Toronto, Ontario – November 10, 2003 - The world’s top show jumping competitors are set to compete at the Royal Horse Show, held as part of the 2003 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair from November 7-16 in Toronto, ON.

Riders representing powerhouse show jumping nations such as France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States will converge on the National Trade Center’s newly-constructed Ricoh Coliseum to compete in show jumping action at the famed Royal Horse Show.

Crowd favourite Michael Whitaker, currently ranked the number ten show jumping rider in the world, and countryman Andrew Davies will be on hand to represent Great Britain while Kevin Babington, one of Ireland’s leading riders, will be hoping to once again experience the luck of the Irish in a repeat visit to the Royal. Dutch rider Eric van der Vleuten returns to the Royal Horse Show, joined by Steve Greudat of Switzerland and Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst of Germany. ‘Flying Frenchman’ Yann Candele, based in Canada since 1999, also earned himself an invitation to compete in the international division of the Royal Horse Show.

The American contingent will include 2003 Pan American Games team gold medallist Margie Goldstein-Engle of Wellington, FL while Joe Fargis of Bridgehampton, NY, will be joined by his 1984 Olympic gold medal teammate, Leslie Howard of Westport, CT. McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, Candice King of Wellington, FL, and 26-year-old Alison Firestone of Upperville, VA, will also help mount the American challenge. Megan Lamaze, originally from Orinda, CA, and now living with her husband, 2003 Canadian Show Jumping Champion Eric Lamaze in Schomberg, ON, will make competing in the international division a family affair.

Show jumping’s top names will take on Canada’s best as they compete for a total of $290,000 in prize money in the international division. Representing Canada will be Frankie Chesler of Orangeville, ON, Karen Cudmore of Omaha, Nebraska, Michael Grinyer of Campbellville, ON, Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, Ian Millar of Perth, ON, Sulu Rose of Manakin, Virginia, Ainsley Vince of Milton, ON, and Keean White of Cambridge, ON.

Highlights of this year’s Royal Horse Show include the Royal Canadian Mint World Cup Grand Prix on Wednesday, November 12, which will determine Canada’s representatives at the 2004 World Cup Final in Milan, Italy, while the final international show jumping event, the $60,000 Ricoh Big Ben Challenge, brings the Royal Horse Show to a close on the evening of Saturday, November 15.

Fans of dressage will appreciate the addition of the $20,000 Royal Dressage Invitational, held November 12 and 13 while the heart-pounding excitement of the Carriage Racing Derby will thrill crowds from November 12 to 15.

For more information on the 2003 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit www.royalfair.org. To purchase tickets for this year’s event, please contact Ticketmaster at (416) 870-8000.