Canadian Equestrian Team member Lauren Hunkin won the $25,000 Grand Prix of St. Lazare at the 2010 Pépinière and St. Lazare Horse Shows. Photo by Cealy Tetley, www.tetleyphoto.com

March 19, 2011 – St. Lazare, Quebec – The 37th annual Pépinière and St. Lazare Horse Shows will be held May 18-22 and May 25-29 in St. Lazare, QC.

Opening week, Concours Hippique de Pépinière, will feature the Pépinière Grand Prix, Presented by Merial, which will act as a qualifier for the Jump Canada Cup, on Saturday, May 21. Sunday, May 22, brings the first annual Gladys Adam Hunter Derby. Held on the grass grand prix field, the Gladys Adam Hunter Derby will challenge horses and riders to negotiate the wide array of natural obstacles, including a bank.

The second week of show jumping competition brings the Concours Hippique de St. Lazare. Friday, May 28, will showcase the stars of the future with the Jump Canada Emerging Rider competition and a Jump Canada Talent Squad Qualifier, Presented by Omega Alpha. The feature event, the *$25,000 Eastwood Equine Grand Prix*, which also acts as a Jump Canada Cup qualifier, will take place on Saturday, May 28.

The two-week competition concludes on Sunday, May 29, with the popular Val Wagner Memorial Speed Derby, and a $5,000 Jump Canada Hunter Classic. The future of show jumping sport will also be showcased during the Jump Canada Young Horse Development Series.

Both Saturdays of competition will feature a JustWorld Horseless Horse Show and party to benefit JustWorld International, a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization working as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by helping impoverished children. The third annual ‘Agrocentre Belcan Hockey Night in St. Lazare’ will also be held with all aspiring or former hockey players, regardless of skill level, invited to participate.

Course designers for this year are David Ballard and Montreal’s own Olympic Silver Medalist, Michel Vaillancourt, who will be setting the tracks in the grass grand prix field. One of the main attractions for riders to compete in St. Lazare is its rare natural grass footing, heralded as one of the best grass grand prix arenas in Canada.

“Our job is made much easier due to the pleasant setting, drainage and natural footing that the venue possesses,” said Mike Lawrence, President of Competition Eastwood Equine which manages the Pépinière and St. Lazare Horse Shows. “Showing on grass is a rare opportunity in the sport today. We are also privileged to be surrounded by a wonderful equestrian-friendly community in St. Lazare with excellent restaurants, merchants and close proximity to Montreal.”

The Pépinière and St. Lazare Horse Shows run daily from May 18 to 22 and May 25 to 29 at Eastwood Equine, 4170 Chemin Ste. Angelique in St. Lazare.

For more information, please visit www.pepinierehorseshow.com.