The show will go on despite the presence of thousands lining up to see Pope Francis as he leads a procession through the park on Friday, when the dressage and show jumping grands prix are on the schedule.
Skyscrapers are the dramatic backdrop for the competition at the Central Park Horse Show, which gets under way this week in Manhattan., Friday's visit of Pope Francis to New York City, which will trigger road "closures of Biblical proportions," according to a former city traffic commissioner, coincides with key sessions of the show. Police Commissioner Bill Bratton called the situation, which also includes the UN General Assembly, "the largest security challenge the department and this city have ever faced."
Thousands who scored tickets to see the Pope pass by in the park will be turning up hours early to go through security before lining up to get a glimpse of the Pontiff. He leads a 5 p.m.procession through the park that day, when horse show competition begins at 1:30 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. Streets on the Upper West Side around the park will be closed to traffic from midnight to 7 p.m.,
But the show is up to the challenge, according to Jim Wolf of the Wolf Sports Group, who is involved with the event's organization.
"We have had multiple meetings with the parks department about the logistics surrounding His Holiness' procession through the park," said Wolf, a Lebanon resident.
"There will be a `frozen zone' for security on the west side of the park, starting at the bridge under Center Drive (where the horses walk through) going to West Park Drive," he noted.
However, he added, "Wollman Rink is not in the frozen zone and (spectators) will not have to go through security checks to get to the rink."
Riders, horses and the people who work with them all will have special passes to get through. In a sense, Wolf pointed out, it makes things easier because they won't have to deal with the regular crush of passersby moving around the park as the horses go from the stabling to the rink and back again.
For those who have purchased $30 tickets for the Friday afternoon session, featuring the dressage Grand Prix, or $250 tickets for the Friday evening session featuring the U.S. Open jumping championship, Wolf warned, "Traffic will be difficult that day getting into the city.
"We are advising sponsors and ticket holders to use public transportation when possible and to avoid the west side of Manhattan if at all possible. City officials are advising that people access Wollman from the Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue park entrances. People should stay away from any entrances on the west side of the park."
The final list of dressage competitors has been announced. It includes Catherine Haddad Staller of Califon and Lauren Sammis of South Orange, representing the U.S. along with Charlotte Jorst; whiz kid Juan Matute Guimon of Spain, Canada's Karen Pavicic, Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven of Sweden and Germany's Isabell Werth, who won the inaugural Central Park freestyle last year.
Germany's Isabell Werth is coming to Central Park to defend her 2014 dressage freestyle title.
Reigning Olympic, world championships and European championships gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin is coming without the world's number one horse, Valegro, but she will ride a borrowed mount in the $75,000 freestyle Saturday night, for which tickets are $250, and give a master class at 1:30 p.m. next Sunday. She will not appear in Friday afternoon's Grand Prix.
The show begins Wednesday evening with Arabian classes. Thursday evening's highlight at 8 p.m. is the $40,000 speed round of the U.S. Open show jumping, which wraps up with the $212,000 grand prix at 8 p.m. Friday. Hunter competitions are featured on Saturday afternoon. The Pope leaves town Saturday morning.
Competitors from seven countries are taking part in the show jumping, including several of the USA's stars, among them McLain Ward, Kent Farrington and Todd Minikus.
Georgina Bloomberg, who celebrated winning the Central Park grand prix with champagne in 2014, returns to defend her title.
Defending champion Georgina Bloomberg from last year's inaugural Central Park show also is participating.
Tickets are still available at www.centralparkhorseshow.com. Some will be sold at the gate, but it is anticipated Friday night's show jumping grand prix and Saturday night's dressage freestyle will sell out.
ON THE RAIL -- Veterans and their families are invited to an open house from 1-3 p.m. Friday at the Centenary College Equestrian Center at 2-56 Califon Road in Long Valley, where they will learn about veteran services and the benefits of equine learning and therapy.
Facilitators are Octavia Brown, a professor of equine studies at the college who is the director of Operation Centaur and the Therapeutic Riding at Centenary (TRAC) program and retired Army Maj. George Paffendorf, a registered therapeutic riding instructor. Also on hand will be Liz Carlson, a certified advanced therapeutic riding instructor and EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) certified equine specialist, as well as Judith Schaeffer-Benoit, a readjustment marital and family specialist for the Bloomfield Vet Center and EAGALA certified mental health specialist in equine therapy and learning.
"This open house is designed to offer veterans and their families information about some equine-assisted resources that are available at Centenary," said Brown.
For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Schaeffer-Benoit at Judith.Schaeffer-Benoit@va.gov or call the Bloomfield Vet Center at (973) 748-0980.
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Today: Princeton Show Jumping Series, Hunter Farms North, 246 Burnt Hill Road, Skillman; Eastern Pennsylvania Reining Horse Show, Gloucester County Dream Park, 400 Route 130 South, Logan Township; Spotted Toad Show, Hunter Farms North, 246 Burnt Hill Road, Skillman; Tewksbury Trail Association Trail Pace, Christie Hoffman Farm Park, Route 512, Tewksbury; Essex Foxhounds Hunter Trials, Essex Foxhounds property, 48 Holland Road, Peapack; Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Very Small Equine, Draft and Western Show, DVHA Showgrounds, 299 Ringoes-Rosemont Road, Sergeantsville; Changewater Stables Benefit Show, 438 Route 519, Stewartsville; Judged Trail Ride, Horse Park of New Jersey, Route 524, Allentown; High Point Equestrian Center Dressage Show, Combined Test and Horse Trials, 20 Birch Tree Road, Montague; Oxbow Farm Dressage Show, Combined Test and Horse Trials, 39 Orts Road, Hamburg; Autumn Riders Show, East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold; Barrel Racing, Horse Park of New Jersey, Route 524, Allentown; NJ Horse Shows Association Show, 20 Boss Road, Ringoes.
Tomorrow: Somerset Trail Association and Somerset Hills Pony Club present Rutgers Extension Specialist Carey Williams' lecture on conformation, Dillon Library, Lamington Road (Off Route 202-206, Bedminster (6:30 p.m. start).
Wednesday: Princeton Show Jumping Series, Hunter Farms North, 246 Burnt Hill Road, Skillman (through Sept. 27); Applewood Farm Schooling Dressage Show, Combined Test and Clear Round Jumping, 30 Fox Hill Road, Califon.
Friday: Garden State Combined Driving Event, Horse Park of New Jersey, Route 524, Allentown (through Sept. 27); Veterans' Open House, Centenary College Equestrian Center, 2-56 Califon Road, Long Valley.
Saturday: Spotted Toad Show, Hunter Farms North, 246 Burnt Hill Road, Skillman (through Sept. 27); Garden State Paint Show, Gloucester County Dream Park, 400 Route 130 South, Logan Township (through Sept. 27).Veterans' Open House, Centenary College Equestrian Center,
Sept. 27: Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Hunter Show, DVHA Showgrounds, 299 Ringoes-Rosemont Road, Sergeantsville; Smoke Rise Riding Club Horse Show, Smoke Rise Farm, 1 Talbot Dr., Kinnelon; Good Times Farm Dressage Schooling Show, 278 Jackson Mills Road, Freehold; Baymar Farms Show, 38 Harbor Road, Morganville.
Nancy Jaffer: nancyjaffer@comcast.net.