Seven Americans will take on many of the world\’s best riders in the inaugural Las Vegas World International, on Oct. 14-15. The 25 riders have now been invited, and they include Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa, who\’s won the 2000 FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas, and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who won last April\’s World Cup Final in Las Vegas.

Seven Americans will try to keep the bulk of the $1 million purse at home. The U.S. riders are: Beezie Madden, the top-ranked U.S. rider in the world and a member of the 2004 silver-medal Olympic team; Laura Kraut, winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hickstead (England) in July; McLain Ward, a member of the 2004 Olympic team; Schuyler Riley, a member of one of this year\’s Samsung Super League teams; Anne Kursinski, a two-time Olympic team silver medalist; Richard Spooner, winner of seven grand prix events so far in 2005; and Georgina Bloomberg, who rode in the 2005 World Cup Finals.

Germany will send six riders in addition to Michaels-Beerbaum: Ludger Beerbaum, her brother-in-law, an Olympic gold medalist and 1993 World Cup winner; Marcus Ehning, winner of the 2003 FEI World Cup Final and currently ranked No. 1 in the world standings; Otto Becker, an Olympic tam gold medalist and 2002 World Cup winner; Christian Ahlmann, member of the 2004 Olympic team; and Marco Kutscher, who won the European Championships in July.

Nick Skelton, Michael Whitaker and Robert Smith will comprise the strong British contingent. Jessica Kurten will represent Ireland, and Ian Millar will represent Canada.

Markus Fuchs, currently standing No. 5 in the world rankings, and Steve Guerdat, who finished sixth in the 2005 World Cup Final, will be the two Swiss riders. Ludo Philippaerts, who\’s ridden in four Olympics and 10 World Cup Finals, will come from Belgium.

Frederico Fernandez of Mexico and Ali Nilforushun of Iran, who lives in Sand Diego, will round out the field.

The riders will contest four events\-he $100,000 Vegas Stake, a speed event; the $50,000 Knockout, where riders will race against each other on identical courses; the $100,000 Ride and Drive, where riders first complete a jumping course, then finish an obstacle course in a car; and the $750,000 Grand Prix.