“Your presence was missed… by thousands,”  read the text message I received after the event that said it all. “Unfortunately we had the deal and then we didn’t,” said Bernard Uechtritz, Chairman of HorseTV in Dallas, Texas.

Following last weekend’s hugely successful broadcast of the $75,000 Grand Prix sponsored by CN, we were disappointed that HorseTV was blindsided at the 11th hour, as certain forces conspired against us. We were forced to sit on the sidelines, out of being able to host broadcast the Cup and provide the viewing public, competing nations and everyone’s sponsors, families and fans the certainty of being able to view the event live with a trouble free experience.

We were even shut out of being able to provide a co-host broadcast and back up alternative. Believe me when I say we made every effort to plead our case, and we are extremely sad for everyone in the equestrian community, the public and the governing bodies involved. We had proved our excellent capabilities to Wellington the week prior with the successful broadcast of last Saturday’s $75,000 Grand Prix event enjoyed by thousands in HD, free, worldwide, and we have enjoyed the overwhelming congratulatory response to prove it, including from ESP themselves.

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