Thomas & Mack is site of 22nd annual World Cup event

Steve Addy

Wednesday, April 19, 2000 | 11:23 a.m.

Forty-two of the world's best equestrian show jumpers have gathered in Las Vegas for the 22nd annual World Cup, and the event is abuzz with one question.

Can Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa -- the so-called Jeff Gordon of show jumping -- become the first rider to team with the same horse to win three straight World Cups?

Pessoa, 28, and his 11-year-old light chestnut French stallion Baloubet du Rouet have won the last two championships, in 1998 at Helsinki, Finland, and last year at Goteborg, Sweden. They will be trying to accomplish what three previous rider-horse repeat champions failed to do.

That quest will be the focus of the five-day event, which began today with practice and runs through Sunday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The first two elimination rounds will be Thursday and Friday, both at 6:45 p.m., with tickets priced at $60 (plaza) and $40 (balcony). Only balcony seats remain for Sunday's finals (11:45 a.m., $50) and Saturday's Grand Prix (3 p.m., $45), which features riders who didn't make the finals. Call 260-8605 for tickets.

Pessoa, son of show jumping legend Nelson Pessoa, is clearly the star of the show. A two-time Olympian, he is No. 1 in the worldwide computer rankings. Pessoa has excelled on the European jumping circuit for a decade and has won 12 international competitions.

This year marks the first time the World Cup has been held in Las Vegas and its fourth time in the United States. It was last held in the United States in 1992 at Del Mar, Calif.

In 1980 at Baltimore, the second World Cup was won by American Conrad Homfeld aboard Balbuco. Homfeld, who also won in 1985, is retired and will be the course designer for this World Cup.