The 2017 American Gold Cup CSI4*-W is set to return to scenic Old Salem Farm in North Salem, New York, this week from September 13–17. The popular showjumping event annually attracts an international field of world-class athletes and this year will be no exception, with 62 international athletes and 119 horses representing a total of nine nations from around the globe.

Most notably in attendance this year is world number two ranked athlete from the USA, McLain Ward, who is based in Brewster, New York, at his Castle Hill Farm. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and this year’s Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final winner will no doubt be on the hunt to claim top honors at this year’s event.

Also included in this year’s star-studded field are a number of additional U.S. Olympians and Pan American Games medalists including Beezie Madden, Christine McCrea and Margie Engle. Former American Gold Cup champions will also be competing once again this year including Leslie Howard, Mario Deslauriers, Brianne Goutal and two two-time winners, McCrea and Madden.

Other top Americans making their way to North Salem, New York, include a number of veteran athletes and a host of top young riders highlighted by Lucy Deslauriers, Jennifer Gates, Eve Jobs, McKayla Langmeier, Catherine Tyree, Molly Ashe Cawley, Heather Caristo-Williams, Peter Lutz, Quentin Judge, Katherine Dinan, Charlie Jacobs, Georgina Bloomberg, Lauren Tisbo, Jack Towell, Andy Kocher, Callan Solem and many others.

The roster is also bolstered by a group of athletes coming to New York from outside the United States. Included in that group is Irish athlete Shane Sweetnam, who recently helped clinch team gold at the Longines FEI European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, in August and won the $50,000 Longines Cup CSI4* at the 2017 Hampton Classic. Other Irish contenders include Paul O’Shea, 2015 American Gold Cup winner Richie Moloney and Daniel Coyle, to name a few.

South America and athletes from Europe are represented by Luis Pedro Biraben and Ramiro Quintana of Argentina, Luiz Francisco De Azevedo, Alexandre Gadelha and Fabio Leivas Da Costa of Brazil, Andre Thieme of Germany, Liubov Kochetova of Russia and Morgane Dassio and Beat Mändli of Switzerland. In addition, Keean White and Isabelle Lapierre, winner of the opening leg of the 2017/2018 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League season at Bromont in August, of Canada and Vasco Flores of Puerto Rico will be making the trip to Westchester County next week.

The 2017 American Gold Cup will play host to a number of important FEI-ranking competitions, culminating with the prestigious $216,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping New York CSI4*-W, where the top athletes will compete for the coveted American Gold Cup. Also on the agenda is the $35,000 Don Little Memorial Welcome Stake CSI4* on Thursday, the $86,000 American Gold Cup Qualifier CSI4*-W, presented by Windsor Show Stables, on Friday and the $86,000 Fidelity Investments® Classic CSI4* on Saturday.

“This will be our third year in the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League,” said Michael Morrissey, event manager of the American Gold Cup and president of Morrissey Management Group. “We’re very excited about the continued international flavor of the American Gold Cup at this year’s event. The American Gold Cup, year after year, is one of the greatest equestrian events in the country. Being part of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League just adds to the excitement and importance of our event.”

The 2017 American Gold Cup will be showcased on a broad range of global platforms, from TV broadcasts to live streaming on digital outlets, focusing on the drama of equestrian sport with fascinating behind-the-scenes documentary-style coverage. Watch the 2017 American Gold Cup live on FEI TV and be sure to catch the NBC Sports Network broadcast on Friday, Sept. 22, at 11 p.m.

Source: Press release from Phelps Media // Picture © Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group