New York, NY – September 29, 2004 – Three competitions held September 24-26, 2004, encompassing the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest regions, completed the three-weekend qualifying process for the ASPCA Maclay National Championships.

The Finals are scheduled for November 3-7, 2004, at The Metropolitan National Horse Show at Pier 94 and the Show Piers on the Hudson Complex in New York City. A total of 106 riders competing in eight different regions have nailed down a spot in the final round of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious test of horsemanship.

Headlining the top junior riders who qualified on the final weekend is Charlie Jayne, 17, of Elgin, Illinois. Charlie, who has placed consistently in all of the fall equitation championships over the past six seasons, competes in the ASPCA Maclay Finals for the final time. Charlie has garnered eight top 10 equitation finishes over the course of his stellar junior career but so far has been shut out at the Maclay. He qualified this year by finishing second in the Midwest Region on September 26.

Once again, Charlie will not be the only Jayne in competition in New York. Jayne’s younger sister Haylie, 15, defeated Charlie to win the Midwest Regional on September 26 and will compete in her first ASPCA Maclay Finals.

The third member of the Jayne riding trio is Charlie’s older sister, Maggie, who was crowned the USEF Hunt Seat Medal Champion in 2002. Maggie said the one-two finish for brother and sister at Region 5 was a great family experience. “They both were so excited,” Maggie reported. “They were crying and laughing and it was really great to watch because they’re very close to one another.”

While the veteran campaigner Charlie doesn’t need much sisterly advice, Maggie offered up these suggestions for Maclay Finals newcomer Haylie. “She just needs to stay relaxed, stay focused, keep her horse happy and she’ll be fine.”

Trainer, Missy Clark, who qualified 11 of her students for this year’s final said the ASPCA Equitation Finals are a major steppingstone for equestrian excellence. “It’s a great, old event, with a great history and it’s certainly every rider’s dream to win the Maclay Finals. To know the importance of this national championship, just look at the list of past winners and see how many of those riders have gone on to be real mainstays of the sport. Then you really begin to realize how significant the ASPCA Maclay Championship is.”

Clark went on to say that she’s anxious to return to New York. “It’s an exciting event and the new venue is a place I know so many people have worked very hard to make right, and I’m anxious to see how it progresses in the second year. When the people involved work as hard as the folks involved with this show have worked, you certainly have to support and applaud their efforts.”

The ASPCA Maclay Finals have long been a proving ground for future top international stars. Notable equestrians who have ridden to victory in the ASPCA Maclay Finals include 1960 Olympic Gold Medallist William Steinkraus, 1984 Los Angeles Olympians Conrad Homfeld and Leslie Howard, 2004 Athens Olympic Team Silver Medallist Peter Wylde, and 2004 Athens Olympic Show Jumping Team Coach Frank Chapot.

The panel of judges for the prestigious ASPCA-Maclay has been finalized, and officiating in 2004 will be the 1965 winner of the ASPCA Maclay Finals, Chrystine Tauber of Pottersville, NJ; Scott Williamson of Middleburg, VA; and 1996 Olympic Course Designer Linda Allen of Salinas, CA.

The Metropolitan National Horse Show will return to Pier 94 and the Show Piers on the Hudson Complex in Manhattan for the second consecutive year. Pier 94 and the Show Piers Complex has served as a location for major motion picture filming and fashion shows, played host to many top-class events including gift shows and entertainment extravaganzas, and now offers an innovative and unique site for some of the world’s best equestrians.

Many changes to this year’s event have been introduced to further enhance the overall experience of both the spectator and the exhibitor. The arena size has been widened, schooling areas have been enlarged, and spectator seating will be situated at both ends of the arena. A specialty boutique area will be located ringside. The Diamond Horse Shoe Club will feature catering by Tavern on the Green, one of New York City’s finest eateries.

Metropolitan Prize List On The Web
The Metropolitan National Horse Show Prize List is currently available on line at www.nhs.org. Under the heading “Show Information,” click “The Metropolitan” or “ASPCA Maclay,” and an Information Box will appear in the upper right hand corner of your screen – click “Prize List.” For your convenience, sections of the 2004 Prize List have been extracted and are listed separately, or click the PDF icon for “Complete Prize List Document.”

Sponsor And Vendor Information
For information on sponsorship or vendor space at The Metropolitan National Horse Show, contact Carolyn Vincent, Executive Coordinator of the National Horse Show Association of America, Ltd., at (516) 484-1865 or via email at NationalHS@aol.com.

For information on sponsorship at The 121st National Horse Show & Family Festival in Wellington, Florida, contact Steve Prescott or Caren Hunter at (561) 793-5867. For information on vendor space at the 121st National Horse Show & Family Festival, contact Jim Morrissey at (941) 915-3448.

Information is also available on the National Horse Show Association of America, Ltd. website at www.nhs.org.