The World Cup of Paso Fino Horse Shows Debuts at Miami-Dade County Parks' Tropical Park Today
The Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department (MDPROS) joins Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and Miami-Dade County District 10 Commissioner, Senator Javier D. Souto in announcing that the 11th annual Mundial Caballos de Paso (World Paso Fino Horse Show) presented by CONFEPASO (Confederation of Paso Fino) kicked-off today at the newly expanded Ronald Reagan Equestrian Complex at Tropical Park. The international equestrian competition, considered to be the "World Cup" of Paso Fino events, brings together 491 of the world’s top Paso Fino horses and riders ages 16 to 70 from the CONFEPASO member-countries of the United States, Puerto Rico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Curacao, Aruba, Venezuela, Germany, Switzerland, Ecuador, and Panama. This is the show’s first-time appearance in Miami and at the Tropical Park Ronald Reagan Equestrian Complex, marking only its third appearance in the U.S., since its founding. The local host of the event, the Florida Paso Fino Horse Association, successfully hosted the 1999 CONFEPASO Mundial and annually presents a comparable show at the Equestrian Complex during the Memorial weekend, the Spectrum International Paso Fino Horse Show.
The event is underway today through Sunday, October 27. The show’s schedule is:
Thursday through Friday - 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday - 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (judging could run as late at 1:00 a.m.). General admission for competition seating is $20/person with limited VIP seating for $100/person. Admission into the event’s Entertainment Area is free and will feature varied entertainment fun for the whole family, including live music, food, beverages, equestrian merchandise, various vendors, and opportunities to see horses up-close.
More information and advance tickets for the Mundial Caballos de Paso, visit www.11confepasomundial.com.
Started in 1993, Mundial Caballos de Paso is held every two years and has been conducted in four countries (the Dominican Republic-1993/2001, Puerto Rico-1995/2005/2011, Colombia-1997/2003/2009, and the U.S.-1999/2007). U.S. venues have included Tampa (1999) and Jacksonville (2007).
This event comes on the heels of Miami-Dade County Parks’ recently completed expansion project for the Equestrian Complex, which included the addition of two new covered rings to an existing ring, providing more than 3.7 acres of exhibition, competition and performance ready arenas, under one roof. Each of the equestrian rings provides 55,000-square-feet of floor space and has overhead lighting. The rings, as well as the existing stables are connected via new lighted covered walkways. The grounds are newly landscaped and the north parking lot is newly striped.
The Equestrian Complex at Tropical Park, located at 7900 SW 40 Street, Miami, currently hosts nearly 36 equestrian events each year; three state and local dog shows; as well as the annual Miami International Agriculture, Cattle and Horse Show, a three-day event which drew approximately 30,000 visitors from around the world in 2012, and horse and cattle exhibitors from more than 18 states. For information about upcoming events, activities and facility rentals, visit www.miamidade.gov/parks or call 305-226-8316.
To stay up to date on all future events, like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/miamidadeparks; and follow us on Twitter @miamidadeparks. You can also see past events on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/miamidadeparks.
About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department
Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award, winner of the 2013 Florida Governor’s Sustained Excellence Award and the 2009 Florida Governor’s Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world. Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more. For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks/.
Miami-Dade County Parks is supported by The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s efforts to further develop Miami-Dade County’s world-class parks system for residents and visitors. Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities. For more information on the Parks Foundation, please visit www.miamidade.gov/parks_foundation.