Ottawa, Ontario - The prestigious Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament will be used as the final Selection Trial for athletes attempting to earn a spot on the 2004 Ontario Young Riders’ Show Jumping Team.

On Saturday, July 17, the final Selection Trial will determine which athletes will represent Ontario at the 2004 North American Young Riders’ Championship, considered the ‘Mini-Olympics’ for riders aged 16-21. In 2004, the North American Young Riders’ Championship, which includes the Olympic disciplines of Dressage and Three-Day Eventing in addition to Show Jumping, will take place from August 10-15 at Tempel Farms in Wadsworth, IL.

Four Selection Trials will be held for the Ontario Young Riders’ Team prospects with the final Trial taking place at the Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament. Once all Selection Trials have been completed, the top two horse/rider combinations will be chosen based on the points gained throughout the trials, while an additional three horse and rider partnerships will be chosen at the discretion of the Selection Committee. Teams are comprised of four horse/rider combinations as well as one alternate.

The Ontario Young Riders’ Team will head to the 2004 North American Young Riders’ Championship as the defending Gold Medallists. Last year, the Ontario Show Jumping Team consisting of Carly Campbell Cooper, Chris Sorenson, Elliot Stone and Keean White, were victorious while White also laid claim to the Individual Silver Medal.

The famed Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament runs from July 13-18, 2004, at the Nepean National Equestrian Park in Ottawa, Ontario. In order to accommodate the over 700 competitors, this year’s edition of the Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament will open one day earlier, on Tuesday, instead of the traditional Wednesday. Considered one of the best competition sites in the world, course designer Danny Foster of Milton, ON, will have the honour of designing in the Grand Prix field for the second consecutive year.

Over the course of the six-day competition, riders will compete for a total of over $150, 000 in prize money. The Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament features one of the richest Canadian Grand Prix events, the $75, 000 ‘Big Ben Memorial’ Grand Prix. Other major money competitions include the $35,000 Jumping Derby, the $10, 000 ‘Kubota’ Open Welcome Stake and the crowd-pleasing $5,000 Horse and Dog Relay. The grand prix horses of tomorrow will be showcased during Friday’s Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series.

The Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament is also pleased to introduce the $5,000 Classic Hunter Challenge which will see two competition rings combined to create one large showcase of the country’s best. And, for the first time, the Capital Classic will also host the Classic Summer Breeders Show on Saturday, July 17, and the Classic Saddle, Harness and Heavy Horse Show on Sunday, July 18.

The Nepean National Equestrian Park is located in the west-end of Ottawa, just off the Moodie Drive exit of the 417 Highway. Attracting more than 10,000 spectators per year, the Capital Classic Horse Show donates proceeds to The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, lending a hand in granting wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. For more information, please visit www.capitalclassic.ca.