DATE: April 03, 2008

CONTACT: Charles Williams, (864) 646-2717 or 2718
cwllms@clemson.edu

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741
spalmer@clemson.edu

Garrison arena to host J.D. Massey Classic Horse Show April 16-19

CLEMSON – More than 500 horses and riders will be competing at Clemson University's T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena April 16-19 in the 75th J.D. Massey Classic Horse Show.

The event will showcase professional, amateur and junior riders who will compete for cash awards, trophies and prizes.

It is one of the longest-running American Saddlebred horse shows in the Southeast. There will be a museum display of the early shows that began in 1933 at the Greenville Horse Show and Fair. It was the inaugural show at the Garrison arena in 1991.

Some of the main attractions will include the five-gaited, three-gaited and fine harness championships, as well as hackney pony and roadster horse competition.

The Wednesday show will begin at 6 p.m. and the Thursday through Saturday shows will begin at 10 a.m and 6 p.m.

All nightly shows are $5. Everyone is admitted free to matinee shows.

Vendors will have food, jewelry, clothing, tack, furniture and other merchandise for sale.

The arena provides a covered warm-up area, 440 permanent stalls, a covered area for temporary stalls and full service RV sites.

Each year the JD Massey Horse Show Inc., a non-profit organization, raises funds to benefit local charity. This year's event will benefit the Clemson-Calhoun Rotary charities, Veterinary Technical Program at Tri-County Technical College and the Clemson Collegiate Horseman’s Association.

For more information, contact Ray Cloninger at (704) 483-5000, Charles Williams at (864) 646-2717 or Dan Shirley at (864) 963-8890.

END