The Gold Cup Classic

[CarolU]

I wanted to say a few words about the Gold Cup Classic that California is hosting in July at the South Coast arena in Las Vegas. California put on a nice video pitch for the show and had a good handout on it.

The show will be held here: http://www.southcoastcasino.com/overview.php
just click on the Equestrian Center to read about it.

Judi and I stopped by there yesterday. The Casino and hotel are open but the arena is not finished yet and we could not go in. We DID sample a resturant and tour some of the other's menus (don't worry, you can eat a different scrumptious meal each night and NOT have the same thing twice!). It was delicious!

Besides the casino, there is also bingo and cinemas for the kids, and nighttime shows...

What people NEED TO KNOW is that the daytime temperature in July in Las Vegas is usually 110+ degrees in the summer with less then 10% humidity. DO NOT plan to drive a southern route across New Mexico and Arizona during the day time!!!! If you come across I-40 or below, travel at night only and find horse hotels in the daytime. If you have AC in your trailer use it, if not, ice blocks in each horse's manger with the wind blowing across it works very well. So does wetting sheets and covering the horses with wet sheets. (in low humidity, evaporation works very well as a cooler).

I would suggest instead coming across I-70 or I-80. There are many places to stay with horses in Utah along I-70 (Salina, Parowan, Cedar City, etc.) that are high enough in elevation to be out of the heat. There are even arenas or trail rides in some locations. You can lay over there and then drive down to Vegas (3-4 hours, depending on location) in the cooler night air.

Of course, I'd be remiss in not inviting everyone to come to the Mile High Classic in Loveland, CO on their way, the weekend before...then stay in Utah during the week and drive down to Vegas two nights before the Gold Cup.

Know that once you get to Vegas and unload at South Coast, you can unload inside and then park outside and stay inside for duration in AC comfort for you and your horses.

Also...plan on additional salt for you, your family/help and horses. And drink LOTS and LOTS of water.

I look forward to seeing EVERYONE at the Gold Cup -- and yes, the Mile High...which is at a brand new totally AC facility too:

http://www.co.larimer.co.us/theranch/bec/

Looks like a great summer for Paso Finos in the west!!!

[Pasogirlz]

I think this show is going to be AWESOME 8-)

[SandyMM]

Any estimates on attendance/numbers?

I want to goooooooooooo :-?

[CarolU]

They are planning on 300-400 horses. It looks like it should be an awesome show...and Sandy, there are spaces for Vendors.

Carol,

Went to the casino site and found this:

"In 2004, Coast Casinos became a wholly owned subsidiary of Boyd Gaming."

Now we know what our own Boyd does for a living besides pasos... :lol: Do you think that's why they put in the equine facilities?

Marelyn (posting on Alex's account)

[CarolU]

I'll be honest Marelyn...I have no idea. I will ask (in PM) someone who may though.

I do know it is a very EXPENSIVE facility and California needs all our support to make this show a success.

I also know that if the 'show side' of our breed is ever to grow beyond the southeast, we need a show like this in the West. A simple demographics map will tell you that the 4 states with the most horses are Texas, California, Florida and Kentucky. Only one of those is in the Southeast.

[Pasogirlz]

It will be interesting to see from WHERE all the horses at the show come from. Who will put their money where their mouth is?

[Hacienda Del Sol]

This should really be a great show. So far we have commitments from breeders all over the country--Florida and North Carolina included. It's important to note, in case somebody missed it, that although Las Vegas is hot during that time of year, there are 1200 AIR CONDITIONED stalls there, including an air conditioned warm up arena, show arena, farrier clinic, vet clinic and feed store. All are contained inside the facility. You won't even need to see the sun if you don't want to.

[Boyd R]

AAAhhh I've been coaught. Now you know why I am on the puter so much. running my online sites.

Yeah like I would be buying these meat heads to work with if I had that kind of money.LOL

[DSDECKERT]

Carol - do you have the specific dates in July? This would be a fun way to squeeze in a Casino vacation as well as a show!

