:: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE::

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Corrected 8/11/05

Contact: Amy Krause (609) 585-4566

“Harness Dreams” Documentary Selected Finalist in Prestigious Film Festival

PRINCETON, NJ., August 10, 2005 –Monica Thors of Princeton, New Jersey and Amy Krause of Yardville, New Jersey, producers of the standardbred horse documentary, “Harness Dreams – A Real Desire For A Dream”, have been officially notified by the Selection Committee of Festival EPONA that their documentary film has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious Le Festival à L’Image du Cheval. Co-sponsored by prominent standardbred owner and breeder, George Segal, and by Peter Gerry on behalf of the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, the 24-minute “Harness Dreams” documentary was aired on RFD-TV (Dish Network channel 9409 and DirecTV channel 379) six times between March 31st and April 3rd of this year. The piece was part of the eight week TV series entitled “Horse Babies”. The series presented specials about Rocky Mountain Horses, Tennessee Walkers, Black Egyptian Arabian Horses, Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, Friesians, Miniature Horses and Standardbreds.

Of the more than 500 film submissions from 29 different countries to the Selection Committee, 45 films have been selected as finalists for the 12th annual Festival EPONA. Criteria for selection as a finalist in the film festival included quality of the subject, beauty of the images, diversity of the topics, and originality of the approach of the programs. Hosted by La Societé Cheval Française whose mission is to promote equine and equine-based events in France, the film festival is open to the public and will be held in Cabourg, France from October 7th through October 9th, 2005. The story behind “Harness Dreams” is the saga embarked on by the then relatively unknown young husband and wife team – Blair and Karin Burgess – when, in the fall of 1999, they purchased a very modestly priced yearling named Real Desire. The film follows the thrills and challenges of the humble and hard working trainer-caretaker duo who together developed their bargain priced ($16,000) acquisition into a high money earning stakes class racehorse and ultimately a world champion. In a span of three years, Real Desire won 25 of his 40 lifetime starts, amassed $3.2 million in purse earnings, took a record as a 4 year old of 1:48.2 in the United States Pacing Championship at The Meadowlands on August 3, 2002 and was voted the 2002 Horse Of The Year. The piece portrays how hard work, love of the horse and unfaltering dedication to the caring for and training of a young horse can lead to the fulfillment of the ultimate dream – the acquisition, building and owning of a family farm. The 50-acre Burgess family farm and training facility in Milton, Ontario today is the family farm that Real Desire bought and built.

Videographed, directed and co-produced by the distinguished equine photographer, Monica Thors, the limited budget production of “Harness Dreams” enlisted the volunteer assistance from many folks in the harness racing sport including John Campbell, Marty Adler, Gen Sullivan, Frank Salive, Sam McKee, Ken Warkentin and Roger Huston. Making a brief appearance in the documentary is the legendary George Segal, Squire of Brittany Farms which raised Real Desire and which today stands Real Desire at stud. Real Desire was bred and foaled by Fair Island Farm (Art Zubrod & Leah Cheverie) and sold at the Harrisburg Sale.

“Harness Dreams” is scheduled to be rebroadcast on satellite television in October 2005. Further information about “Harness Dreams”, the Festival EPONA and the “Horse Babies” Series is available at www.mtphoto.com/harnessdreams.htm and www.cheval-francais.com.

Respectively. To obtain a DVD copy of “Harness Dreams” contact Monica Thors at (609) 933-1689 or by email at monicathors@comcast.net or Amy Krause by email at amy.krause@verizon.net.

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