HORSES ON A PLANE: 51 EQUINE ATHLETES LAND IN CALGARY FOR SPRUCE MEADOWS
The arrival of two jumbo jets carrying 51 champion horses landed in Calgary yesterday (30 August) ahead of the 50th Anniversary Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’, along with four TONNES of flowers from the Netherlands.
The chartered Boeing 747 delivered many of the world’s top equine athletes from a transportation centre in Leige, Belgium, as well as the enormous haul of flowers that will soon decorate the Spruce Meadows grounds.
A second plane will arrive at YYC on Monday as Spruce Meadows - and the world - get set for an edge-of-your seat 50th Anniversary ‘Masters’ tournament that promises to be unlike anything this city has ever seen.
The action starts on Wednesday (3 September), with five days of competition ramping up to the Grand Prix finale on Sunday the 7th of September, the $5M CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex, offering the largest single-day sporting event prize purse in all of Canada this year.
Accompanied by a host of professional grooms and vets from the moment of boarding, today’s horses were welcomed at the world-class facilities of the International Animal Lounge at Calgary International Airport, before heading to Spruce Meadows for food, water, and exercise.
Champion steeds representing Great Britain, Germany, France, Belgium, Latvia, Brazil and Spain were on board. Rolex Grand Slam winner Scott Brash’s (GBR) mount, Hello Jefferson, 2023 Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva winner United Touch S (Richard Vogel, Germany) and 2024 Paris Olympic Champion Checker 47 (Christian Kukuk, Germany) were just a few of the superstars set to compete this week at the ‘Masters’.
In addition to the equine athletes, the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping Trophy, memorabilia, and the enormous haul of decorative flowers, were offloaded and transported to Spruce Meadows.
“For all of us at Spruce Meadows, the arrival of the first charter plane really signals the start of the ‘Masters’,” said Ian Allison, Senior Vice President of Sport and Media Services. “This year is no different. We are delighted to be joined by world and Olympic champion horses, among so many other elite equine athletes, including defending CPKC ‘International’ champion Leone Jei.
“I would also like to thank all the staff at YYC, Air Canada Cargo, CBSA, CFIA, Film Logic Customs Brokers, Swissport, Overseas Horse Services, International Animal Lounge, Stateside Farms Inc., CEVA Logistics in Liège, Belgium and all our volunteers for their help ahead of the week’s competitions.
“We look forward to an incredible ‘Masters’.”
Monday’s flight will deliver the horses of North American and European teams in preparation for competition.
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