Q: The Thomas & Mack Center, the arena where the 2015 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Finals will be held, is named after which two men?
A:Parry Thomas and his late banking partner, Jerry Mack. Thomas is the husband of Peggy Thomas, the owner of Brentina.
Q: Where were the 2015 World Cup Finals originally scheduled to be held?
A: Guadalajara, Mexico, was the winner of the bid. But financial problems with the Guadalajara initiative prompted the FEI to move the Cup to the runner-up bidder, Las Vegas, which had a proven track record with the event.
Q: Which rider invited to the finals as a wild card was the only one to win the title, and where was this person from?
A: Kyra Kyrklund of Finland on Matador in 1991.
Q: Which riders won back-to-back World Cup Finals, but were foiled in their bids to make it three in a row?
A: Christine Stückelbergerof Switzerland was first in 1987 and 1988 on Gaugin de Lully, but lost to Margit-Otto Crepin of France on Corlandus in 1989. Monica Theodorescu of Germany (now coach of Germany’s dressage team) was victorious in 1993 and 1994 on Ganimedes, then went on to lose in 1995 to Anky van Grunsven on Bonfire in Burbank, Calif., during the first U.S. staging of the finals. Anky became the first three-time winner of the Cup, taking the title again in 1996 and 1997. She also would have a three-peat in 2004, 2005 and 2006 on Salinero as well. Anky was first in 1999 and 2000 but did not participate in 2001 because of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Ulla Salzgeber of Germany was first on Rusty in 2001, 2002, and 2003, but disqualified when her horse tested positive for a prohibited substance.
The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen finished first in 2011 and 2012 with Jerich Parzival, then missed in 2013 when Helen Langehanenberg of Germany edged her aboard Damon Hill NRW.
Q: When did the Grand Prix stop counting for the overall result in the finals?
A: 2003
