World no. 3 equestrian Kent Farrington will lead riders into Central Park for a series of events September 18-21
Central Park
September 18-21, $32.65-$272.19
www.chronofhorse.com/centralpark
There might be continuing controversy over the future of horse and carriage rides in and around Central Park, but the battle turns to the equestrians this week as the Central Park Horse Show comes to town. The four-day event begins September 18 with the $210,000 Grand Prix, a jumping competition boasting such top riders as Jessica Springsteen (yes, Bruce and Patti’s daughter), Georgina Bloomberg (yes, the former mayor’s offspring), Charlie Jayne, Laura Kraut, McLain Ward, and Kent Farrington. The next night, the $50,000 NYC vs. the World pro-am speed challenge pits the Land Rover of North America NYC Team, captained by Bloomberg, against the Suncast Corporation World Team, led by Farrington, preceded by the $5,000 NYC Amateur Challenge. On Saturday night, the Central Park Dressage Challenge features such international Olympians and World Equestrian Games medalists as Isabell Werth, Hans Peter Minderhoud, Lars Petersen, Tina Konyot, Lisa Wilcox, Jan Ebeling, Ashley Holzer, and Steffen Peters aboard Ravel, along with a U.S. vaulting team demonstration with Akiko Yamazaki. There will also be matinees on Saturday and Sunday before the show concludes on Sunday night with the Central Park Polo Challenge.