Olympic Gold Medalist Joe Fargis won the $10,000 Hickey-Freeman & Bobby Jones/Betsey Johnson Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, at the 2008 Vermont Summer Festival. Photo Credit - David Mullinix Photography

May 19, 2009 – East Dorset, Vermont – Manchester Designer Outlets and the retail brands it represents will once again be a major sponsor during the six-week Vermont Summer Festival horse show taking place July 1 to August 9, 2009, in East Dorset, VT.

Each Friday of the Vermont Summer Festival, Manchester Designer Outlets will present the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake. The winner will take home their share of the prize money as well as a prize from the sponsoring brand. The sponsorship agreement with Manchester Designer Outlets, now in its fourth year, marks the largest and broadest local sponsorship in the history of the Vermont Summer Festival.

“The relationship that has developed between Manchester Designer Outlets and the Vermont Summer Festival has proven successful in awarding valuable prizes to our competitors, promoting the brands of the Manchester Designer Outlets organization, and driving consumer business to the local outlets,” said Ruth Lacey, Marketing Director of the Vermont Summer Festival. “We are thankful to Manchester Designer Outlets for its support, and know that our competitors will once again be looking forward to the unique prizes provided by the brands.”

A generous sponsor of the Vermont Summer Festival since 2006, Manchester Designer Outlets has recently added two new designer stores, Kate Spade and Kenneth Cole, to its already impressive line-up of designer boutiques which includes such favorites as Betsey Johnson, Hickey-Freeman, Bobby Jones, Polo Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Lilly Pulitzer, Escada and Tumi. In partnership with Manchester Designer Outlets, the brands will sponsor the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake held each Friday at the six-week Vermont Summer Festival.

“The Vermont Summer Festival and Manchester Designer Outlets combine a top-notch equestrian competition and world-class shopping with fine inns and resorts,” said Ben Hauben, President of Manchester Designer Outlets. “We view this partnership as essential to making the Vermont Summer Festival, Manchester Designer Outlets and the town of Manchester a great destination this summer, and every summer.”

Manchester Designer Outlets offer designer label fashions for both men and women with savings of up to 70%. In addition to offering some of the newest fashion trends, the Outlets also offer unbeatable deals on luxury home furnishings, gifts and stylish accessories. The combination of culture and style makes for an enjoyable and relaxing shopping experience for those who visit.

Recognized as New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show, the Vermont Summer Festival is the richest sporting event based on purse in the state, offering more than $750,000 in prize money. The first five Sundays feature a $30,000 Grand Prix, culminating with the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix on Sunday, August 9. Friday’s $10,000 Open Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, and weekly $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Classics are also hotly contested.

The Vermont Summer Festival is a proud member event of the Show Jumping Hall Of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). For more information about the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail: info@vt-summerfestival.com or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.