February 6, 2003, SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Midwest Charity Horse Show, June 10-14, 2003, has announced its slate of officials for its 62nd edition. Judges will be Dick Boetcher, Debbie Foley, Merrill Murray, and Kathy Peeples.

This year’s Midwest Charity Horse Show held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Coliseum, one of the premier facilities in the United States, runs five days with class sessions at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily. This year’s show will feature a full line-up of classes for Saddlebreds, Roadsters, Hackney and Harness ponies, Morgans and Arabians.

Once again Midwest will offer the ASHA Foundation Jr. Exhibitor Driving Challenge. Midwest Charity Horse Show will also offer a full line-up of UPHA Classic classes including Hackney Ponies; Three Gaited; Morgan Pleasure Driving; Park Pleasure; Morgan Park Harness; Fine Harness and Five Gaited horses.

The traditional Midwest Charity Horse Show Party Barn will again serve-up its generous hospitality with parties Tues., Wed., Thurs. and Fri. nights after the last class.

Since its inception, the Midwest Charity Horse Show, an all volunteer organization, has donated its annual proceeds to a Springfield area charity and has selected Camp COCO as its beneficiary since 1988, creating an endowment fund that is now valued at $100,000. This year at its annual meeting the Midwest Charity Horse Show gave $8,000 to Camp COCO from the proceeds of the 2002 show.

Camp COCO is a free week-long summer camp for children suffering from cancer, leukemia and other blood disorders. The camp is staffed by volunteer medical personnel from the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. These doctors and nurses work with the children all year and enjoy giving their patients a pleasurable break from the daily rigors of hospital medical treatments.

For more information about the Midwest Charity Horse Show call President, Judy Kjellander at 217-793-0670 or Show Manager Paul Briney at 217-652-1528. For more information about Camp COCO call 217-782-2955. Those who are online can log-on to www.midwestcharity.com to check for updates regarding the 2003 show.