East Garden City, New York – April 26, 2018 – NYCB LIVE, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum opened its doors today to kick off the debut of the Longines Masters of New York, one of the most prestigious equestrian events in the world. Drawing over 120 of the world’s top riders for four days of elite show jumping competition, the Longines Masters of New York is the grand finale of Season III, the international Longines Masters Series, which takes place in Paris, Hong Kong, and now New York. For the next three days, the event will treat guests to adrenaline-charged sport, luxury shopping, haute cuisine, one-of-a-kind artwork, and more. Local New York and the tri-state Area riders showed the advantages of competing at home, as familiar faces Georgina Bloomberg and Jessica Springsteen competed and New Yorker and four-time Olympian McLain Ward won the first 5* competition of the event today, the Vestrum-Italy Masters One class.

Throughout the evening, the local dominance continued as the lineup of riders who will represent their nation in the brand new duel-style Riders Masters Cup on Saturday, April 28, was announced, with four of the five riders competing for the USA from the tri-state area. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, Georgina Bloomberg, McLain Ward, Adrienne Sternlicht, two-time Olympian Laura Kraut and four-time Olympian and 2018 Longines FEI World Cup champion Beezie Madden will represent Riders USA. Riders Europe Chef d’Equipe Philippe Guerdat selected Kevin Staut, Olivier Philippaerts, Gregory Wathelet, Peder Fredericson and Harrie Smolders to defend Riders Europe’s win at the Longines Masters of Paris.