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Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Celebrating New Permanent Facility Highlights Horse Shows by the Bay’s Opening Day

Written by: Elise DeVoe
Client: Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc.
Release Date: 2007-07-18

Traverse City, MI – July 18, 2007 – At 8 a.m. today Horse Shows by the Bay opened its three-week equestrian festival and its new permanent show facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. In its fourth year, Horse Shows by the Bay features some of the top riders and horses in the country and is located in scenic Traverse City, MI.

At the ceremony, horse show manager Alexandra Reinheimer was on hand to personally thank Janet Read and Karin Flint for their generous contributions to the show. Flint, founder of D-Braider, assisted Horse Shows by the Bay in acquiring Flintfields, which is the 84 acres used for the show grounds. Read, an equine enthusiast, is the sponsor of the Polk Family Main Hunter Ring. Bill Kurtz, Acme Township Supervisor, welcomed Horse Shows by the Bay to Traverse City by taking part in the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

Also this week, Horse Shows by the Bay will be hosting fundraisers for the Equestrian Aids Foundation (EAF) and the Michigan 4-H Foundation. Raffles for a General Electric Motocars (GEM) vehicle will be sold throughout the week to benefit EAF and the winner will be announced Sunday, July 22, during the exhibitor’s party at Trattoria Stella. Also at the exhibitor’s party will be two additional ways to support EAF, including a live auction and a “Diamond Drop.” The Diamond Drop features 100 $50 glasses of Italian sparkling wine. Ninety-nine of the glasses contain a faux diamond while one holds the real thing, a one-karat diamond from EverAfter Diamonds. The Michigan 4-H fundraiser will take place during Kid’s Day on Saturday, July 21, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Children under 18 are welcome for free and a variety of activities will be available, including face painting and a behind-the-scenes barn tour.

This week Horse Shows by the Bay offers more than $100,000 in prize money. Thursday, July 19, features a $3,000 NAL Open Speed while the schedule for Friday, July 20, includes a $10,000 Welcome Prix. Over the weekend both the jumper and hunter rings feature several classes offering $5,000 or more. On Saturday, July 21, the Team Elmer’s Grand Prix Ring features a $2,500 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic and a $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix. Also on Saturday, the schedule for the Polk Family Main Hunter Ring includes a $10,000 Adult Hunter Classic and a $5,000 Children’s Hunter Classic. Sunday, July 22, is the climax of the first week of Horse Shows by the Bay. The grand prix ring starts at 8 a.m. with the $2,500 Children’s Jumper Classic and ends with the $25,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City. The main hunter ring features a $1,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic.

Series II of Horse Shows by the Bay begins on Wednesday, July 25, and will include more great competition from some of the best riders and horses in the country.

For more information on Horse Shows by the Bay, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.