Las Vegas Weekly

April 15, 2009 · 9:07 AM

Top show horses and equestrian stars to compete in World Cup Finals

By Robin Leach

Steffen Peters.

Photo: Rolex FEI

Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney is among the VIPs coming to town for the start today of the 2009 Rolex World Cup Finals, and an Olympic rematch is all set! Fifteen of the world’s best riders from eight countries will compete in the showdown of Beijing proportions.

It’s expected that Anky Van Grunsven of the Netherlands and Isabell Werth of Germany will be competing in the World Finals of the two Olympic disciplines of show jumping and dressage. Anky is the reigning world champion and one of the most decorated riders in dressage history, having won it a record nine times! Her longtime rival Isabell has won twice, but they have traded places on the podium in recent years, each winning six medals.

Photo: Tish Quirk

The World Cup Finals.

Three Californians -- Steffen Peters of San Diego, Jan Ebeling of Moorpark and Leslie Morse of Beverly Hills -- are among the riders seeking to topple the two all-time leaders. Thousands of fans and horse lovers are expected to invade Las Vegas for the finals at Thomas & Mack Center.

The World Cup began in 1979 as an annual international battle among the world’s best show jumping horses and riders. Some 46 riders qualified from 22 worldwide leagues to reach the final Top 15 here in Las Vegas.

The last time the Rolex World Cup was held here was in 2005.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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