WELLINGTON, the home of the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, is a playground for the rich and famous and the who’s who of equestrian royalty.
Standing in the food line in the VIP area overlooking the international arena at the famous Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre, you are likely to spot the world’s second richest man Bill Gates, former mayor of New York and 11th richest man Michael Bloomberg and his show jumping daughter Georgina, and rockstar Bruce Springsteen, among other famous faces.
Aside from the glitz, glamour, VIP and parties, there is also fantastic sport on offer at the show. If you fancy a trip to Wellington this year, there are still four weeks left in the season. Here is what you need to know.
Getting there: You have the option of flying into Miami Airport, Palm Beach International Airport or Fort Lauderdale. Aer Lingus now to direct flights to Miami a few days a week and Wellington is just one hour’s drive from the airport. The ‘Beast from the East’ caused havoc with my journey to Florida last year, resulting in missed connections and an eventual rescheduled flight to Fort Lauderdale, which is also one hour away. So search Sky Scanner for the best deals, there are good ones!
You absolutely need a car to get around in Wellington. Accommodation, restaurants, barns and the show are all spread out, so it is a necessity. Where to stay: Get on AirBnB and search for houses/rooms in the surrounding Wellington area. There are little or no hotels in the area. I have a habit of hitting the jackpot with AirBnBs, but a simple search will give you plenty of results within a 10-mile radius. That may seem far, but as I mentioned, everything is quite spread out so once you have a car, travel should be straightforward.Where to eat: The Trophy Room is the newest spot close to the show for dinner and later in the evening, after show parties. Another personal favourite for lunch or dinner is Kontiki. All are within driving distance, hence, once again, the car is essential. What to see: Make sure you get yourself to the feature ‘Saturday Night Lights’ class on Saturday evening in the main arena. If you don’t have someone who is offering you a seat at their table in VIP, get there early and try to bag a table at the Tiki Hut, which is a fun little bar overlooking the main arena, serving food (chips, burgers, sandwiches, etc) and drinks. I have done both and must say, with a good crowd, the Tiki Hut is more fun!
A lot of the Irish riders based in Wellington for the winter circuit are happy to invite visitors to their yards on the quieter days. If you have a contact, try to visit one and get a feel for the type if lives Wellington-based horses live!