Tournament of Champions the horse show with heart

The "Horse Show with Heart" gallops into the spotlight Sept. 2024 at the Caledon Equestrian Park, combining sensational international show jumping, celebrities behind the wheel in a thrilling horse-andhorsepower relay and family friendly activities.

As always, this year's Tournament of Champions puts charitable causes front and centre, namely the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, which grants wishes for children with lifethreatening illnesses, and CARD ( C o m m u n i t y Association for Riding for the Disabled).

The Tournament is one of the premier show jumping events in Canada, bringing together top North American horses and riders, including members of Canada's 2006 World Equestrian Games team, who will have just returned from the Games in Aachen, Germany.

In the $175,000 John Deere Canada Cup, grand prix riders vie for supremacy in an exciting three-phase competition, which concludes with the $100,000 final on Sunday. Horses and riders will compete in three different, i n t e r n a t i o n a l s t y l e classes, which will test power, speed and consistency to determine the John Deere Canada Cup Champion. Last year, the famous "Captain Canada" Ian Millar, captured the championship with his horse, In Style.

Saturday (Sept. 23) the 8th annual Children's Wish Charity Challenge will be presented by The Home Depot, with a gourmet dinner, live and silent auction, and the nail-biting action of the Celebrity Ride & Drive which kicks off the fund-raising evening. The crowdpleasing event features

celebrity drivers who must negotiate a slalom course in cars. They are partnered with grand prix riders and horses, who tackle a showjumping course before the rider takes the wheel and drives the slalom course with direction from their celebrity partner. The fastest combined time wins.

Over the past seven years, the Tournament has raised more than $400,000 for the Children's Wish Foundation and granted the wishes of eight children who wished for ponies or horses. The CARD luncheon, on Thursday, has raised more than $125,000 to support therapeutic riding for the disabled.

The Tournament is much more than a horse show, and kids of all ages and their parents will enjoy the Re/Max Family Village, which includes the DogSmart performing team, Birds of Prey demonstrations, Home Depot Kids' Workshop, the Ken Jen Petting Zoo of YTV fame, Irish dancing, bouncy castle for the kids and the Boulevard of Champions trade fair with specialty crafts and gifts for everyone. New for this year is the Classic Car Show scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 24 with a team of keen automotive journalists judging best of show in the British, European and North American classes.

"The Tournament of Champions has now called Caledon home for the last three years and we could not be more pleased. Each year the event grows, creating a ripple effect of tourism and community spirit," said Caledon Mayor Marolyn Morrison. "I have had the honor of participating at this spectacular event and I would encourage all horse enthusiasts to travel to our wonderful countryside and partake in the experience that is the Tournament of Champions."

The Tournament of Champions site is

located off of Pine Ave. in Palgrave. Admission on Thursday and Friday is free. Saturday and Sunday is $5 per person or $10 per car including parking. The show gates open daily at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.

The 2006 Tournament of Champions is proud to support the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, CARD ( C o m m u n i t y Association for Riding for the Disabled) and the Rotary Club of Palgrave.

For more, visit their Web site, www.tournamentofcha mpions.ca, email info@tournamentofcha mpions.ca or call 905939-8666.