Equine Productions Inc. has made room for one more big winner in its $35,000 Grand Prix Challenge Series. This year, the leading rider will take home a $25,000 check, plus the rider standing second at the end of the series will be rewarded with a $10,000 bonus check.

“We’ve had such great participation in the series and the riders have been so supportive of our shows, we wanted to expand the winners' circle to include one more rider,” explained Equine Productions Inc. President Tommy McIntyre.

This year’s Challenge Series kicks off during the April shows at the National Equestrian Center in Lake Saint Louis, Mo. Eighteen eligible shows will be offered in Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas and will once again include the Showplace Spring Spectacular June show in Wayne, Illinois.

For more information about the $35,000 Challenge Series, call 630.842.7650.

About the Challenge Series Shows

No membership dues. No forms to submit. It’s easy for the riders. The first time a rider competes in one of the Challenge Series Grand Prix, he or she is automatically eligible to win a share of the $35,000 “jackpot.” Points are accrued based on winnings. Riders may compete on as many or as few horses as they like, but only receive points on their top-placing horse in each Grand Prix.

For the fourth year in a row, the winner will take home a $25,000 check from the final Grand Prix Challenge Series Show in December 2008. And new this year, the second place series rider will walk away with an extra $10,000 check in his or her pocket.

Karen Cudmore won the Challenge Series in its inaugural year, with Wilhelm Genn shutting out the competition in each of the last two years. And in 2007, Tommy McIntyre had the pleasure of presenting Wilhelm a $10,000 owner’s bonus for this high-point year on Chantal.

But 2008 is a new year and a new contest. The next 18 shows will determine this year’s big winners.