Twenty of the World’s Elite-Level Equine Athletes Land at JFK for the Debut Longines Masters of New York

At approximately 5:00 a.m. this morning, 20 of the world’s top 5* elite-level international horses landed at JFK Airport, ready to compete at the debut Longines Masters of New York, April 26-29. The sight this morning at JFK offered a unique glimpse into how these often multi-million dollar elite equine athletes travel when they jet around the world for competitions and the care they receive during flight, which often rivals the travel experiences of their human teammates.

The horses traveled from Belgium to New York on an 8½ hour flight, each with their own passport and accompanied by their entourages of grooms, a flight attendant, and a vet to tend to their every need. This morning’s arrival was one of the largest equine cargo shipments to ever land at JFK and one of the biggest transportations of horses anywhere in the world, a feat which Longines Masters Series creators EEM undertake each year to ensure that the world’s top horses are able to compete. In contrast, horse racing transports only 5-6 horses at one time.

Once unloaded from their Boeing 747-400 CAL Cargo Airlines plane, the horses were immediately inspected and placed in quarantine for 48 hours. Following quarantine, the equine athletes will be caravanned down the Long Island Expressway and walk a literal red carpet into their home for the next week—specially-built stables at NYCB LIVE, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

In total, almost 200 horses representing 12 countries will remain at NYCB LIVE throughout the prestigious international four-day competition, presented by EEM with the support of Title Partner and Official Timekeeper and Watch, Longines. While the official team hasn’t been announced yet, many of these European horses will compete for Riders Europe with their partners when the new transatlantic competition, The Riders Masters Cup, takes center stage on Saturday, April 28th. Over the course of the weekend, these horses will compete with their riders in many of the 20 competitions to earn prize money of up to $382,000 for the Longines Grand Prix on Sunday, April 29th.

Tickets for the Longines Masters of New York are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com and  https://longinesmasters.com/en/new-york/ticketing/. For additional information on the Longines Masters of New York, visit www.longinesmasters.com.

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High-resolution images available for use: https://sunshinesachs.egnyte.com/fl/Hc5BSVxGQU

ABOUT EEM
A passionate of equestrian sports, Christophe Ameeuw - CEO of EEM and Founder of the Longines Masters Paris-Hong Kong-New York Series - founded the Ecuries d’Ecaussinnes in 1997. Based in Belgium, the stables are internationally reputed for their activities in trading sport horses and high-standard breeding. They are also home to an offering some of the best teaching available in the field. In opening

EEM, Christophe Ameeuw and his teams were in pursuit of a challenge: to reinvent show jumping by organizing equestrian events of an entirely new kind. The company built its development by creating the concept of the “Masters”, which together, under the same roof, the best of show-jumping, resplendent displays and art de vivre. After the successes of the Audi Masters in Brussels and the Gucci Masters in Paris, EEM came out with one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events, the Longines Masters Series, on three continents, in Paris, Hong Kong and New York. Inspired by the Grand Slam in Tennis, EEM created a concurrent “Grand Slam Indoor of Show Jumping”, approved by the FEI, this intercontinental challenge is offered to the world's elite in show jumping, with two prize levels: The Super Grand Slam - a €2,250,000 super bonus for the three consecutive wins in the Longines Grand Prix, in the season order -  The Grand Slam - a €1,000,000 bonus for three successive victories at Longines Grand Prix straddling two Longines Masters seasons.

In 2017, EEM created a new iconic competition, the Riders Masters Cup. Offered to the public alongside the EEF (European Equestrian Federation) and alternating between Europe and the United States, this battle pits the world's two leading powers in show jumping against one another: Europe and the United States. On the Asian continent, “Asia Horse Week”, rallying point for the international equestrian community there, also serves as a prime setting for the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, illustrating EEM's determination to develop the sport's international arms in the Asia-Pacific Region. Firmly set on putting equestrian sports front and center and making them accessible to all, EEM rolled out a new digital TV channel on November 14, 2017. EEM.tv offers viewers the chance to follow live and free of charge all EEM events worldwide.

ABOUT THE LONGINES MASTERS
Set in the three of the world's most emblematic metropolises - Paris, Hong Kong and New York - the Longines Masters series is recognized as one of the most prestigious events in the equestrian world. Created by EEM and inspired by the Tennis Grand Slam, the series quickly expanded their international reach (Hong Kong in 2013, Los Angeles in 2014). In 2015, the inter-continental trilogy turned into the Longines Masters Series.  Alongside it, EEM created the “Grand Slam of Indoor Show Jumping”, approved by the FEI, the Grand Slam Indoor is the ultimate challenge for the world's elite in show jumping, with two levels of prizes:The Super Grand Slam: a bonus of 2.25 million Euros for winning 3 consecutive Longines Grand Prix in the same season. The Grand Slam: a bonus of 1 million Euros for three successive victories in the Longines Grand Prix from one season to the next. The TV broadcast of the Longines Masters Series reachers, to over 120 countries, almost 320 million households, a coverage increased this year by the launch of EEM.tv, the new digital channel of EEM. It allows everybody to freely livestream the all competition and events during the four days. Save the date: Paris 2017 : November 30th – December 3rd Hong Kong 2018 : February 9th – February 11thNew-York : April 26th – April 29th
For more information, see www.longinesmasters.com

ABOUT LONGINES
Longines has been based at Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. Longines has generations of experience as official timekeeper of world championships and as partner of international sports federation. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of Swatch Group Ltd, the World’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 150 countries.

Information: Longines International Public Relations - 2610 Saint-Imier, Switzerland
Site : www.longines.com - Email : publicrelations@longines.com