Equestrians Brian Gonzales, Guy McElvain and Double J Management (Janet and Larry Hischer and Tim and Jodi Johnson) teamed up to purchase the 137-acre Equicenter de Santa Fe in a sale that closed Jan. 14. After a six-year lapse in shows at the New Mexico facility, they plan to revive the $50,0000 Santa Fe Grand Prix, which will be the highlight event of their first horse show series, set to run July 22-Aug. 9. 

“We used to do a charity event called Grand Prix de Santa Fe, so that’s kind of where the idea came from,” said McElvain. “It was a very successful charity event. The town really liked it, and the exhibitors really liked it, plus I’ve been in the sport a long time, so I just thought geographically the venue makes sense. Santa Fe is such a great destination. I always hear from exhibitors, at least out here on the western side of the country, how much they would enjoy a horse show in Santa Fe. So we’ve been keeping our eyes open for the opportunity.” 

Gonzales and McElvain organized the inaugural Grand Prix de Santa Fe in 2004, and it last ran in 2009, shortly before the venue shut down due to then owner Charles Kokesh’s financial debt and legal trouble. Kokesh lost the property to Los Alamos National Bank. Gonzales, McElvain and their investment partners had the property under contract in October 2014. 

“Brian Gonzales immediately approached the bank in 2009,” said Jodi, the group’s press representative. “He saw the property as the best venue to pursue their dream of an annual Santa Fe Grand Prix. Equicenter de Santa Fe will host other horse events year-round, from roping and rodeo to dressage and cross-country riding.”

Many improvements are in the works; by July, the facility will have 66 permanent, matted stalls and tack rooms, temporary stabling, a covered indoor arena, a grand prix ring with grass footing, five show rings and three warm-up rings with all-weather footing, hot and cold wash stalls, permanent rest rooms, Wi-Fi internet, a vendor row, and dedicated bridle paths, walking paths and separate motorized roads. 

“We’re going to have to completely build out that facility,” said McElvain, noting that it’s chiefly used for polo now. “We’re going to take our time and see how it develops and see what the participation is like—see if we can grow it and put together a whole summer series there. Of course there are a lot of factors that come into that, but for this year, we’re going to start with three weeks and see where it goes from there.

“I just think, in light of how much the sport is changing and how these horse shows seem to growing, especially the competitive show jumping side, its our intention to give a few more opportunities in the summer—places for people to go,” McElvain added. “And Santa Fe is a great destination for horse shows in the summer.”