2000 Budweiser World Cup Champion Rodrigo Pessoa Eyes Return to Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NV—January 13, 2003—Three-time Show Jumping World Cup champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil appears well on his way to a return trip to Las Vegas where he won the Budweiser World Cup Final in 2000.

Pessoa currently leads the World Cup standings of the Western European League with 58 points following six of fifteen qualifying events. Pessoa is one of the world’s elite show jumping riders vying for the right to represent their countries at the 2003 Budweiser World Cup Final at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV, April 16-20, 2003.

Pessoa became the first World Cup rider ever to “three-peat” when he won the FEI Show Jumping World Cup Final for the third consecutive year at the Budweiser World Cup 2000 in Las Vegas. He had previously won the title in 1998 in Helsinki, Finland and in 1999 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The World Cup Final is an annual showdown among the top show jumping riders in the world, as they compete for the prestigious title of World Cup Champion. This will be the fifth World Cup Final held in the United States. Previous Finals were held in Baltimore (1980), Tampa (1989), Del Mar (1992) and Las Vegas (2000). The excitement of international show jumping competition amid the bright lights, theatrical shows, fine dining, and shopping found in Las Vegas promises a grand time for all.

The World Cup competition takes place over five days starting with a warm-up class on Wednesday afternoon, April 16. Thursday evening, April 17, kicks off the main event with the first leg of the World Cup Final, a heart-stopping speed class run under Table C specifications—with faults converted into penalty seconds. Riders go all out in the speed class, knowing that in order to have a chance at a top placing in the Final standings they need to produce a slick, fast ride.

The second leg of the Final takes place the following evening, Friday, April 18. This leg features a lengthy and grueling first-round course followed by a jump-off round where competitors again show their mastery of the speed format.

Saturday, April 19, is a day off from World Cup competition, but not from top show jumping action as the prestigious Grand Prix of Las Vegas takes place in the afternoon. Some riders bring multiple mounts to the Final and use a second horse in the Grand Prix, which also features World Cup horses not going in Sunday’s last leg. So once again spectators have a chance to watch a class filled with the national and international stars of the sport.

The grand finale of the weekend is Sunday afternoon, April 20: the final leg of the Budweiser World Cup Final, a challenging two-round class run under Table A with a jump-off if needed to break a tie for first place. The field of starters is winnowed down to only the top riders who are granted the privilege of returning for the second course. The rider with the fewest faults emerges as the new World Cup Champion.

A variety of ticket packages for all price ranges and interest levels is now available for purchase. All-Session Plaza Level Priority seating is available for $300 per person. All-Session Balcony Level Priority seating is available for $150 per person. VIP Packages are available for $1,000 and include one premier All-Session seat, access to the private VIP hospitality area complete with complimentary deluxe food/beverage each day and preferred parking. Daily individual tickets for the five days of competition range from $10 to $85 depending on the seating and the session.

To order tickets or for more information on the excitement of the 2003 Budweiser World Cup Final, please visit www.worldcuplasvegas.com or call (702) 260-8605 or toll-free (866) 388-3267.

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