Kim Severson Maintains The Lead in Fair Hill International CCI*** Presented by Dansko

Fair Hill, Maryland—October 16, 2004— The battle for the lead in the Fair Hill International CCI*** Three-Day Event was between two Olympic medalists on Saturday at the 16th annual Fair Hill International Festival in the Country, presented by Dansko. Kim Severson of Scottsville, VA, managed to hang on to the top spot, riding Royal Venture, with a score of 44.0 following the completion of the cross-country phase, edging out Phillip Dutton of Australia scoring 46.2 on The Foreman. Stuart Black of Bluemont, VA, riding Fleeceworks Blackout, jumped up from 20th place to third place with 54.2 penalties.

Severson and Royal Venture accumulated 7.2 time penalties on the challenging course, but the pair had enough of a lead from their Dressage effort to keep Dutton as the runner up going into the final day of competition. The Athens double medalist said it was due to the attitude of her 14-year-old Thoroughbred.

“He absolutely has a new lease on life,” said Severson. “He is thrilled to be here. I didn’t know what to expect today, but he ran better than anticipated. He was really into it.”

Dutton was the only rider to go clear within the time allowed moving him up from fourth to second. The two-time Olympic team Gold Medalist attributes the flawless performance to The Foreman’s style.

“He is an economical galloper, said Dutton. “He is a good horse, very fit. It’s rewarding for me because I bought him off the racetrack and brought him along. I had him since he was three-years-old.”

Competition at the Fair Hill International culminates with the show jumping phase on Sunday.

World-class equestrian competition at the Fair Hill International is an ideal family outing. In addition to world-class competition, the event features a wide variety of shopping and dining. The Country Shops offer a little bit of everything including tack, jewelry, artwork, pet needs, exceptional apparel and fine gifts for the approaching holiday seasons. The Fair Hill Club offers fine dining, while visitors seeking a more casual snack or meal will find pubs around the Fair Hill grounds serving classic Maryland crab-cakes and other treats. In fact, the Maryland Department of Agriculture named the Fair Hill International as a “Maryland Top Event!”

Fair Hill’s ever-popular dog agility trials have returned this year with over 400 canine competitors. Additional activities include Maryland State Police K-9 demonstrations and appearances by the Delmarva Miniature Horse Club, presented by the Canis Lupus Wolf Foundation and Whispering Horse Farm. Other activities include friends from the Winterthur booth, offering quick crafts for children and a family sign-up opportunity, and the Chesapeake Foundation Booth, where spectators can learn more about the Chesapeake Bay and related environmental concerns.

The 2004 Fair Hill International Festival in the Country, presented by Dansko, benefits Christiana Care Health System, one of the Chesapeake region’s largest not-for-profit health care providers. Christiana Care, which began in 1888, serves the people of Delaware, as well as neighboring areas of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. It maintains a teaching hospital which specializes in cardiology, cancer and women’s health services, and has trauma and neonatal intensive care units that offer an exceptional degree of care.

This year’s Fair Hill International sponsors include American Home & Hardware; Bit of Britain; Cosequin/Nutramax Labs; County Banking & Trust Co; Dansko; The Equiery; Glenmede Trust Company; Goldman, Sachs & Co.; The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation; Jeff D’Ambrosio Chevrolet; Maryland Horse Industry Board; M. H. Eby, Inc.; Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit; Primedia Equine; Rice, Unruh & Reynolds; Stancill’s; The Stewart Foundation; Summit Aviation; Thoroughbred Charities of America, Ltd.; Wachovia; Walnut Green Bloodstock; and Wilmington Trust.

Tickets for the 2004 Fair Hill International are available at the gate. Further information is available by calling 410-398-2111 or by visiting http://www.fairhillinternational.com