Equestrian Sport Productions announced the first $100,000 Trump Invitational, a grand prix show jumping event to be held at noon on Jan. 6 on the grounds of Donald Trump’s historic Mar-a-Lago estate.
The Trump Invitational will kick off the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla. The class will serve as a fundraiser for the FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments, an event that raises and distributes more than $1 million annually for Palm Beach County charities.
“We are very excited about this event and the chance to have equestrian sport for the first time on Palm Beach Island,” said ESP CEO Mark Bellissimo. “It will be a spectacular event at a breathtaking waterfront setting. It will be a great chance to promote the sport and the athletes, all while raising money for the million-dollar FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge.”
The Mar-a-Lago estate, purchased and renovated in 1985 by Trump, is a designated U.S. National Landmark. “After attending last year’s Nations Cup in Wellington, I thought Mar-a-Lago would be a perfect and world-class setting to showcase the sport, kick off the 2013 equestrian season, and raise money for some great local charities,” said Trump.
Show jumpers Georgina Bloomberg and Paige Bellissimo will act as co-chairs for the event, which is sponsored by the Suncast Corporation, G&C Farm, and Gut Einhaus.
Show jumpers such as Great British 2012 Olympic gold-medalists Nick Skelton and Ben Maher plan to attend, as do U.S. riders such as McLain Ward, Laura Kraut, Lauren Hough, Reed Kessler, Kent Farrington, Christine McCrea, Lauren Tisbo and others. International riders like Ian Millar, Rodrigo Pessoa, Shane Sweetnam, Alvaro de Miranda Neto and Athina Onassis de Miranda also plan to compete.
ADVERTISEMENT
The $100,000 Trump Invitational is sanctioned by the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the Federation Equestre Internationale as a CSI** competition.
Contact Anne Caroline Valtin at annecaroline@equestriansport.com for more information about spectator options.
