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Las Vegas, NV—April 22, 2005—Meredith Michaels Beerbaum (Germany) had the crowd on the edge of her seat as the last of nine riders in the jump off of the second leg of the FEI World Cup Finals. In front of a hushed crowd, she negotiated Guillherme Jorge’s challenging jump off track and stopped the clock at 32.56.

Michaels Beerbaum led the victory gallop for the class and she takes over the lead of the World Cup Finals standings. She earned 42 points for tonight’s win, and an overall score of 78. Fellow countrymen Alois Schweckhorst and Steve Guerdat are tied for second with 71 points, and Ludo Philappaets (Belgium) and Rodrigo Pessoa (Brazil) are tied for fourth with 70 points. Sunday’s final round promises to be an exciting contest. Kimberly Frey is the highest ranked U.S. rider in the overall standings at tenth (66 points).

Initially the first round course looked impossible as the first three riders were eliminated. “It was a fabulous course,” said Michaels Beerbaum. “Anything can happen,” she added “but I will do my personal best.” (Meredith Michaels Beerbaum and Shutterfly are pictured at the right.) Course Designer Guillherme Jorge weighed in, “I am pleased with the outcome of the class. It started a little scary, but I knew the best were coming.

On Saturday the World Cup horses get a break, and the crowd will be treated to an exciting grand prix of national level horses, as well as a hunter challenge. Four Europeans, headed by Rodrigo Pessoa, will take on four of the best U.S. hunter riders, headed by Louise Serio. Riding some of the top hunters in the U.S., the teams will compete for bragging rights.

Show jumping competition will conclude on the Sunday with the final leg of the FEI World Cup Finals.

The FEI Budweiser World Cup Jumping Final and the FEI World Cup Dressage Final, presented by Offield Farms, are being held simultaneously for the first time in history.

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 Budweiser World Cup Jumping Final will be televised on NBC on Sunday, May 8 at 5:00 p.m. EDT. The FEI World Cup Dressage Final, presented by Offield Farms, will be televised on Monday, June 6 at 4:00 p.m. EDT on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN).

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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