The Longines Masters of New York, which takes place in New York for the first time this year at the newly renovated NYCB LIVE, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, from April 26-29, is part of an innovative three-event series of competitions staged in three of the world’s most glamorous cities—New York, Paris, and Hong Kong. The show jumping events offers first-class equestrian sport and more, including live music, one-of-a-kind artwork, and delectable cuisine.
The American leg and grand finale of the “Grand Slam of Indoor Show Jumping,” the Longines Masters of New York features the heart-pumping Longines Speed Challenge on April 27, the Masters Power Six Bar and the Riders Masters Cup team event on April 28, and the $382,800 Longines Grand Prix CSI5* on April 29, among other highlights.
Read on to learn more!
1. It’s a great chance to see top riders who represent the United States, including Olympic team gold medalist McLain Ward, in action! The innovative Riders Masters Cup, which debuted to great fanfare at the Longines Masters of Paris in December, features U.S. team riders facing off against riders from Team Europe in a unique, speed-based showdown. Team Europe won the battle in Paris, so the U.S. riders will be eager to get redemption. The fast-paced Riders Masters Cup takes place over two stages on Saturday, April 28, beginning at 8:45 p.m. EST.
“This all-new event is so extraordinary because it makes speed the focus and the decisive factor; that’s unprecedented in an international competition,” said Team USA Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland. “The home field advantage will be in our favor in New York. The spectators, riders, and the sport in general will realize what it’s all about after seeing this, and I really look forward to that. We’ll give them a run for their money!”
Prize money for the Riders Masters Cup is $250,000, with the winning team splitting the $175,000 top check. Follow all the upcoming announcements on http://ridersmasterscup.com/enand buy tickets at www.ticketmaster.com .
2. There are plenty of horses and riders to cheer for: five top riders and horses make up each Riders Masters Cup team —Team USA and Team Europe. Round 1 is a 1.50m speed class and pits riders against each other in match-ups; the winner of each pairing earns one point for their team. Wins in Round 2, another speed class with team riders racing each other in individual match-ups, earn a rider’s team two points. Riders can even change horses between rounds! You can follow along with the action at facebook.com/ridersmasterscup.
3. The Longines Masters of New York is part of an innovative three-event series of competitions that take place in three of the world’s most glamorous cities—New York, Paris, and Hong Kong. Christophe Ameeuw revolutionized show jumping in 2009, combining the best of equestrian sport with superlative entertainment, cuisine, and shopping.
4. This is the first year that the Longines Masters has landed in New York. The April 26-29 event serves as the thrilling grand finale to the 2017-2018 Longines Masters Series. The world’s best horses and riders will converge at the newly renovated NYCB LIVE, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York.
“There is still a consensus that no one can question: the beauty of the horse transcends the sport and, beyond the extraordinary performance of the riders, conveys a feeling of wonder,” said Ameeuw, the CEO and founder of EEM, the group behind the Longines Masters. “And that is what makes show jumping universal, across countries, cultures, and populations.”
5. National and hometown heroes will be competing. Some of the top U.S. riders expected to show at the Longines Masters of New York are Olympians McLain Ward, Lucy Davis, and Laura Kraut. Some hometown heroes from New York will join them, like Georgina Bloomberg, Daniel Bluman, Brianne Goutal, and more!
6. The world’s best riders are also headed to New York for the Longines Masters. Patrice Delaveau of France won the CSI5* Grand Prix at the Longines Masters of Paris aboard Aquila HDC and is poised to jump for a stunning €1,000,000 bonus on the Indoor Grand Slam of Show Jumping if he wins in New York and then again at the Longines Masters of Paris in December 2018. Riders from Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and more will do their best to win their share as well.
7. It’s a whole weekend of extraordinary show jumping action. The action starts on Friday night, April 27, with the Longines Speed Challenge, where the world’s best turn and burn in an exhilarating race against the clock. On Saturday, April 28, the horses will awe the crowd with their display of talent in the Masters Power Six Bar, where the jumps get raised each time they navigate the six jumps without fault and they return to try again. Saturday’s evening action includes the thrilling Riders Masters Cup with U.S. riders going head to head with Team Europe.
On Sunday, April 29, the highlight will be the $382,800 Longines Masters of New York Grand Prix CSI5*, where all the U.S. and European riders will race for individual glory. That action starts at 2:45 p.m. EST. Running alongside the CSI5* events are the CSI1* and CSI2* classes, with speed, jump-off, and grand prix events for riders and horses honing their skills.
8. Attending the Longines Masters of New York is far more than watching a high-caliber equestrian competition—it’s an experience full of entertainment sure to delight! Live music and DJs, striking artwork, innovative cuisine and luxurious shopping in the Prestige Village surround the thrilling equestrian action.
“Our added value is the desire to surprise our audiences and riders alike, to awaken the passions and to dream, thanks to avant-garde events mixing performance and pleasure,” said Ameeuw.
9. You can experience it all! Buy tickets at HERE and follow along on Facebook at facebook.com/longinesmasters/.
10. If you can’t make it to New York, watch the live-stream stream filled with programming, interviewing and non-stop competition at https://www.eem.tv/en/!
CBS Sports Network will broadcast the Longines Speed Challenge, The Riders Masters Cup, and the Longines Grand Prix. Check www.longinesmasters.com or follow Longines Masters on Facebook for schedules!
