The Spruce Meadows Organizing Committee announced today that the Year 2000 – 25th Anniversary Tournament Season – is on track to build on the traditions of the 20th century of sport at the world’s leading international show jumping venue.

The Spruce Meadows family of sponsors like the fans, media and athletes of the world has shown its granite-like support for the sport by increasing the annual Spruce Meadows Tournament purses by more than $250,000. The total prize money available at the 4 Spruce Meadows Tournaments in 2000 will exceed $3.2 million. This staggering amount is even more impressive when compared to the inaugural year’s offering of $174,000 in 1976.

‘I remember as a young rider one day dreaming of competing here at Spruce Meadows against the best for the unlikely sum of $10,000,’ comments Spruce Meadows Executive Vice President Linda Heathcott. ‘For the year 2000 we have 15 competitions with more than $25,000 and an enthusiasm from our sponsors that I think must be unique in sport.’ She adds in jest, ‘It almost tempts one to come out of retirement.’

Many sponsors such as Chrysler, Bank of Montreal, Trimac, Royal Insurance, Genstar, Westburne, Aon Reed Stenhouse, Royal Bank, Prudential Steel and Canadian Pacific have been a part of the Spruce Meadows story from the very beginning and are today joined by a diverse group of world leading sponsors such as Nortel Networks, Shell, American Airlines, Rolex, Xerox, BP Amoco, TELUS, Canada Post, Esso, Agrium, TransCanada, Pepsi, Sun Life and du Maurier.

The year 2000 will mark the 25th consecutive season to offer prize increases from the previous year. It also bodes well for the likelihood of the continuing growth trend in athletes, media coverage and attendance.

Since the first Tournament in June of 1976 Spruce Meadows has played host to athletes from over 20 nations and had Tournament attendance of more than 4.5 million fans. 1999 saw athletes from 19 countries, 25 states and 8 provinces compete at Spruce Meadows before 355,218 fans. The record daily attendance of 55,254 was set on the final day of the 1999 Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’.

Advance tickets are now available for the 25th Anniversary Season at Spruce Meadows. The Spruce Meadows Tournament dates for 2000 are:
‘National’ May 31 – June 4 ‘Canada One’ June 28 – July 2
‘North American’ July 5 – 9 ‘Masters’ September 6 – 10

For further information please call (403) 974-4200, fax (403) 974-470 or email: smedia@telusplanet.net