Compete at This Year's Wellington Classic Dressage Series
for a Chance to Win Your share of $100,000 in Cash and Prizes!

August 24, 2008 - Wellington, Florida - This year's Wellington Classic Dressage series has added some excitement, Las Vegas style, to its show series with the "Wild Card Challenge." Winning riders from the Wild Card-designated classes are invited to draw a card for instant cash and play for the best hand, poker style, over the show series. The more classes that riders enter and win, the more playing cards they collect.

"Your class fees automatically enroll you in the Wild Card Challenge for (WC) designated classes. You don't have to show at all four shows in the series, but the more you show and the more classes you enter, the more you increase your chances of winning," said John Flanagan, Sponsorship Coordinator for Wellington Classic Dressage.

The first of four shows in the "Wild Card" series is the Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge to benefit Toys for Tots, scheduled for December 13-14, 2008. The other shows in the series are the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I (January 9-11, 2009), Wellington Classic Spring Challenge (February 6-8, 2009) and the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II (March 6-8, 2009). The Wellington Classic Dressage Winter Season officially ends with their April 25-26 show (not part of the WC Challenge). All shows are held at the beautiful Jim Brandon Equestrian Center.

Last year's series featured the $15,000 Wellington Classic Dressage Prix St Georges and Grand Prix Challenge in which prize money was offered to the Prix St. Georges rider and Grand Prix rider who won their class in all three of the winter shows in the series. One rider managed to do it - Shawna Harding, riding Come On III, took the $5,000 prize for the Prix St. Georges division.

This year's inaugural Wild Card Challenge offers more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, and is open to riders of all skill levels. Long-shot poker hands, such as a Royal Flush and Full House, will be paid out to the first riders who draw them. A Royal Flush is worth $50,000 with a 4 of a Kind earning $10,000 in prize money. A Full House wins $5,000. The best overall hand in the series will have chance of winning up to $5,000.

"We wanted to come up with a new challenge idea that included riders at all skill levels and both amateurs and professionals. We think this will be a lot fun for riders," Flanagan said.

Jokers are wild in the competition and winning riders who draw one will automatically receive $500 instantly. Jokers can't be used in poker hands so riders who draw one will receive their cash and draw another playing card. Flanagan said a record of riders' poker hands will be available online, allowing riders and others to keep tabs on poker hands in the challenge.

"It adds to the fun because riders can match up their hands with other riders," he said.

Sponsorships are still available for businesses or individuals interested in being part of the fun. To learn more about sponsorship and the upcoming Wellington Classic Dressage series, contact jflanagan@wellingtoclassicdressage.com.