Category Archives: Awards

USET Foundation Presents 2019 Maxine Beard Award to Sophie Gochman

Sophie Gochman and Carola BH. Photo by: Lindsay Brock/Jump Media.

Gladstone, N.J. – Aug. 8, 2019 – The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is excited to announce this year’s recipient of the coveted Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award is Sophie Gochman of New York City, New York. At just 16 years old, the accomplished athlete will be adding this prestigious award to her growing list of achievements.

The presentation of the Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award takes place at the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) each year.

Gochman earned the award after being the highest placing United States Young Rider at the 2019 NAYC in the Individual Show Jumping Final, held this year from August 1 to August 4 at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, New York. Gochman’s sister, Mimi Gochman, took home the gold medal in the junior division.

With the ongoing mission to support and further the level of America’s developing horses and athletes, the USET Foundation Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award was established to elevate athletes’ opportunities on their journey to equestrian excellence.

“It was a great week for the Gochman family!” said Sophie. “I think we’re both just really grateful for our parents, who supported us, our trainer Ken Berkley, everyone at our Baxter Hill Farm, and [Zone 2 Chef d’Equipe] Ralph Caristo. I don’t think many sister pairs have won gold medals at NAYC, so it’s pretty cool that we got to do that.”

Sophie rode Gochman Sport Horses LLC’s Carola BH, a 12-year-old KWPN mare, to earn a spot on the podium wearing the gold medal after her incredible performances over the course of a few days.

“This week was a bit of nail-biter for me because it was so close between me and Sam [Walker],” Sophie said. “But [Carola BH] is the best horse in the world, and she kept getting better and better. It was great for it to all come together. To win at NAYC and get to do that victory gallop is such an honor. I’m just so thankful for [Carola BH]. We’ve created such a bond at this point that I just think it and she does it for me. She puts her heart into every single round.”

The top U.S. athletes were selected to go to compete in the 2019 FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Final in Opglabbeek, Belgium this September, so Sophie will be venturing to Europe shortly alongside bronze medalist Natalie Dean, and is hoping for further success with the United States Young Rider Teams.

As the winner of this immense honor, Sophie will also receive a trip to a senior FEI Nations Cup Show Jumping competition. This will give the young athlete a look at a major international competition, including the chance to observe operations in the horse show office, stabling area, veterinary inspections, and schooling rings. Sophie will also walk and discuss each course and have the chance to strategize with U.S. team riders and the chef d’equipe.

Sophie expressed, “I am looking forward to learning from some of the best riders in the world, and I hope that the lessons I learn from observing a senior Nations Cup will not only better my riding, but also my horsemanship.”

Sophie acknowledged how having the support of the USET Foundation has benefited her as she continues on her path toward competing for the United States at the highest level of the sport.

“It’s such an honor to receive the Maxine Beard Award,” Sophie concluded. “It means a lot to me to have the support of the USET Foundation because it’s so important to invest in young riders as they’re the future of the sport.”

For more information on the USET Foundation, visit www.uset.org.

Mike Smith Awarded 2019 ESPY Best Jockey Award

Mike Smith and Justify. Photo by Adam Coglianese.

Gilbert, AZ – July 16, 2019 – On Wednesday, July 10, top athletes around the globe gathered together to be awarded some of the most prestigious awards in sports. When it came time for the jockeys to step into the spotlight, it was American Equus Chosen Rider Mike Smith who was handed the 2019 ESPY Best Jockey Award at the event Presented by Capital One.

Kicking off the tradition of hosting the ESPY Awards annually in 1993, ESPN gives out awards to the best individual athletes, teams, and sports moments in Los Angeles, California. The awards occur on one of the two days that no games from any of the four major pro sports are held and benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research in memory of Jim Valvano, a college basketball coach and analyst.

Among one of the four nominated athletes, Smith was given the top honors this year over jockeys Florent Geroux, Irad Ortiz Jr., and Jose Ortiz, who was the 2018 winner. Both Irad Ortiz Jr. and Florent Geroux share the title of American Equus Chosen Rider with Smith, but the celebrated 2018 Triple Crown winner was the one to hold the ESPY Best Jockey trophy this year for the first time since 1994.

“We are incredibly proud to have a legendary jockey like Mike Smith representing American Equus so well,” said David Shano, Founder and CEO of American Equus. “He has continued to make history throughout his career, most recently with his Triple Crown win last year to become the 13th winner. He is a wonderful example of what being a Chosen Rider means-his passion for the sport and the horses he shares the track with is truly inspiring.”

