The Horse Park at Woodside in California will host a U.S. Eventing Association (USEA)-recognized three-day event on Memorial Day weekend, taking advantage of its new cross-country course and the recent granting of county permits for use of and improvements to the 272-acre equestrian property, as well as an extension to its lease from Stanford University through 2017.

The May 27-29 event, in which riders will compete at levels from Beginner Novice through Intermediate, is the first of a series of rated events to be held at the Park after nearly a three-year hiatus. Additional events will be held August 12-14 and October 7-9, with Advanced-level events beginning in 2006. The Area VI Intermediate Championships will be held at the August event, along with a USEA Gold Cup award, one of only nine in the country.

Robert Kellerhouse, a renowned organizer of world-class three-day events, has been instrumental in directing the construction of the Horse Park's cross-country course with new tracks and jumps. Kellerhouse, organizer of the Galway Downs three-day events in Southern California, organized the first World Cup qualifying event held on the West Coast. Derek DiGrazia has been retained by Kellerhouse as the course designer.

"Northern California eventers are thrilled to have the Horse Park return to its roots as a top-flight eventing facility," said Dayna Lynd-Pugh, a Gilroy-based eventing trainer and member of the Horse Park Advisory Committee. "Several other eventing venues have shut down in recent years, leaving Fresno's Ram Tap as the only comparable facility in the region. The Horse Park will provide a huge boost to eventing in this area, and USEA-recognized events will be a tremendous help in bringing in sponsorships and financial support for prizes such as the Gold Cup."

A key factor in the Horse Park's reemergence as a major eventing venue, according to Executive Director Allan Behr, is San Mateo County's granting in early March of the Park's applications for permits to allow landscaping, maintenance and expanded use of the facility.

"With the permits in place, we're well along the road to realizing our vision of making the Horse Park a top-quality, multi-use regional equestrian facility," Behr said. "In addition to the course renovations already completed, we're creating a new water complex for the August event and making substantial footing improvements. By next year we'll be equipped to host Advanced-level events."

For more information on the Horse Park at Woodside, visit www.horsepark.org.~~~