Traverse City, Mich. – July 31, 2020 – Soon to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the American Gold Cup (AGC), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors LLC, will kick off this September with a series of new additions to mark the milestone occasion. Perhaps one of the most exciting changes is the addition of a whole new discipline to the schedule: hunters. Previously a jumpers-only competition, the 2020 installment will welcome the addition of AA-rated hunters to both weeks of its schedule, with a slew of divisions and derbies on the docket to serve horse-and-rider pairs of various experience levels. The first week of AGC, which will feature the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, presented by The Davis McCullough Foundation, will take place Sept. 2 – 6, followed by the second week from Sept. 9 – 13, 2020. Both weeks will come after the inaugural Traverse City Fall Horse Show, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, from Aug. 26 – 30.
Hunter highlights during the three fall weeks will include:
August 26-30: Traverse City Fall Horse Show, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel
$7,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby
AA rated Hunters, Level 6 Jumpers and Equitation
September 2-6: American gold Cup, featuring the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament
$25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
AA rated Hunters, Level 6 Jumpers and Equitation
September 9-13: American Gold Cup, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors LLC
$25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
$2,500 2’6″ Non Pro Hunter Derby
AA rated Hunters, Level 6 Jumpers and Equitation
“Opening up the American Gold Cup to the hunters will allow for all of those participants to experience the horse show like never before. We are so excited to debut the hunters and giving everyone something to look forward to given the hardships of this year. This change will make the American Gold Cup a more well-rounded and inclusive event for all equestrians in the hunter/jumper world, and we can’t wait to host more weeks of competition in beautiful Traverse City,” commented Matt Morrissey, Event Director for Traverse City Horse Shows.
In addition to offering a pristine backdrop in an ideal vacation town, the horse show will feature more than $160,000 up for grabs in the hunter contests throughout the three weeks of fall competition, another layer of incentives for competitors. Highlights will include derbies for the professionals, amateurs and juniors, both at the standard derby height as well as a 2’6″ version for non-professionals. Those hunter competitors who pull double duty in the jumper ring can expect even more prize money opportunities, with more than $675,000 available in the FEI jumpers and $230,000 in National jumpers.
Individuals interested in VIP tables can now reserve their spot in the elegant VIP space that offers premier viewing of both the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring and the Jumper Annex. VIP Club members can expect a private, socially-distanced table of six seats, as well as breakfast, lunch and drinks every day of the show, Wednesday to Sunday.
A popular summer destination for equestrians and non-equestrians alike, Traverse City lodging and accommodations are expected to be reserved quickly. Make sure to book housing early to ensure you get your perfect lodging!
- Grand Beach Resort Hotel
- Sugar Beach Resort Hotel
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Traverse City
- West Bay Beach, a Delamar Resort
- Sleep Inn & Suites
- Pointes North Beachfront Resort Hotel
- Brio Beach Inn
The Traverse City Tourism team is available to help both individuals and large groups. For individual accommodations, please visit traversecity.bookdirect.net. For large group accommodations of six guests or more, please call or email Sarah Barnard with Traverse City Tourism at 231-995-3912 or sarah@traversecity.com .
For exhibitors planning a lengthier stay, home rentals are an ideal and cost-effective option for visiting the Traverse City area. Winterwood Property Management (WPM) is the official home rental agency for TCHS and can take care of you. If you are an exhibitor looking for a home away from home, allow WPM to make the most of your visit to the area by finding the perfect rental for your needs. Please call Stephen or Tiffany at Winterwood Property Management at (231) 342-4686 or email stephen@sckaras.com to learn more.
