Oncenter event also draw to downtown Syracuse
By Laura Hand
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 5:20 p.m.
Read more: Local
450 horses are now stabled in downtown Syracuse, at the Oncenter parking garage and in the War Memorial basement, and seeing them compete has become a fall tradition for area residents.
The Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament is underway, until Sunday, and Cazenovia Olympian Beezie Madden says it draws the best riders in the country, and, this year, Olympic-calibre horses and riders from 6 other countries, including reigning Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa from Brazil, and Canada's Ian Millar.
Madden is not competing this year, as she recovers from shoulder surgery, but she'll be at the Oncenter complex coaching students and signing autographs. She'll also be part of the retirement ceremonies for her horse Judgement, who'll be at the show starting Friday, with the actual ceremony during the concluding jumping on Sunday afternoon.
New at the event this year, a Parade of Breeds, which was clearly a hit with the 850 school children who toured the Tournament on opening day, Wednesday. There's also a shopping boutique, and rail-side views of the warmup ring, all in the Oncenter and all free to watch. (only the major events in the evening and Sunday 2pm at the War Memorial are ticketed).
As for Beezie Madden's competitive future---she'll be riding full-time again on the winter circuit. Her Olympic horse Authentic is in rehab after damaging a leg, and will probably miss the World Cup event in Kentucky next year, though they're hopeful for the London Olympics. Beezie and her husband, tournament organizer John Madden, leave Tuesday for Europe and the ongoing search for new horses.
more: www.syracuseinvitational.com
