Reddick, FL - September 14, 2019: Following a hugely successful debut in June 2019 at the Bromont 3-Day Event, the MARS Bromont Rising Program will be offered at the Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event, November 14-17, 2019 in Florida.

The Program offers grants of $3,000 each to 10, under-25 U.S. or Canadian riders, competing in any of the event's divisions which include: CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L and CCI2*-L. The recipients of the grant will participate in two days of mounted and unmounted instruction from leading coaches and clinicians at Mardanza Farms just prior to the competition dates. The grant money will be awarded in a lump sum to each recipient to offset the cost of transportation, entries, lodging and meals during the November competition. Applications for the program can be accessed here. Selection criteria “will focus primarily on talent and determination.”

“With the support of MARS Equestrian, we were able to put together this new program for younger riders who are not part of any grant or training program," said Peter. “It was always our vision to expand the program to venues beyond Bromont – provided it worked.”

“Our experience in June was overwhelmingly positive,” he continued. “The results and feedback from the participants in the first Bromont Rising Program speak for themselves. Most of the participants had their personal best dressage scores at Bromont, and one of the participants, Brooke Massie, went on to win the Bromont CCI4*-S in her first time at the level. All participants were extremely grateful for the opportunity provided by the training and grant program,” said said Peter Gray, the well-known FEI dressage judge and trainer who runs the program.

The Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event at the picturesque 950-acre OJC facility has established itself as a premier fall FEI event in the Southeast, with riders praising the venue's footing, galloping tracks, viewing opportunities and rolling hills that have been compared to riding at Burghley. “The MARS Bromont Rising program is an exciting way to allow young riders an opportunity to ride at our event and develop their skills at an accelerated pace with excellent coaching”, said Pavla Nygaard, Ocala Jockey Club's President. This year's OJC event's CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S divisions will serve as a qualifying event to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The cross-country course will be designed by Olympic Individual Silver medalist Clayton Fredericks along with Mike Etherington-Smith, the course designer for the Sydney and Beijing Olympic Games, as Assistant Course Designer. For more information on the 2019 Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day Event, visit www.ojc3de.com.

Peter Gray will offer dressage coaching during the two days of pre-competition training portion of the grant program, while show jumper Brian Murphy and eventer Sara Kozumplik Murphy will serve as the jumping and cross-country clinicians. Mardanza Farms, a training facility and the winter home of Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Brian Murphy, is located just a few miles from the Ocala Jockey Club which makes this a logistically successful choice. At the end of the two days, the grant recipients will move to their stabling at the OJC and coaching will again be available to them during the competition.

The Ocala Jockey Club facility, with its rolling hills and showcase old-growth Spanish-moss-laden oak trees, is a crown jewel in the horse country of Ocala, Florida. About 200 acres of the 950-acre property serve as a Thoroughbred training farm and to stand stallions. The facility also includes townhomes and an iconic clubhouse, which serves as a unique venue for weddings, meetings and other special events. For more information on the Ocala Jockey Club, visit www.ocalajc.com.