A momentous announcement has been made in connection with the future of the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Grandstand Media Limited has confirmed that it has signed a deal with the British Show Jumping Association, the owners of the Show, to extend its current management contract of the event by a further 25 years.

Grandstand Media was originally contracted to manage HOYS until 2011 through a 14-show contract signed in 1998, however, following extensive negotiations with the BSJA, this has now been extended to 2036. Since taking control of the event, the London based company, a subsidiary of Grandstand Group Ltd, has proven beyond any doubt its ability to successfully stage and manage one of the country’s most complex events. This included a highly complicated and much acclaimed relocation of the Show to its new home at the NEC, Birmingham, after over 50 years of being held in London.

Mr John Jacks, Chairman of the BSJA, has expressed his confidence in this landmark deal, ‘As owners of the Horse of the Year Show, the British Show Jumping Association are pleased that, in Grandstand Media, we are working with a management company that is clearly delivering our objectives and aspirations for HOYS. Since our initial affiliation with Grandstand Media in 1997, the Show has gone from strength to strength. This contract extension is simply a reflection of the faith the BSJA has in the ability of Grandstand Media to deliver us a fantastic event and in doing so, safeguard the future of the Horse of the Year Show.’

Grandstand Media Ltd is a subsidiary of Grandstand Group, which also owns Grandstand Event Management, the force behind the launch in 2003 of the British Open Show Jumping Championships. A Director of Grandstand Group, Mr Mark Wein, has commented on what this extension signifies to Grandstand Media, ‘ As a company we are 100 percent committed to the Horse of the Year Show and as such we are delighted that we have secured this extension to our management contract of the event. Following the Show’s near demise in 1997, we have achieved our initial objective in re-establishing the event as one of the country’s leading sporting brands now attracting in excess of 50,000 visitors through its doors each year. This, coupled with the knowledge that Grandstand Media will hold the management rights to HOYS for the long term gives us the opportunity to further improve and expand this historic Blue Chip event. This is a good deal for HOYS, BSJA, Grandstand and the entire equestrian community.’

For further information on this announcement please contact:

Jennie Spillane
Press Office
Horse of the Year Show
Tel: 020 8900 9282
E-mail: Jspillane@grandstand.co.uk