The Jockey Club at the Blainville Equestrian Park. Photo by Cealy Tetley

June 5, 2007 – Blainville, Quebec – Blainville Equestrian Park, owned and operated by the City of Blainville and host each summer to the Blainville Dressage International and Blainville Jumping International, has unveiled new plans to upgrade the facility.

Built two decades ago on a former military base, the Blainville Equestrian Park has become renowned for staging world-class equestrian sport and has hosted International Equestrian Federation (FEI) sanctioned competitions in dressage, driving, show jumping and reining. Now, the Blainville Equestrian Park is undergoing updates and upgrades guided by renowned equestrian facility designer and footing expert Robert Jolicoeur of Montreal, Quebec. The updated Blainville Equestrian Park will be ready in 2008 in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the Blainville Jumping International.

While the current restructuring will have no impact on the CDI3*-W Blainville Dressage International scheduled for June 27-30, there will be modifications made to the venue lay-out for the Blainville Jumping International which features a CSI-W competition from July 4-8 and a CSI2* from July 11-15. La Classique Internationale de Blainville, headed by President Jean-Pierre Arvisais and Event Manager Louise Thibault, organizes the three weeks of FEI-sanctioned competitions.

The Grand Hunter Ring with its premium sand footing will be used as the primary show jumping ring and all of the featured classes including the $70,000 Grand Prix Jumping du Quebec World Cup Qualifier on Sunday, July 8, will be held there. Meanwhile, all-weather footing will be laid in the Grand Prix field and divided into two hunter rings. The annex ring will hold all classes as previously scheduled.

"We are very excited about the improvements and upgrades that the City of Blainville is committed to making to the Blainville Equestrian Park," said Jean-Pierre Arvisais, President of La Classique Internationale de Blainville. "Under the guidance of Robert Jolicoeur, we are confident that every detail will be considered to ensure that our competitors continue to enjoy to a safe, pleasurable show experience for many years to come."

"In the 19 years that we have been organizing shows at this facility, we have become known as one of Canada's premiere show jumping destinations," continued Arvisais who last year oversaw the upgrading of 104 semi-permanent stalls. "The work that is currently being completed, despite causing us to switch our rings this year to ensure the comfort and safety of our competitors, will pay off with huge dividends as we prepare to celebrate our 20th anniversary next year."

Blainville hosts the longest running World Cup Qualifying events in Canada for both dressage and show jumping. This year, its' spectacular 'Musical Freestyle Extravaganza', which has sold out for the past nine years, will be held on Saturday, June 30. Expanded to a two-week tournament for 2007, the Blainville Jumping International welcomes riders from all over the world competing for more than $315,000 in prize money. Linda Allen will be the course designer for the first week of competition while Belgium's Luc Musette is back by popular demand for week two.

Located just north of Montreal, Blainville Equestrian Park features a variety of attractions that ensure all family members enjoy their visit. For more information, including prize lists, please visit www.classiqueblainville.com or contact Blainville International at tel: (450) 434-8202 ext. 108, e-mail: classiqueblainville@videotron.ca.