DATE: 4/5/05                                                                                                  

CONTACT: Charles Williams, (864) 646-2717

or Dan Shirley, (864) 630-1669 or (864) 963-8890

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741

JD Massey Classic Horse Show set for April 20-23  

CLEMSON -- Horses from all over the eastern United States will be at Clemson University's T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena on April 20-23 for the 72nd JD Massey Classic Horse Show.  

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

"This is one of longest running American Saddlebred horse shows in the southeast," said Dan Shirley, president of the JD Massey Horse Show. “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 through Friday evening performances will begin at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday matinee shows will begin at 10 a.m.

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

Food will be for sale as well as vendors with jewelry, clothing, tack, furniture and other merchandise.  

The Arena provides a covered warm-up arena, 328 permanent stalls, covered area for temporary stalls, full service RV sites. New construction will add 112 stalls.  

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.  Rotary works with and financially supports various community service organizations such as Helping Hands, Clemson Community Care, and Boy and Girl Scouts.  

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

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