Jessica Springsteen is presented with a $2,000 bonus for wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ on her way to victory in the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. James Leslie Parker, The Book LLC.
Wellington, Florida – Two familiar faces were in the winner’s circle for the final SSG Riding Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” presentations of the season. Jessica Springsteen became a three-time winner of the $15,000 SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic while Venezuela’s Emanuel Andrade picked up his second bonus of the season with a win in the $10,000 Griffis Group High Junior Jumper Classic at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.
Held Saturday, March 30, the $15,000 SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic attracted a large starting field of 57 entries. Seven were clear over the first round track to qualify for the jump-off. There was no doubt that the $2,000 in bonus money, having doubled as it was not won during week 11, would be awarded; all seven jump-off contenders were wearing SSG ‘Digital’ riding gloves to be eligible.
Coming back second in the jump-off, Springsteen laid down another clear round in a time of 41.83 seconds riding Wish that would prove to be unbeatable. The victory marked Springsteen’s third win of the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival in the $15,000 SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, having previously won during weeks four and six. In total, Springsteen won $5,000 in bonus money in the SSG Riding Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion.
“It’s crazy how much you can win!” exclaimed Springsteen, 21, of Colts Neck, NJ. “I love the gloves, I think they’re great, and I think the promotion is so exciting. It is a great idea. I really like how if no one wins it, the bonus money rolls over. It really adds up!”
Andrade, meanwhile, brought his final total of bonus money won to $4,000 in this season’s SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion. With only two riders able to find their way to a clear round in the final $10,000 Junior Jumper Classic of the season, Andrade was first back for the jump-off and set the pace with a clear round riding Crossfire 10. When the only other jump-off contender, Eugenio Garza, faulted, victory went to the 16-year-old Venezuelan show jumping sensation.
“If you use the gloves, not only do you have the satisfaction of winning the class, you have the satisfaction of winning the bonus money, too!” said Andrade, who trains with Andrea King and Angel Karolyi of Hollow Creek Farm in Aiken, SC. “I normally do not wear gloves, but I do for these classes because it’s so nice of them to run the promotion. I want to support it.”
As he did the last time he won, Andrade gave his SSG bonus money to his grooms. At the end of the 12-week circuit, it is a nice reward for a job well done!
A total of $60,000 in bonus money was on offer from SSG Riding Gloves at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. A $3,000 bonus was up for grabs in each of the weekly WEF Challenge Cup Series events, and a $1,000 bonus was on offer in the Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic and the Junior Jumper High Classic competitions. If not awarded, the bonus money carried forward to the next event in the series.
SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves are available for purchase at numerous locations, including Beval Saddlery, Hadfield’s Saddlery, Jods, Running Fox and Tackeria.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
www.startinggate.ca