The Racing Hall of Famer has garnered incredible results with his top horses of the year, Midnight Bisou and McKinzie, accumulating earnings over $5.7 million so far. Now 53 years of age, Smith is showing no signs of slowing down following his 5,527 career wins and earnings close to $324 million. At the top of his game, he is focused on continuing to pilot some of the most talented thoroughbreds in racing to victory after victory.

Media Contact: Lenore Phillips
561-753-3389 | lrb@phelpsmediagroup.com

Rotiyas Takes Best Young Horse Title to Conclude 2019 Devon Horse Show

Devon, Pa. – June 2, 2019 – Concluding another spectacular year at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair was the presentation of the Best Young Horse and Leading Handler Award, both sponsored by Renaissance Farm, in the Dixon Oval. The prestigious award for Best Young Horse was selected from the ribbon winners of the in-hand classes throughout the day. This year, it was Susan Tice-Grossmann’s Rotiyas (Rosenthal-Touch of Class) and handler Richard Taylor who took home the top prize.

Rotiyas was the winner of the 3-Year-Old Other Than Thoroughbred – Stallions and Geldings class, sponsored by Renaissance Farm, earlier in the day and left a lasting impression on the judges to ultimately be named Best Young Horse of the 2019 Devon Horse Show and the recipient of the Kenneth Wheeler Perpetual Trophy, donated by B. J. Meeks.

The Leading Handler Award was presented to the handler who accrued the most points, based on ribbons won, throughout eligible classes during Sunday’s competition. Emily Anne Belin will etch her name on the Michael E. Grady Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by his friends, after handling Caberneigh (Cabardino N-Special), owned by Linda Mancini, to top finishes throughout the day. Caberneigh also finished as reserve Best Young Horse.

For more information, visit www.DevonHorseShow.net.

Media Contact: Rebecca Walton
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
info@phelpsmediagroup.com

Jessica Springsteen Crowned Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider for WEF Week 7

Jessica Springsteen and Volage du Val Henry. Photo by Jump Media.

Wellington, FL – U.S. rider Jessica Springsteen was named the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award winner on Saturday, February 23, during CSI5* week, the seventh week of competition at the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.

“It’s really exciting to be named Leading Lady!” said Springsteen, who competed two different horses during Week 7, one in the Thursday qualifier and another in the “Saturday Night Lights” grand prix. “My horses jumped great all week, and winning this award is a great finish to a lovely weekend.”

Springsteen, 27, piloted Volage du Val Henry, a 10-year-old Selle Français mare owned by Stone Hill Farm, to sixth place in the $134,000 CSI5* Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 qualifier earlier in the week, sealing her fate for an appearance in Saturday evening’s big ticket event. She again earned a top-10 placing in the $391,000 CSI5* Palm Beach Equine Clinic Grand Prix, this time riding RMF Zecilie, a 12-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Rushy Marsh Farm.

In recognition of her Leading Lady title, Springsteen was presented with a bottle of champagne, bouquet of flowers, and gift certificate for a shopping spree at Hunt, Ltd.

The Martha Jolicoeur Overall Leading Lady Rider Award will be presented to the female rider who accumulates the most points throughout the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival, now in its second half of the season. So far this year, Erynn Ballard, Laura Chapot, Margie Engle, Tiffany Foster, Lauren Hough, and Beezie Madden have earned the weekly honor and have set their sights on claiming the overall title.

By Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jumpmediallc.com

Victoria Colvin Rides Private Practice to 2018 WCHR Hunter of the Year Award

Wellington, Fla. – Feb. 18, 2019 – This past weekend, Victoria Colvin once again displayed why she is consistently at the top of the leaderboard in hunter competitions across the nation, claiming the $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular title at the Winter Equestrian Festival for the fifth time, this year aboard Brad Wolf’s Private Practice. After his shining debut year in the hunter ring, the flashy gelding was deservedly recognized as the best in hunter sport for the 2018 year earlier in the evening, when he was awarded the 2018 WCHR Hunter of the Year Award, after which he proved why he deserved the distinction by championing the highlight class. In a special awards ceremony before the main event, Colvin accompanied Private Practice’s owner Brad Wolf, who was presented with the prestigious Peter Wetherill Cup to celebrate the occasion.

“Winning this class four times as a junior rider was amazing, but winning it as a professional is very special to me. It is so perfect that Private Practice was given the WCHR Hunter of the Year Award earlier today and then we were able to prove why he really does deserve it,” commented Colvin. “We have already achieved so much and come so far in only one year together, and I think we still have a lot of success ahead of us. I can’t wait to see what else we are able to achieve.”

