BMO Financial Group Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows Masters Cancelled

Calgary, Canada- September 10, 2005 - In a surprise turn of events at the Spruce Meadows Masters tournament, show co-chairman Ron Southern announced after the first round of the Nations Cup that the class was cancelled. This is Spruce Meadows history, as no other class has been cancelled like this before.

According to Southern, the Chefs d’Equipe agreed that they would not like their riders to complete a second round. The weather in Calgary has been gloomy and rainy for days, and although no horses visibly slipped or fell on course, the riders did not feel comfortable with riding a second round.

At an impromptu press conference following the decision, United States Chef d’Equipe George Morris and Canadian Chef d’Equipe Torchy Millar spoke to the press regarding their decision.

“Welfare of the horse above all considerations,” Morris stated emphatically. “This is horse sport! There was risk to the horse and rider. We got through the first round without an apparent injury, but it was inconceivable to embark on a second round.”

Millar added, “It was obviously very clear that the organizing committee wanted a second round. I’m surprised at the stance they (the ground jury) took, quite honestly. Their opinion of what was safe flies in the face of the opinions of thirty of the world’s best riders and coaches.”

Spruce Meadows Vice-President of Television and Media Ian Allison made the following official statement, “At the conclusion of the first round of the BMO Financial Group Nations’ Cup, the FEI course designer, in cooperation with the ground jury, the veterinary committee, and the Spruce Meadows organizing committee, made adjustments because of conditions to the second round course.”

Allison went on to add, “I’m sad to say that there will not be a second round. There will be no winner, as no nation completed two rounds of competition. When the first round was approved, it was opened and the nations were invited to return and no nation chose to compete. Spruce Meadows will return all of the sponsor’s prize money- $300,000- to BMO Financial Group.”

Regarding Sunday’s competition, Allison said, “The organizing committee met and has scheduled to run the final day of the Masters tournament to include two FEI competitions: the $75,000 Molson Cup with 28 starters and the $1,000,000 CN International Grand Prix, which has 43 starters.”

The Molson Cup is scheduled tomorrow for 9:15 a.m. and the CN International Grand Prix start time is scheduled for 1:15 p.m.

Photo Credit: US Chef d’Equipe George Morris , Great Britain Chef d’Equipe Derek Ricketts, and Canadian Chef d’Equipe Torchy Millar at press conference following Nations’ Cup cancellation. Photo by Ken Braddick- HorseSport USA.