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Bluegrass Festival Horse ShowLillie Keenan Wins the $100k USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show Lillie Keenan and C Coast Z earned the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals Championship at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo: Heather Bellock/PMG. Lexington, KY – August 20, 2011 – It was an incredible night for the Final Round of the 2011 $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Spectators gathered in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park to see who would take home tonight’s victory. Junior Rider Lillie Keenan rode to success with C Coast Z proving to be unbeatable throughout tonight’s competition. Scott Stewart and Declaration took home the second place honors while Tammy Provost and Carlson earned the third place award. After a 12-month qualifying period, the top 75 horses were invited to compete for championship honors. Yesterday the qualifying round was held in the Rolex Stadium, and the top 25 horse and rider combinations returned to show during tonight’s Second Round competition. Riders were tested over a Classic Hunter Course with the top 12 scoring combinations advancing to the Handy Hunter Course. Scores from yesterday’s qualifying round did not carry over and riders began with had a fresh start to impress the judges. However, the scores earned in the Classic Hunter Round did carry over in the Handy Hunter Round and was a factor in determining tonight’s results. Scott Hofstetter, Otis Brown, Russell Frey, Julie Winkel, Carleton Brooks, Jimmy Torano, Jim Clapperton, and Mike Rosser had the pleasure of judging each of tonight’s rounds. The courses were designed by Bobby Murphy and Patrick Rhodes and were created to replicate traditional hunt country. The course was beautifully set, mimicking a picturesque hunt field and barnyard with a winding stream and fence separating the barnyard from the open fields. The courses included hedges, stonewalls, oxers, coops, hay bales, gates, logs, and an in-and-out. During the Handy Round there were several elements to test both horse and rider and plenty of opportunities to show off handiness and earn bonus points as well as four higher options that would add an additional point per fence to their base score due to their added heights and elevated difficulty. Scott Stewart Takes Top Three Spots in 3rd Annual $100k USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals Scott Stewart and Carlos Boy took top honors during Round One of the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo By: Heather Bellock/PMG. Lexington, KY – August 19, 2011 – The day that riders, trainers, owners and spectators have been waiting for throughout the Kentucky Horse Shows Series has finally arrived. The 2011 $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals commenced this morning in the Rolex Stadium. Attendees could not have ordered a more perfect day with sunny skies and moderate temperatures to kick off the long anticipated event. This is the third annual USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and it has returned to the Kentucky Horse Park. Scott Stewart and Carlos Boy won today’s class and Stewart placed in the top six with all of his mounts and is one of the top 25 horse and rider combinations to advance to tomorrow evening’s final event. Lillie Keenan took home the fourth and fifth place finish with Madison and C Coast Z, respectively. This event was created to bring show hunters to the world stage, to increase spectators, media and sponsorship interest, and bring tradition and basic riding principles back to the sport of show hunters. It is an event that involves a 12-month qualifying period and only the top 75 horses are invited to compete for the championship title. Opening ceremonies began at eight this morning, and soon after the competition got underway with the qualifying round for all 59 horse and rider combinations in the Rolex Stadium. The judges panels were comprised of Scott Hofstetter and Otis Brown for panel one, Russell Frey and Julie Winkel for panel two, Carleton Brooks and Jimmy Torano for panel three, and Jim Clapperton and Mike Rosser for panel four. Bobby Murphy and Patrick Rhodes designed the qualifying round course, the first of three courses in the finals. This Hunter Derby style course challenged riders over 12 fences ranging from 3’6″ to 4’0″. The course offered four optional obstacles that would add an additional point per fence to their base score due to their added heights and elevated difficulty. The fences being used throughout the weekend are reminiscent of those that would be found out on a hunting field. Obstacles on the course included oxers made up of natural posts, rails and white board fences, gates, hedges, hay bales, a brush, logs, and natural foliage. Yann Candele and Azzaro Win $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show Yann Candele and Azzaro took top honors in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo: Heather Bellock/PMG Lexington, KY – August 19, 2011 – Another incredible crowd turned out at the Rolex Stadium tonight at the Kentucky Horse Park; this time the spectators watched riders compete for the top prize during the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Six horse and rider combinations progressed to the jump-off with Yann Candele riding three of them, and eventually leading the victory gallop with Azzaro after they laid down the fastest clear effort over the short course. Margie Engle was just a hair off of Candele’s time. She and Lord Spezi earned the second place finish after completing a fault free effort. Tonight’s class was the fifth of seven grand prix events that make up the Hagyard Challenge Series, sponsored by Hagyard Medical Institute and presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Following the final event in the series, a cash prize of $45,000 will be awarded to the rider accumulating the most points throughout the series for the Leading Rider Bonus. The horse and rider combinations were tested over a challenging course, designed by Allen Rheinheimer, which included fourteen obstacles. The course featured an oxer-oxer-vertical triple combination, a triple bar that was just six short strides before a vertical-vertical double combination, and a liverpool, as well as several, single verticals. Riders also had to keep the pace in order to complete the course, which spread covered the entire arena, within the tight time allowed of 90 seconds. The complicated oxer-oxer-vertical triple combination posed difficulties for horses and riders alike, causing several to gain faults because of the single long stride between each fence. Out of the 44 entries, only six horse and rider combinations went clean and Yann Candele would have the ride aboard three of the six horses to advance to the jump-off. Havens Schatt and Valencia Win the Championship Tricolor in the High Performance Hunters at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show Havens Schatt and Valencia win the High Performance Hunter Championship award at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo Credit: Kendall Bierer/PMG. Lexington, KY – August 18, 2011 – Although thunderstorms threatened the morning classes at the Kentucky Horse Park, diligent horse and rider combinations turned out to the Stonelea Ring for the second day of the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Thankfully, the sun began to make its way through the clouds, and riders were blessed with beautiful weather yet again as they made their rounds. Today marked the conclusion of the professional hunters divisions, awarding top honors to riders in their respective divisions. Scott Stewart and Dedication took home the tricolor champion award in the First Year Green Working Hunters, while Hunt Tosh and Cold Harbor garnered the champion award in the Green Conformation Hunters. Patricia Griffith piloted Sienna to a strong conclusion in the Second Year Green Working Hunters earning the top honors. Elizabeth Boyd and Casallo swept the over fences and won the under saddle in the Regular Conformation Hunters. It was Havens Schatt aboard Valencia, who earned the championship prize in the High Performance Hunters, proving consistent with their past performances. As seen by their previous performances, Havens Schatt and Valencia, owned by CH Farm, LLC of Delano, MN, seem to have the High Performance Hunters figured out. Yesterday, the talented duo claimed two second place ribbons during the over fences classes, narrowly missing the blues with scores of 84 and 86. However, Schatt and Valencia continued today with strong and consistent rounds, earning scores of 84 and 80 over fences and the first place position in the under saddle class, proving to be the Champions of the High Performance Hunters. “I felt as though our rounds were really good today, although I did think that she was better yesterday in the Working Hunter classes,” Schatt admitted. “We are still trying to figure things out; Valencia sometimes forgets that the handy is not a jump-off. I think that some of her jumper instinct comes back to her and she gets a little worked up for that.” Kentucky Summer Horse Shows Prize List Now Available The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows Prize List is now available one. Photo Courtesy of the Client. Lexington, KY – May 21, 2011 – The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows’ management company, Kentucky Horse Shows LLC, is pleased to announce that the hunter/jumper competition’s prize list is currently available online. The prize list and entry blanks are posted online at www.kentuckyhorseshows.com. Entries for the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows close on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 and Wednesday, July 27, 2011 for the Bluegrass Festival and the KHJA Horse Show. The top hunter and jumper riders will return to the Kentucky Horse Park for this world-class event. The Kentucky Summer Horse Show will kick off the series and will be held from July 27-31, 2011. This event will run concurrently with the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. As the competition continues, the Kentucky Summer Classic will get underway on August 3, 2011, and run through August 7, 2011. The Kentucky Summer Horse Show will feature two exciting highlight events, including the $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington, to be held on Sunday, July 31, 2011. The best jumper riders in the world will gather to compete for the title, and will also have the chance to compete during the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. This class will be the third event in the Hagyard Challenge Series. The rider who accumulates the most points throughout the seven-class series will be presented with the $45,000 Leading Rider Award. Georgina Bloomberg and Fiedi 3 Soar to $30,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix Victory at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show