[Andrea G.]

I live in Southern California and I am a member, and heard we were having one of the shows in Vegas - which is too far for me to haul - I pick one show a year. I did not know this was going to be such a big deal! Thanks for posting the info...now I plan on going - and hope to meet some of the people on this board. I wonder how you heard about the details of the show and I don't know any of it?!! Glad I read this board everyday!!!

[Pasogirlz]

Glad I read this board everyday!!!

Me too ;-)

[CarolU]

The dates are July 29 and 30th...

The dates for Mile High are July 21-22-23...about 20 minutes north of I-70 which runs into I-15. South Coast is right next to I-15. Can't miss it!

[Fino1]

PasoPedigree is where I read about this show.......

http://www.pasopedigree.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4343

I'm sure Charlie won't mind me posting a link to this other AWESOME site

Judy

ps..........
It will be interesting to see from WHERE all the horses at the show come from. Who will put their money where their mouth is?
Thanks, Lori!

[Pasogirlz]

We have been talking about it for a while here.
http://www.americanpasofinos.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3348&highlight=west+show

[SandyMM]

They are planning on 300-400 horses. It looks like it should be an awesome show...and Sandy, there are spaces for Vendors.

Well, I _was_ seriously considering going to this show - until I got the vendor's contract.... $600 for a 10x10 booth - IF they think you 'qualify' PLUS _$30_ to the county for a 'special event' fee PLUS _$50_ to help offset the show's cost for union labor to 'set up' the show.... all this on the promise of 300-400 horses (maybe) at a first time 3 day show...
-----------------
From MapQuest:
Total Est. Time:* 29 hours, 27 minutes
Total Est. Distance:*2003.83 miles
-----------------
Vendor fee: $600
'Special local fees': $80
Gas: $875 (4,000 miles)
Vegas Hotel: $300+/-
Motels on the road:150

Bottom Line: $2000+/-

That's 100+ t-shirts (not counting the cost of goods and meals) just for being there... for a first time, 3 day show....

Looks _way_ too risky for me... too bad... I would like to have gone...

[Fino1]

Interesting! Wonder what constitutes "QUALIFY"??

Maybe they'll be able to cut some costs somewhere along the way?

[Pasogirlz]

I was asked to email this info to the Show Manager. Maybe it will help. :question

[SandyMM]

Thanks, Lori... Just seems crazy that a show wants to charge more than it costs for a 7 day booth at Nationals with twice the horses and tons more Paso-specific spectators...

I've even considered flying out and shipping my inventory, but that's still a ton of work for a first-time event with no 'track record'. Some vendors can afford to make less, but none of us can afford to go to an event and _lose_ money!

I really hope it works for them....

[Trespasos]

I realize it's a long distance to travel for a first time show. Las Vegas has necessary stipulations that we must abide by as the horse facilities are within a large hotel/casino....something I believe none of us have experienced before. However, if we are to get our breed in the public eye here in the West, we feel this is the best exposure. I personally stayed at the facility two weeks ago and it's truly wonderful. We are all working very hard to make this show a success and trying to keep a positive attitude even though we hear many people with negative input. How will we know unless we try?

[Fino1]

I realize it's a long distance to travel for a first time show. Las Vegas has necessary stipulations that we must abide by as the horse facilities are within a large hotel/casino....something I believe none of us have experienced before. However, if we are to get our breed in the public eye here in the West, we feel this is the best exposure. I personally stayed at the facility two weeks ago and it's truly wonderful. We are all working very hard to make this show a success and trying to keep a positive attitude even though we hear many people with negative input. How will we know unless we try?

Well I am onboard for this show and have talked to some others who are also planning on attending/showing.

Yes I realize I am also in the West.

Nationals does have exhibitors that travel 6000 miles round trip to attend.

This show is a great opportunity to show in a wonderful venue!

