Canadian Showjumping Masters @ Spruce Meadows, Part Deux

Rubbin' Is Racin'

In a clash of culture perhaps unprecedented in the history of sport, I have brought together NASCAR and the, shall we say, upper crust of professional sport, showjumping. In my own subtle way, of course.



Worlds Collide.

The Spruce Meadows Canadian Masters is the home of the CN International Grand Prix, the world's only million-dollar showjumping class. $350K to the winner. The scoring format is FEI Article 273.3.1, which means only the top 12 finishers from the first jumping round are given a shot at the big bucks by coming back for round 2. Hence, like Sprint Cup qualifying, there is a "Bubble". The SJ world doesn't call it that, of course. But after today, they might.




These Canadians love their showjumping. Packed grandstands for every session.


Rolex gets in on the action.

Canadian Showjumping Masters @ Spruce Meadows

Spruce Meadows. Some of today's action at the Canadian Masters. Note that I spend more time shooting photos of video walls and photocells than I do horses and riders. Yes, I'm a psycho.






Follow the live action here.

Not Missing The US Hopeless

I've been waylaid for a few days with a stomach virus. Finally was able to eat about a quarter of a meal this evening. But (trust me on this) no matter how sick I could possibly be, it's a pleasant walk in the park compared to spending August at the US Hopeless.

Check out this photo of the sidewalk in front of the new squillion-dollar USTA indoor courts / corporate hospitality.

I see not much has changed since my foaming-mouthed rants of 2007:

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One of the few things I do miss about the US Hopeless is hanging out (misery loves company) with the IDS crew - Slaw, Lloyd, 'Neck, Dingo, Trampass, Boris, Leroy, Cockroach, Bug, Don Key, and of course my assorted CHUMP Bitches.