 Georgina Bloomberg and Fiedi 3 won the $30,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix Victory at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG. Lexington, KY – August 22, 2010 – It was a beautiful and sunny Kentucky afternoon, for the final day of the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Today riders competed for top prizes during the jumper divisions in the new Indoor Ring at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park. The highlight event of the day was the $30,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix where Georgina Bloomberg and Fiedi 3 stole the show after completing an incredible double clear-effort with a blazing jump-off time of 40.83 seconds. Today’s class featured a course designed by Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England. The first round included an oxer-vertical double combination and a vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination, with numerous bending lines. Six riders were able to show perfection over the technical first round track and advance to the short course. For the shortened tiebreaker test, they began by jumping a wide oxer in the corner and then made a right turn to the double combination before galloping to the end of the ring to jump a single vertical. Next they made a left turn to another oxer and then had a long gallop to an oxer-vertical bending line. Riders finished by galloping home off the left lead over a tall, single vertical. Lauren Crooks and Cincinatti La Silla Win $50,000 CSI-W Hagyard Lexington Classic at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show
 Lauren Crooks and Cincinatti La Silla took top honors in the $50,000 CSI-W Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo By: Whitney Campbell/PMG. Lexington, KY – August 20, 2010 – Another incredible crowd turned out at the new Indoor Ring tonight, this time to watch riders compete for the top prize during the $50,000 CSI-W Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. It proved to be an interesting night when the first four riders all completed clear rounds to start, but as the class progressed no other combinations were able to duplicate the effort and join the jump-off. Lauren Crooks and Cincinnati La Silla led the victory gallop after they laid down the fastest clear effort over the short course, continuing their winning streak after taking the top prize in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic during the Kentucky Summer Classic. Tonight’s long and winding course was designed by Richard Jeffery. The first round course featured 16 jumping efforts and included a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination, an oxer-vertical double combination, and a number of tall, single verticals. At first it looked as though the course was too simple when the first four riders to take to the track all posted clear efforts, but as the evening continued, the rails began to come down and no one else was able to advance to the short course. The jump-off round began over a single oxer followed by a bending line to a single vertical. Riders then made a left turn to another wide oxer before jumping through the oxer-vertical double combination. Finally, the competitors made an inside turn and galloped to a tall vertical just before the finish line. Stacy Arani and Bolero Earn the Blue in Amateur-Owner Hunters at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show Stacy Arani and Bolero won two blue ribbons in the Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Hunters at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo By: Kristen Snyder/PMG. Lexington, KY – August 20, 2010 – Bright blue skies and hot breezes welcomed competition this morning in the Stonelea Ring for the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions at the Kentucky Horse Park. Crowds hummed in anticipation as the Kentucky Summer Shows are slowly concluding this park, coming to a final and exciting finish this Sunday, August 22, 2010. The $100,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals also began today, just prior to the Amateur-Owner Hunters. Excellent horsemanship was displayed in the Stonelea Ring at 12:30 p.m. during the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions. First in the ring was the Amateur Owner 18-35 Hunter over fences classes. For the first round of this division, it was Bridget Hallman on her mount, Hearsay, who took home the blue ribbon prize. The incredible duo received a distinguished score of 87. The first place winner for the second round of the Amateur Owner 18-35 Hunter class was Saer Coulter aboard Positano after earning remarkable final score of 90. Two for Two! Cara Raether Wins $20,000 Bluegrass Classic with Lyonell at Kentucky Spring Classic
 Cara Raether had her second victory in a row at the Kentucky Spring Classic, winning the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic with Lyonell. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG. Lexington, KY – May 23, 2010 – The final day of the Kentucky Spring Classic began with another exciting win for Cara Raether. She rode Lyonell to a beautiful double-clear finish in the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic and took home the first place prize. The class began at 8 a.m. with 36 competitors in the Main Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park, host of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Pablo Barrios was the only other rider to go clear aboard Flash and earned the second place honors, while Lauren Crooks had the fastest four-fault effort with Cincinnati La Silla for the third place ribbon. Conrad Homfeld has designed the courses in the Main Stadium this week, and he laid out another excellent track for the riders this morning. The first round had 16 jumping efforts that included a water jumper, a liverpool, a double combination, and a triple combination. Eight riders were able to complete clear efforts and advance to the jump-off. They had to begin over a tall vertical at the end of the ring, make a left turn to a large oxer and gallop on a bending line to a single vertical. Riders then had to make a right turn to a single oxer before making a left turn to the vertical-oxer double combinations. Riders finished by making a sharp left turn to slice a vertical and gallop to the timers over a large oxer towards the gate. |
