Wellington, FL – July 8, 2004 – Bob Johnson, owner of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats and WNBA Charlotte Sting and founder of Black Entertainment Network (BET), has announced that the second annual Charlotte Jumper Classic CSI**** will feature a total purse of $300,000. Mr. Johnson is President of the Event. The 2005 Charlotte Jumper Classic CSI**** will be held April 8-10, 2005, in the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Event Director Eugene R. Mische and Stadium Jumping, Inc. will once again produce the four-star event. The announcement of the new prize money marks a $40,000 increase over last year’s purse.

The 2005 Charlotte Jumper Classic CSI**** features 10 classes open to riders by invitation only. Featured classes are the $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte, CSI, for the Charlotte Bobcats Cup, the $25,000 Charlotte Bobcats Amateur-Owner Classic, and the $25,000 Charlotte Bobcats Junior Jumper Classic.

Thirty riders in each of three categories will be invited to compete – International Riders, Amateur-Owners, and Junior Jumpers. Twenty International Riders will be invited based on FEI/Gandini World Jumping Rankings and 10 will receive invitations at the discretion of the Organizing Committee. Twenty Amateur-Owners and 20 Junior Jumpers will be invited based on United States Equestrian Federation money won standings as of March 12, 2005, and 10 in each category will receive invitations issued by the Organizing Committee.

Prize lists for the Charlotte Jumper Classic CSI**** will be available in January 2005. Riders interested in participating in the 2005 event may contact Stadium Jumping, Inc. at 1-800-237-8924 or visit www.stadiumjumping.com. For additional information on tickets, sponsorship, and vendor opportunities, log on to www.charlottejumperclassic.com

All net proceeds from the Charlotte Jumper Classic CSI*** benefit the Charlotte Bobcats Charitable Fund.

Photo Credit: Randi Muster Photography/Mustphoto, Inc.