Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 19, 1993 TAG: 9306190075
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In a pattern that has held throughout the event's 22-year history, entries and calls came in to the Salem Civic Center at a plodding pace until the deadline arrived.
Then the paperwork started to fly like the debris from a broken cattail, and the ringing of phones became an almost constant racket.
"We have 90-year-old ladies calling every five minutes wanting to know every class - over the phone - and of course there are hundreds of them," said Karen Bumgarner, who works in the horse show office. "We also have things like the hunters and jumpers calling, wanting to add stalls, wanting to cancel stalls - the usual chaos."
The Junior League of Roanoke Valley and the Roanoke Valley Horsemen's Association had prepared for one of the biggest shows ever. Included in the plans were 817 stalls - 43 more than last year. To house them on the Civic Center grounds are 10 tents, two of them considerably larger than a year ago.
As usual, there will be almost constant action in two show rings, one indoor and one outdoor. Then there is the show's trademark, its air-conditioned inside show area.
"It looks like we're going to have a very good show this year," said general manager Bill Munford of Campbellsville, Ky.
More than a week of well-hooved activity begins at 8 p.m. today with Music In Motion, an annual collaboration of horses of many breeds and The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Victoria Bond. The spectacular is choreographed by Mill Mountain Theater.
The highlight of this year's show will be the $125,000 ninth running of the Grand Prix of Roanoke, a jumper competition that is believed to be the richest of its kind in North America and possibly the world. The only other U.S. Grand Prix events offering as much as $100,000 in prize money are: the Crown Royal Grand Prix in Bridgehampton, N.Y.; the Autumn Classic in Port Jervis, N.Y.; and the USET Show Jumping Championship in Gladstone, N.J.
The purse for the Roanoke event was increased by $25,000 under directives from event underwriter Marion Via, the Roanoke heiress who died shortly after the increase was announced during the winter.
This year, the Grand Prix has been moved for the first time from Saturday night to 2 p.m. Sunday.
"That'll give us a lot of more time to decorate the place nicely," Munford said. "It will also make it better because a lot of these horses aren't used to jumping so late at night. There will also be more good seating, because the saddlebred people will have cleared out. The saddlebred championships and the Grand Prix used to be the same night."
Last year, 33 horses competed in the Grand Prix, with Beezie Patton atop Northern Magic taking home the top prize. Patton was the fourth rider to win the event since retired legend Rodney Jenkins won the first four.
Patton had not been heard from Friday, but there is nothing unusual about that; many jumpers wait until the last minute to register, meaning that there could be a flurry of new entries late next week.
However, John Fisher, the owner of Northern Magic, had called with inquiries.
Among other early entries were former Grand Prix of Roanoke champions Barney Ward (1989) of Brewster, N.Y., and David Raposa (1991) of Clinton, N.Y. Other prominent riders known to be coming include Rusty Holzer of the Virgin Islands, Craig Shegog of Delaplane and Olympic gold medalist Leslie Lenehan of Fairfield, Conn.
"I know we're going to have more jumpers than we've had before," said Sue Tallon, who computerizes entries for the horse show. "There are a lot of names that I haven't seen before."
The jumpers aren't the only class in the spotlight at the show, of course.
Ponies and hunters will show during the day on Monday and Tuesday. Then the western and racking horses will have the ring at night. Barrel racers will compete Monday and Tuesday nights. Also Tuesday night, the saddlebred competition will begin. Saddlebreds will compete every night from Tuesday through Saturday night's championship.
On Wednesday, hunters and jumpers will be competing all day and night. Thursday, the local hunters and schooling jumpers will be featured, along with fine harness horses. Friday, more hunters, jumpers, and saddlebreds along with Arabians will show. The hugely popular Jack Russell terrier races also are scheduled for Friday night.
Championships of most of the classes, including the fine harness and roadsters will be Saturday night. The $10,000 Gambler's Choice open jumper competition also will be Saturday night.
by CNB