Judy

[SandyMM]

I really hope the show goes well, but it's difficult for vendors to sign up with the very real possibility of _losing_ money. I am still looking in to flying out - its cheaper than driving and a whole lot faster, but if there is 'so much negative input', I have to wonder who will be there to buy from the vendors? Seems to me like an exhibition there might have been a more cost effective first step.

From the looks of it, the hotel/casino is setting the prices for the vendors - at least that's where the checks are supposed to be sent. Nationals cost between 600-650 for a standard sized booth, Asheville is 250 for an inside booth on the barn side (more traffic), and it drops dramatically from there. In fact, the smaller shows are often happy to have any vendors show up - as a service to their members, and have _very_ reasonable, if any, fees.

It just may not be a good business decision for me or any of the other smaller/non 'local' vendors who would want to be there.

[Trespasos]

Maybe there are some of you out there who might want more information on the Gold Cup so....if you would go to our website www.cpfha.com you will find details plus a video of the facility.

Besides the horse show we have scheduled entertainment, money classes and much more.

Our ad will be in the April issue of the Paso Fino Horse World and more information will be available with each issue.

As owners of the Paso Fino, we feel this very special breed needs to be seen by more and more people and Las Vegas could be that venue.

[Pasogirlz]

There will also a write up on the Vegas facility in the upcoming Showtime. 8-)

[Pasogirlz]

This is some info I got reguarding the Gold Cup:
Lori, I have read some of the comments on the Las Vegas Gold Cup. As someone that has devoted a considerable amount of time in helping to put this show together, I would like to comment on a few points to possibly help clarify why the decision was made to go to Vegas.

First the comment about the mid west and the West needing a place for a major show, could not be more true. Las Vegas has built the most suitable facility for Paso Fino's in the United States. Several of us went to the first show that was held there a couple weeks ago and it was amazing. We all said this is the place for us. To see what we filmed there go to www.cpfha.com and under Gold Cup there is a video. Tell me anywhere in this country you have this kind of facility.

We at CPFHA had the opportunity to step up and take the lead to make something happen. This facility is booked up. Not just this year but for the next several. So we booked it also. NO ONE ELSE WILL GET THE CHANCE TO HAVE A PASO SHOW HERE. We had to take it. After making this commitment we started telling everyone about why this is such a great place and the reaction was better than we had expected, especially when they saw the whole picture.

Here is a recap. Yes it's hot here and it's in July, but if you think about this it's vacation time. Kids can come. Vegas has everything for kids, and so does this hotel. People in the Southeast for the most part have never been to Vegas. They go to Atlantic City. They will come, and they are planning on coming. Not only that, they will bring the whole family and make this a vacation.

The heat is not a problem. The hotel is a one stop shop. Look at the video and you will see horse trailors driving into air conditioned stalls and unloading and driving out the other side. Once here you don't need to leave. Go to the web site www.southcoastcasino.com and look at this facility. Nothing else compares.

Vendors not recognizing that this Vegas facility has 4 other hotels in town and everything going on there is broadcast in all rooms throughout the casino floors and publicized on I-15 to millions of people, will be the ones missing out. We are trying to get our Paso people to have the chance to promote their goods and services there. The hotel wants vendors that sell to the general public so they can keep a big attraction for the exhibit hall. Just look at that exhibit floor, it's wonderful.

This show will not be like the Nationals or Spectrum or Asheville. This is LAS VEGAS and our show will be in keeping with where we are. There will be lot's of entertainment, money classes, and much much more.

If any of your readers have questions we want to answer them. This is a chance to do wonderful things for our breed and for our regions. Participate, this is your show too.


Thank You
Bob Rains Ranch Fino

[Cindy]

Great work to you all, Bob. Look forward to seeing you there.

[JennLM]

Wow, I can see a bunch of you will be there.

It would be great to meet up with you all. I know we will both be there Friday (I made him take the day off) but I will most likely be there all 3 days.