Press Release

2006 MARKS 110th YEAR FOR DEVON HORSE SHOW IN PHILADELPHIA SUBURBS
Horseback Riding And Racing Are Other Options For Horse Lovers In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, December 30, 2005- In 2006, the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed horse show in the United States, The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, celebrates its 110th anniversary. Now a 10-day affair taking place from May 25 through June 3, 2006, the show attracts horse lovers from around the world for the time-honored traditions that reflect the genteel character of the Main Line communities in Philadelphia’s suburbs. While special anniversary events are still being planned, promoters have confirmed the appearance of the popular Budweiser Clydesdales.

Devon Horse Show

Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC

The highlight of the modern-day show is the Thursday Grand Prix, which always draws standing-room-only crowds. As a result, competition in these classes is intense. To have an entry accepted in the hunter and jumper divisions, horses must go through a year-long qualifying process. Other riding competitions like “Parent and Child,” “Family,” “Hunt Teams for Horses and for Ponies,” and the “Coaching Competition,” in which teams race horse-drawn carriages through an obstacle course, are also favorites. The Country Fair will be back this year as well, featuring treats from local vendors, a juried art competition and opportunities to tour the stables and meet the horses and riders. Horse lovers looking to expand their activities beyond the show will find ample opportunities in Philadelphia and Its Countryside™.

Riding and Racing:

• Even older than the Devon Horse Show itself, Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines has been providing sanctuary to aged, injured and abused horses since 1888. The public is invited to tour the 383-acre working farm that houses more than 100 horses in private, modern stalls. Horse lovers can spend time visiting with the animals while exploring the farm’s rustic beauty and admiring the 18th-century barns and farmhouses scattered around the property. 1710 Ridge Road, Coventryville, (866) 469-0507, www.ryerss.com
• Riders can enjoy the beautiful Chester County countryside at Gateway Stables, one of the region’s few remaining stables offering trail rides. Certified instructors lead novice and experienced riders through miles of woods along the pastoral Pennsylvania/Delaware border. 949 Merrybell Lane, Kennett Square, (610) 444-1255, www.gatewaystables.com
• For those seeking to raise their pulse rates with some fast-paced excitement, Philadelphia Park Racetrack offers a Race Fan Package in conjunction with the Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast. The Race Fan Package includes discounts off a standard king or double guest room and free valet parking at Philadelphia Park Racetrack – just a 10-minute drive by car from the hotel. Beloved 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones has left Philadelphia Park for a second career as a stallion in Kentucky, but racetrack visitors can get a sneak peek at future generations of champion race horses during their stay. Philadelphia Park Racetrack, 3001 Street Road, Bensalem, (215) 639-9000, www.philadelphiapark.com; Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast, 2400 Old Lincoln Highway, Trevose, (215) 638-8300, www.radisson.com/trevosepa

Still In The Barn:

• Visitors keeping with the horse theme can spend the night in the refurbished 1818 barn once owned by author, Pearl S. Buck. Long after Buck raised prize-winning Guernsey cows (and wrote her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Good Earth), the Walker family converted the barn into the charming Stone Ridge Farm Bed & Breakfast. 956 Bypass Road, Hilltown, (215) 249-9186, www.stoneridge-farm.com
• It doesn’t get much more convenient than dinner at The Washington House and a show next door at the Sellersville Theater 1894, a favorite stop on the tour route of top musicians, entertainers and comedians. All of the action takes place in a converted stable, of course. The Washington House, 136 N. Main Street, (215) 257-3000; Sellersville Theater, 24 W. Temple Avenue, Sellersville, (215) 257-5808, www.st94.com
• Tours and tastings are just part of the fun at the Crossing Vineyards and Winery, a horse barn-turned-winery that prides itself on its modern and sophisticated equipment. Located on a 200-year-old estate, it’s less than a mile from the place where George Washington crossed the Delaware River in 1776. 1853 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing, (215) 493-6500, www.crossingvineyards.com

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) builds the region’s economy and image through destination marketing to increase the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county region. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.

Note to Editors: For photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit our Photo Gallery.

CONTACT:

Donna Schorr, GPTMC
(215) 599-0782 , donna@gptmc.com