Woodside, Calif., April 20, 2011 – The third annual Preliminary Challenge will be the competitive highlight of the Event At Woodside on May 27-29. The popular competition, which climaxes as the sun sets over the San Francisco Bay on Saturday evening, will offer $15,000 in prize money and $15,000 in prizes in each of the two divisions.
More than three dozen horses are expected to compete in the Woodside Preliminary Challenge—presented by Point Two Air Jackets, Professional’s Choice and Equine Insurance of California—at the Horse Park of Woodside, on Sand Hill Road, just off I-280, 30 minutes south of San Francisco.
The Woodside Preliminary Challenge will get underway on Friday with dressage, evaluated by a panel of two judges. The exciting cross-country phase will take place on Saturday morning.
And then the winners will be decided on Saturday evening over a special show jumping course set in the Bay Arena, with its panoramic view of the southern San Francisco Bay. The top 10 horses in each of the two Preliminary Challenge divisions will begin show jumping at 6:20 p.m., with awards to follow immediately afterward.
Since Saturday afternoon will feature the advanced and intermediate divisions taking their turns over Derek di Grazia’s panoramic cross-country course, spectators can spend the entire day watching he cross-country action for $10 per person, which includes parking and a program.
Fans, friends and family can watch the final phase of the Woodside Preliminary Challenge from a ringside tent while eating a locally catered dinner, or they can bring their own chairs to watch from the ringside viewing berm. Tent seating is available for $55 per person or $450 for a table of 10.
Proceeds from the Preliminary Challenge Gala Dinner benefit construction of the cross-country course at the Horse Park of Woodside.