road – NOT SOUTH as directed.

From South East Michigan (Detroit Area): I-75 towards Grayling; @ Grayling exit left onto M-72 West; continue West through Kalkaska to Williamsburg; @ Williamsburg continue west 1.9 miles to Bates Road; after Rail Road Crossing turn right onto Bates Road; show facility on left ½ mile. 4 hours from Detroit.

From Mid-Michigan (Lansing Area): Follow US-127 north to Clare; merge onto M-10 West/M-115 to Ludington/Cadillac to Route M-115 North; From M-115 merge onto M-131 North to Fife Lake Road; turn left onto Fife Lake Road/CR 605; Follow jog, staying left on CR-605 to Williamsburg; @ Williamsburg turn left on M-72, West; continue west 1.9 miles to Bates Road; after Rail Road Crossing turn right onto Bates Road; show facility on left ½ mile. 3 hours from Lansing.

From South West Michigan (Grand Rapids Area): East 1-96 north to Grand Rapids to US 131 through Cadillac; continue north to Fife Lake Road; turn left onto Fife Lake Road/CR 605; Follow jog, staying left on CR-605 to Williamsburg; @ Williamsburg turn left on M-72, West; continue west 1.9 miles to Bates Road; after Rail Road Crossing turn right onto Bates Road; show facility on left ½ mile. 2 1/2 hours from Grand Rapids.

From Northern Michigan (Petoskey Area): Follow US 31 South to Acme; @ Acme turn left (East) on M-72 towards Williamsburg; after 3 miles turn left onto Bates Road; show facility ½ mile on left. ALT Route: Follow US 31 South to Lochenheath (north Acme); turn left (east) onto Brackett Road; after 3 miles, @ stop sign, turn right onto Bates Road; show facility ¼ mile on right. 1 hour from Petoskey.

From Traverse City: Follow US 31 North to Acme; @ Acme turn right (East) on M-72 towards Williamsburg; after 3 miles turn left onto Bates Road; show facility ½ mile on left. ALT Route: Follow US 31 South to Lochenheath (north Acme); turn right (east) onto Brackett Road; after 3 miles, @ stop sign, turn right onto Bates Road; show facility ¼ mile on right. 15 minutes from downtown.

From Toledo, Ohio & Lexington, KY: Follow US 75 north to Toledo; @ Toledo take US 23 north towards Ann Arbor; continue north on US 23, crossing over I-94 & I-96, staying north to Bay City/Flint; @ Bay City merge onto I-75 North towards Grayling; @ Grayling exit left onto M-72 West through Kalkaska to Williamsburg; @ Williamsburg continue west 1.9 miles to Bates Road; after Rail Road Crossing turn right onto Bates Road; show facility on left ½ mile. 5 hours from Toledo; 9 hours from Lexington.

By Air: Use the Cherry Capital Airport – Traverse City. From Airport, turn left onto South Airport Road to 3 mile road; @ 3 mile road turn left (north) to right (east) on US 31. Follow Directions from Traverse City. 10 minutes from Airport.

BLUE RIBBON LODGING PARTNERS:

Arbors of Traverse – Apartment Rentals, 231.932.9200

Cambria Suites, 231.778.9100

Coldwell Banker Schmidt - Vacation & Cottage Rentals, 888.242.7555

Grand Beach Resort, 231-938-4455

Honcho Rest Campground, 231.941.3600

Park Shore Resort, 231-947-3800

Sugar Beach Resort, 231-938-0100

Super 8- East Bay, 231-938-1887

Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, 800.922.2946

For all other Group Rates & Additional Hotel Listings, contact Sarah Barnard @ the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau: 1800 – 940 – 1120 or sbarnard@visittraversecity.com.

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