Over the course of the past year, Colvin and Private Practice have become an almost unbeatable team, racking up an impressive list of accolades that is highlighted by their victory in the 2018 $289,730 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship ahead of a talented field of the best in the country. Other top prizes throughout the year include the win in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during the Palm Beach Masters Series’ Deeridge Derby and the first place prize in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Aiken Charity Horse Show, among others. Outside of derbies, the pair has also accumulated countless blue ribbons in 3’9″ and 4′ divisions at horse shows across the country such as at the Devon Horse Show and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

In Saturday night’s feature event, Colvin and the chestnut gelding bested a field of some of the country’s top hunter horses and riders, each having qualified for a slot in the night class by earning a champion or reserve champion title in weekly divisions at WEF. After finishing the classic round of riding in second position hot on the heels of Amanda Steege and Lafitte De Muze, Colvin and Private Practice made up ground with their signature high-scoring handy trip to surpass the early leaders and capture the overall title, adding yet another win to the duo’s quickly growing list.

Aptly named “Peter” in the barn, the gelding joins the ranks of only seven other horses to have received the distinction of a Peter Wetherill Cup recipient. He is joined by some of the United States’ most decorated hunter horses such as Dr. Betsee Parker’s Private Life, David Gochman’s Catch Me, Kensel LLC’s Mindful and Lynn Rice’s Gramercy Park.

In 2019, Private Practice will continue to make his mark on the hunter world, campaigning with Colvin in the professional divisions as well as derbies and his owner, Wolf, to top results in the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions. Already shining as one of the top horses in the sport, Private Practice looks to have an even brighter future ahead of him as his experience grows.

For more information, please visit victoriacolvin.com.

Beezie Madden Named Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider for WEF Week 3

Left to right: Beezie Madden battled the weather to accept her Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider title from Martha Jolicoeur and Dr. Stephen Norton. Photo by Jump Media.

Wellington, FL – Reigning FEI World Cup™ Final champion Beezie Madden was awarded the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider title following Saturday Night Lights competition on January 26 during Week 3 of the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) running through March 31, 2019, in Wellington, FL.

Madden, a four-time Olympian for the United States, qualified for grand prix competition with her performance in the $36,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 CSI3* on Thursday before jumping to third in the featured $134,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI3*.

“It’s always exciting to win an award like this,” said Madden, who hails from Cazenovia, NY, and piloted new mount Chic Hin D Hyrencourt, a 10-year-old SBS gelding (Taran de la Pomme x Elanville) to the podium for owner Abigail Wexner. “Martha always provides great prizes, and it’s nice that the ladies are recognized each week.”

For her WEF 3 title, Madden was presented with a bottle of champagne, bouquet of flowers, and gift certificate to a shopping spree at Hunt, Ltd. from Martha Jolicoeur.

A leading South Florida real estate broker and part of the elite Douglas Elliman Real Estate Sports and Entertainment division, Jolicoeur has supported WEF as an integral sponsor for the past nine consecutive years. Throughout WEF, the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award, given in memory of fellow realtor and horseman Dale Lawler, is presented weekly to the high-score female rider based on performances in the weekly WEF Challenge Cup Series and grand prix events.

During the 12th and final week of WEF, the Martha Jolicoeur Overall Leading Lady Rider Award will be presented to the female rider who accumulates the most points throughout the 2019 season.

By Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jumpmediallc.com

13th Annual Black and White Spider Awards Honors Equine Photographer Diana De Rosa

LOS ANGELES – February 21, 2019 – Professional equine photographer Diana De Rosa from Long Island, New York was presented with the 13th Annual Black and White Spider Awards Nominee title in the sport category at the prestigious Nomination & Winners PhotoShow streamed Saturday, November 10, 2018.

The live online gala was attended by over 17,000 photography fans around the globe who logged on to watch the climax of the industry’s most important event for black and white photography. The 13th Annual Jury members included captains of the industry from Penguin Random House, London; Contrasto Galleria, Milan; Young & Rubicam, Lima; Harper’s Bazaar, UK; Victoria Film Festival, Canada; Aeroplastics Contemporary, Brussels; Silvan Faessler Fine Art, Zurich; Time Inc., London; Galerie Hubert Winter, Vienna; Conny Dietzschold Galleries, Cologne; and Fratelli Alinari Photography Museum in Florence who honored Spider Fellows with 692 coveted title awards and 952 nominees in 32 categories.

