$18,000 Up for Grabs at Professional Bull Riders (PBR) U.S. Capitol Invitational. Challenger Tour Opens the Washington International Horse Show

Washington, DC - Sept. 3 - Before the equestrian action kicks off at this year’s Washington International Horse Show on October 25, the MCI Center will be rocking with the excitement of the sizzling rides and amazing wrecks of the Professional Bull Riders Challenger Tour on Sunday night, October 23, 2005 at 7pm.

The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) debuts at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. for a one-day only bull riding event. The U.S. Capitol Invitational, a part of the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. Challenger tour, brings 40 of the best PBR riders battling the rankest bucking bulls in the industry to our nation’s capitol. More than $18,000 is up for grabs in prize money!

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company President, Murray Kessler who is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington International Horse Show said, “It’s a brand new location for the PBR Challenger Tour and we’re really hoping this will become a multi-year partnership. I’m very excited about coming to the MCI Center. I think we’ll be able to draw six or seven thousand people this year,” Kessler estimated. “Beyond this year, I think we’ll be able to sell out and in turn make some significant revenues for the Washington International Horse Show.”

The event format includes 40 bull riders taking on the world’s best bulls for a long-round competition. Then, the top 10 riders will compete in a short-go round. The event championship will go to the rider with the highest cumulative score on two bulls.

“If you’ve never seen the bulls before it’s going to be very exciting for you. It’s all out for eight seconds. Riding the bull is just one part. Getting off and getting safely away is the other part,” laughed Kessler. “I’m also excited that we’re going to have an exhibition of show jumping that night.” Kessler revealed an exciting challenge that’s in the works. “We’ve got a very exciting challenge that will pit a show rider on a bull against a bull rider doing show jumping,” he said. “That should be a lot of fun for everybody in attendance on Sunday night.”

Ticket prices for the U.S. Capitol Invitational start at $15. For more information, please call Ticketmaster at 202-397-SEAT, 410-547-SEAT, or 703-573-SEAT.

Over 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on NBC, OLN, and in Spanish on Telemundo. With over 450 hours of prime time programming annually, PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air. In addition to attracting over one million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, the Enterprise tour, and the Humps N Horns Tour, the tour is designed specifically for entry level contestants.

The PBR’s governing board of directors is comprised of renowned bull riders who have developed the event into a stand alone sport which is experiencing unprecedented growth in global popularity. The PBR is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., and has over 600 athletes competing in more than 100 PBR sanctioned competitions.

For additional information, please visit www.pbnow.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: Bull Riding at the Washington International Horse Show, MCI Center, Washington, DC. Photo by Charles Mann.