It was a superb event, with world-class riders, fantastic footing and all the glitz of Las Vegas, but the thousands of empty seats and lack of cash following the finale of the Las Vegas World Invitational on Oct. 7-9 may nix a repeat performance.

Billed as the richest show jumping weekend in history, the trouble started when the prize-money checks bounced after the event. American show jumper Lauren Hough was able to cash her check, but other riders, including top-dollar winner Rodrigo Pessoa, haven\’t received their money.

And neither did CBS-TV. The grand prix was scheduled to air on Dec. 31 before the Denver Broncos football game, but it was paid programming and the broadcast has been cancelled.

At this point it\’s still unclear who\’s to blame for the revenue shortfall, although many fingers are pointing at David Shriner, show organizer Equus Entertainment\’s chairman and CEO, and Fairlie Arrow, the executive in charge of production.

Before the show could be approved, the U.S. Equestrian Federation required a letter of credit for $1,050,000, but that letter mysteriously was allowed to expire before payments were made.

Officials from the USEF and the Federation Equestre Internationale, which gave the show a five-star rating because of its prize money, have been applying pressure to pay the riders what they\’ve earned, although neither organization is responsible for the money if Equus Entertainment fails to come through.

Now the lawyers are stepping in. Pessoa told Horse & Hound that he was looking into filing a lawsuit on behalf of all the riders who haven\’t been paid.

The district attorney general for Las Vegas is also investigating the situation, and Equus Entertainment investors Clark Davis and Wayne Roby are considering legal recourse to get their money as they try to plan for the event next year under new management.