“Once again, another stunning collection of high-quality entries both professional and amateur. It’s always inspiring to see this classic medium being stretched into new and interesting directions,” said juror Marcel Wijnen, Creative Director at Anthem Worldwide/Marque Branding in Sydney. Cultural Heritage Consultant Andrea de Polo from Fratelli Alinari Photography Museum in Florence added, “The quality of work is incredible and for the jury selecting the best images is very hard work.”

“It’s an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 6,404 entries we received this year,” said Basil O’Brien, the awards Creative Director. “Diana De Rosa’s Polo Power, an exceptional image entered in the sport category, represents black and white photography at its finest, and we’re pleased to present her with the title of Nominee.”

De Rosa is a veteran equestrian journalist, who has traveled the world and has recorded equestrian history for over 35 years. A language major in college, De Rosa went on to run a riding school, then was editor of an equine magazine for 13 years, and eventually focused on her writing and photography.  She has over 1000 published stories and photos to her credit.

She is the past president of the American Horse Publications and is on the Executive Board of the Press Club of Long Island.

A long-time member of The International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists, De Rosa has been one of the few journalists to be credentialed to cover the past eight Olympic Games (including being on assignment for USA Today for the 1992 Olympics).  She has also covered or been on staff at every World Equestrian Games, numerous Pan American Games and World Cups.

Besides being a writer & photographer, De Rosa also does PR. Some past and present clients include the Hampton Classic, National and Washington International Horse Shows, USA Equestrian Trust, Healthy Horse Boutique, Running Wild, DreamWorks, the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation, and 20th Century Fox.

For ten years De Rosa co-hosted the annual Hampton Classic Horse Show for the local Hamptons’ TV Station WVVH.  She also does some radio reporting and voiceovers.  De Rosa enjoys bringing life to her many equestrian stories through her camera lens and keyboard.  For eight years until his death on October 11, 2004, she worked with the famed Christopher Reeve.

De Rosa is co-organizer of the EQUUS Film Festival, which takes place annually in New York City, with tour stops around the US, including the 2017 World Cup in Omaha, NE and the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, NC. She also spent part of the 2017 winter taking photos for the Equestrians Got Talent, Althea and at the International Polo Club in Wellington, FL, which is where she captured this polo power moment.

De Rosa is a part time actress and a SAG-AFTRA union member. She has performed in parodies, music videos, was a side-kick on a cooking show, appeared on The Food Network, featured on Gotham and Oceans 8 and much more. De Rosa is single and calls home Huntington, LI, NY.

BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS is the leading international award honoring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography. www.thespiderawards.com

CONTACT: Press Link/Diana De Rosa, dderosa1@optonline.net, 516-848-4867

Winx and Cracksman Named 2018 Longines World’s Best Racehorses

Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Crowned Longines World’s Best Horse Race for Third Consecutive Year

London (Great Britain) / Saint-Imier (Switzerland), January 23, 2019 – Swiss watchmaking brand Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) were proud to honor the top Thoroughbred racehorses and horse race during the 2018 Longines World’s Best Racehorse and Longines World’s Best Race ceremony, held at the iconic Landmark hotel in London on Wednesday, January 23. The Australian mare Winx and the British horse Cracksman were both crowned the 2018 Longines World’s Best Racehorses. Accelerate, from America, was ranked third. The 2018 Longines World’s Best Horse Race award was given to the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for the third time.

With an equal rating of 130, Winx and Cracksman were together declared the 2018 Longines World’s Best Racehorses. Winx has ranked in the Top 10 of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings since 2015 and has been the highest rated filly/mare in the world since 2016. In 2018, she claimed overall top honors during a season that culminated in her becoming the only horse in history to win the Ladbrokes Cox Plate four times.

As co-winner, Cracksman impressed as well, with his trademark victory coming in the QIPCO Champion Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot, where Longines is a Main Partner and the Official Timekeeper. The British runner was campaigned by the same connections as Golden Horn, the 2015 highest rated turf horse in the world. Cracksman’s jockey in 2018 was Frankie Dettori, who was named Longines World’s Best Jockey in 2018 as well as in 2015.

Accelerate, with a rating of 128, was honored as the third-highest rated horse in the world during the ceremony, which for the first time was held at the iconic Landmark hotel in London. Accelerate was the dominant older horse in America in 2018, and Longines was proud to time his great victory in the Breeder’s Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

This classification is established by international handicappers according to the performance of the horses in top international races. Last year, Arrogate from the United States was named the 2017 Longines World’s Best Racehorse following his epic victories in the Pegasus World Cup in Florida and the Dubai World Cup.

