New York City, NY - August 15, 2003 - Due to the massive power outage in the Northeast USA, which has prevented overnight shipping to New York City and other points, as well as other complications for electronic communications, the National Horse Show Association of America has extended the closing date for entry to the ASPCA-Maclay Regional Qualifying Competitions from today, Friday, August 15, until the close of business on Tuesday, August 19, at 5 pm ET.

National Horse Show Association of America (NHSAA) president Alan F. Balch said he made the decision upon notification from the National's office in Greenvale, NY, that parents and competitors around the nation have found it impossible to arrange for guaranteed deliveries and have been unable to communicate with the National's office electronically.

The prestigious American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)-Maclay National Horsemanship Championship will take place during the new Metropolitan National Horse Show on October 29 to November 2, 2003 at Pier 94 and the Showpiers on the Hudson Complex in Manhattan, NY.

The NHSAA is managing three shows this year. After the Metropolitan National Horse Show, the National Horse Show Indoor Championships will be held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV on November 19 to 23. The final show of the three events organized in 2003 by the National Horse Show Association of America is the National Horse Show Outdoor Championships in Wellington, FL from November 26 to 30. All three shows will be rated "AA" by the national federation. Started in 1883, this is the 120th year for the National Horse Show Association of America.

Prize lists and qualification information about the three shows may be downloaded from the Internet at the NHSAA website, www.nhs.org. Tickets are now on sale for all three shows. Ticket order forms may be downloaded at the National Horse Show website at www.nhs.org. To order tickets, please write to The National Horse Show Box Office, Pier 92, 711 12th Avenue, NY, 10019 or fax your order form to (917) 591-9082 or (212) 977-8826. At this time, advance orders may only be accepted through the mail or by fax. For further information, you may call the box office at (212) 315-1882 or toll free at (888) 674-2733.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the National Horse Show Association of America, PO Box 386, Greenvale, NY 11548, telephone (516) 484-1865, e-mail NationalHS@aol.com, or by consulting the official website at www.nhs.org. Additional details may also be obtained by contacting show manager Bob Bell at bbell@classiccompany.com. Media inquiries can be directed to Hallie McEvoy at NationalHSNews@aol.com.