The Del Mar National Horse Show, May 2-7, 2017, is a staple in many riders' and spectators' schedules. The first week of May every year, the Del Mar Fairgrounds hosts the show just minutes from the world famous Del Mar Village and the beautiful Southern California coastline.
Along with stellar views and temperate weather, the event hosts an array of special classes and events, including: World Champion Hunter Rider, North American Junior Young Rider Championship Selection Trial, a USHJA National Hunter Derby, and not just one, but two intense Grand Prix competitions on Friday and Saturday! For a full week schedule and to purchase tickets, click here. View the live stream of the Del Mar Arena through EQSportsNet by clicking here.
| Who will be taking home the blue this Saturday in the Grand Prix of Del Mar? Photo by Del Mar National |
The special classes for the weekend begin Thursday afternoon with the USHJA National Hunter Derby in the San Diego Arena. Friday, you will not want to miss the $25,000 Surfside Grand Prix Presented by iJump Sports at 6:30PM. This class is the qualifier for Saturday night's $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar Presented by Pacific Sotheby's International Equestrian Division and best of all, it's free to the public!
Saturday, we begin the evening at 6:45PM with the exciting Ride & Drive Classic Presented by The Competitive Equestrian Magazine. The riders and horses navigate a course, then the rider dismounts, runs to the designated car to drive through a course of cones! If they knock down cones in the car, they will incur penalties-similar to knocking down a rail on their horse. The competition will have you laughing and on the edge of your seat to see who can come out with the fastest time and the least amount of faults!
| Chris Pratt and Concorde, the winners of the 2016 Grand Prix of Del Mar Photo by Del Mar National |
Saturday night will also host the retirement of a very special show jumper: Flexible. Ridden by Rich Fellers and owned by Harry and Mollie Chapman, he was the 2012 FEI World Cup Finals Champion, winner of the Grand Prix of Del Mar, and won all four rounds of the 2012 Olympics Trials leading up to the Olympic Games in London. Rich and Flexible will be at Del Mar National all week and will be available for autographs on Friday and Saturday nights in the courtyard by the Del Mar Arena.
The $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar Presented by Pacific Sotheby's International Equestrian Division provides a thrilling night of competitive show jumping, where only the best horse and rider combinations from Friday night's qualifier will get to compete. Purchase tickets for the Ride & Drive Classic Presented by The Competitive Equestrian Magazine and the Grand Prix of Del Mar by clicking here!
Del Mar National Horse Show
May 2-7, 2017
Del Mar Fairgrounds
Thursday, May 4 ~ Time TBD
USHJA National Hunter Derby
Friday, May 5 ~ 6:30PM
Surfside Grand Prix
Presented by iJump Sports
Saturday, May 6 ~ 6:45PM
Ride & Drive Classic
Presented by The Competitive Equestrian Magazine
$100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar
Presented by Pacific Sotheby's International Equestrian Division