The representatives of the three winning horses were presented with elegant Longines watches. The connections of Winx and Cracksman also received a replica of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse vase from IFHA representatives.

One Ceremony, Two Awards

On this occasion, Longines and the IFHA were also proud to award the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as the 2018 Longines World’s Best Horse Race. Longines is proud to be the Official Partner and Official Timekeeper of this mythic race that takes in Paris and attracts the best horses, breeders, trainers, and owners from all over the world.

France Galop President Edouard de Rothschild was in London this Wednesday to accept the award. He was presented with an elegant Longines timepiece, a commemorative plate and a replica trophy representing a proud horse head. The first four finishers of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2018 were Enable, Sea of Class, Cloth Of Stars, and Waldgeist. The Arc also won the award in 2017 and was the inaugural winner of the Longines World’s Best Horse Race Award in 2015.

The Longines World’s Best Horse Race award recognizes the best-rated race of the highest-rated Group 1 international races as established by a panel of international handicappers. The ratings of the top four finishers in each race serve as basis for the assessment.

Ana Martins Communications
info@anamartinspr.com
www.anamartinspr.com

USET Foundation Celebrates 2019 Award Winners at Gold Medal Club Reception

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to recognize the generous support of their Gold Medal Club (GMC) members. The GMC is the lifeblood of the USET Foundation, accounting for nearly 80 percent of individual contributions each year and is comprised of members who contribute a minimum of $1,000 or more annually. On Friday, Jan. 18, the USET Foundation hosted the Gold Medal Club Reception at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, where GMC members who have made the USET Foundation a priority in their charitable giving for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years were recognized.

USET Foundation Presents 2019 Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy to Rising Star Daisy Farish

The USET Foundation is pleased to honor the talented young show jumping athlete Daisy Farish of Versailles, Kentucky as the recipient of the 2019 Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy. This prestigious award is presented annually to a junior/young rider in one of the Olympic disciplines who demonstrates the team’s values of sportsmanship and horsemanship.

USET Foundation Awards 2019 Whitney Stone Cup to Dressage Icon Laura Graves

The USET Foundation is pleased to announce that dressage star Laura Graves is the recipient of the 2019 Whitney Stone Cup. The award is presented annually to an active competitor who displays consistent excellence in international competition as well as high standards of sportsmanlike conduct, while serving as an ambassador for the United States and equestrian sport.

S. Tucker S. Johnson Honored with R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award

In 2015, the USET Foundation announced the creation of the R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award in honor and recognition of the late Bruce Duchossois. On Friday, Jan. 18, S. Tucker S. Johnson was presented with the 2019 award during the USET Foundation’s Gold Medal Club Reception held at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.

For more information on the USET Foundation, visit www.uset.org.

CPI Adds Penultimate High-Point Challenge for Multiple Event Attendees

Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Jan. 15, 2018 – College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) announced the addition of a new challenge scholarship prize for riders who attend two or more competitions in 2019. The CPI Penultimate High-Point Challenge will be awarded to the cumulative high-point rider competing at the CPI Florida Horse Show Jan. 17-20 and March16-17 held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, and the CPI New Jersey Horse Show held at The Ridge Farm at Riverview in Asbury, Sept. 21-22.

The CPI Penultimate High-Point Challenge winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship from the CPI Scholarship and Educational Fund. Riders in grades 8-12 are eligible and the award must be claimed within five years of graduation from high school. The award will be paid directly to the winner’s college, university, trade, or vocational school. Upon enrollment to a post-secondary educational school, a written request from the award winner must be made for payment to the designated school.

“Our new Penultimate High-Point Challenge is inspired by other great equestrian event series championship awards,” said Lindsay Martin, CPI president. “With this award, we recognize excellence in riding for those who attend more than one CPI event.”

The CPI Scholarship and Educational Fund is a 501(c)(3) created to encourage riders to educate themselves about the charitable organizations in their communities, place emphasis on horsemanship and sportsmanship and promote higher education as a foundation to future success in life.

The CPI Scholarship and Educational Fund offers several scholarship opportunities to riders in grades 8-12 who participate in a CPI Horse Show. For more information on the individual scholarships including a complete listing of the rules and regulations for each scholarship, click here.

For more information, go to collegeprepinvitational.com.

Media Contact:
EQ Media, Carrie Wirth, carrie@EQmedia.agency, (612) 209-0310