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 Las Vegas , NV—April 23, 2005—Anky van Grunsven of the Netherlands won her seventh World Cup Final during the FEI Offield Farms World Cup Final.
Van Grunsven and the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Keltec Salinero, performed before a sold-out crowd of more than 11,500. The pair scored a total 86.725% with four artistic scores in the 90s. “I was proud of my horse,” she said. “It’s great to have two Dutch riders here. I’m really happy.”
Van Grunsven’s score was possibly a freestyle record, beating her previously held 86.05% achieved at the 2000 Olympic Games riding Bonfire. “The scores are slowly getting higher,” she commented. “A lot of riders are now on this high level. I can’t sit back and think it’s easy.”
Edward Gal, also of the Netherlands, came in second to his trainer riding Geldnet Lingh. Gal and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion received artistic scores in the 90s from three of the five judges for a final score of 85.225%. The crowd uncharacteristically broke out in applause during his one-tempis on a circle. “I don’t remember the clapping,” he said. “However, it made Lingh go even better. I liked it!”
 U.S. favorite and 2003 World Cup Champion, Debbie McDonald of Hailey, Idaho, and the 14-year-old Hanoverian mare, Brentina, came in third with an 83.45%. McDonald broke out in a huge grin as she rode down centerline to “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” with the crowd clapping along with the music. The audience was out of their seats before she could even make her final salute. “Obviously I was having fun,” she said. “My goal was to bring fun, not only for myself but for the audience. I think I achieved my goal.”
American Robert Dover of Wellington, Florida, riding FBW Kennedy, came in fourth place with an 80.1%. Leslie Morse of Beverly Hills, California, riding Kingston, took sixth place with 78.475%, and Guenter Seidel of Del Mar, California, riding Aragon, placed 12 th with a 70.650%.
President of the ground jury, Uwe Mechlem, of Germany, said, “It was very difficult to find the winner. The level of riding was unbelievably high. After seeing each ride, you think it can’t be beaten, then the next and the next. It is frustrating but exciting.”
Judge Mariette Withages said, “I thought this was more difficult to judge than in Athens because of the level and the small differences between riders.”
Mechlem said Van Grunsven’s music and choreography set her apart from the rest. “In the end, I gave her a 10 for music. The combination of horse and music couldn’t be better. The style of the music fit the horse and the movements were in the right moment. Anky did it perfect.”
Results—FEI Offield Farms World Cup Final
Rider Horse Country Score
1. Anky van Grunsven Keltec Salinero NED 86.725
2. Edward Gal Geldnet Lingh NED 85.225
3. Debbie McDonald Brentina USA 83.450
4. Robert Dover FBW Kennedy USA 80.100
5. Andreas Helgstrand Blue Hors Cavan DEN 78.500
6. Leslie Morse Kingston USA 78.475
7. Jan Brink Bjorsells Briar 899 SWE 77.375
8. Hurbertus Schmidt Aramis GER 77.200
9. Sven Rothenberger Barclay II NED 75.250
10. Carl Hester Escapado GBR 73.475
11. Lone Joergensen Hardthof’s Ludwig G DEN 72.275
12. Guenter Seidel Aragon USA 70.650
More than 100,000 tickets have been sold with tickets purchased by individuals in 13 countries and all 50 of the United States. Better than 96% of the ticket sales have been to people who live outside Nevada.
The FEI Offield Farms World Cup Dressage Final will be televised on Monday, June 6 at 4:00 p.m. EDT on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN).
First held in 1986, the Dressage World Cup Final has been held in the U.S. only once, in 1995 in Los Angeles. Germany and The Netherlands have dominated the competition, winning six titles each through 2004. The United States won its first title in 2003 when Debbie McDonald of Hailey, Idaho and the magnificent mare, Brentina, emerged as champions. Brentina is owned by Parry and Peggy Thomas of Las Vegas, for whom the Thomas & Mack Center, the venue for the World Cup Finals, is named.
Las Vegas Events, Inc. (LVE), producer of 2005 FEI World Cup Finals, was founded in 1983. LVE has grown with Las Vegas as the city has emerged as one of the world’s top special event and resort destinations. A private, not-for-profit organization, LVE is funded by hotel room tax and serves as the exclusive major special events agency for the city. In its 21-year history, Las Vegas Events has produced, presented or supported more than 200 events, which have driven more than 2.5 million visitors to the area, resulting in an economic impact of more than $700 million.
Las Vegas Events, Inc. is grateful for the generous support of its many sponsors, such as Budweiser, the title sponsor of the Jumping Final, Offield Farms, the presenting sponsor of the Dressage Final, and Breyer Animal Creations, the sponsor of the Riders’ Lounge. Other sponsors include: Bally’s and Paris Hotels; Bellagio Las Vegas and The Mirage Las Vegas; Creel Printing; Coast Hotels & Resorts; Der Dau Custom Boots and Shoes; D.K. Saddlery; Equifit; Equisearch.com, the Official Online Partner of the World Cup; Hermès of Paris; Lake Las Vegas Resort; Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino; Merial Limited; Mikmar Bit Company; NBC Television; Platinum Performance; Practical Horseman; Schleese Saddlery Service; Sidelines; Style-Wise; Summit Dynamics; Triple Crown Custom, the Official Custom Blanket of the FEI World Cup Finals; the U.S. Dressage Federation; the U.S. Eventing Association and the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
Also signed on as “Friends” of the FEI World Cup Finals 2005 in Las Vegas are the American Warmblood Society, “Brentina: From Idaho to Athens, Presented by Rolex,” Cornerstone Hunters & Jumpers, Devon Wood Equestrian Centre, Diamond Legacy Breeding, DressageArenas.com, Dressage un Ltd, HorseDeals.US, Las Vegas Magazine, Nevada Equestrian Association, Royal Oaks Farm, Tish Quirk/Horses USA and Valley Horse News.
For more information on the 2005 FEI World Cup Jumping and Dressage Finals, please call Las Vegas Events, Inc. at (702) 260-8605 or visit the official website at www.worldcuplasvegas.com .
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