Lexington KY – August 3, 2012 – It was an exciting Thursday night for Kaitlin Campbell as she rode not one, but two mounts to the top awards in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Her double-clear efforts knocked fellow young rider Reed Kessler from the first place position, taking over as the series leader. Campbell now holds the top spot in the 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series, sponsored by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Consisting of seven grand prix classes to be held during the 2012 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park, the Hagyard Challenge Series offers a $50,000 Leading Rider Award. The rider accumulating the most points throughout the series will be presented with the bonus during the $50,000 World Cup Qualifier at the Kentucky National Horse Show in September 2012.
On Thursday, August 2, 2012, Campbell piloted Rocky W to the first place finish in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, and also picked up the second place award with her other mount Grand Pleasure. The 17-year-old rider jumped to the top of the Leading Rider Standings, holding a prominent lead with a total of 420 points.
Reed Kessler has fallen into the second place position, her Kentucky Spring Series rankings holding resilient for three of the Hagyard Lexington Grand Prix events. Shane Sweetnam, Beezie Madden and Ashlee Bond, are currently tied for the third place spot in the rankings, each with 290 points. Sweetnam rode to the second place finish in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic held during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. Madden won the $50,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic with Simon during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, while Bond and Cadett 7 led the way during the Kentucky Spring Classic’s $32,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. Paige Johnson won the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic with Chiron S, now holding the sixth place position with 250 points.
Last night was one of four remaining Hagyard Lexington Classic Grand Prix events, which are held during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, the Kentucky Summer Classic, the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and the KHJA Horse Show. The Series concludes with the $50,000 World Cup Qualifier during the Kentucky National Horse Show. Following that exciting competition, the winner for the $50,000 Leading Rider will be announced and presented with the prize by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. The 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series will also feature a high point Thoroughbred Award. Following the final event, a $10,000 prize will be presented to the high point Thoroughbred participating in the Series.
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and well-being of the horse for more than 130 years.
The facility at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers 13 Digital Radiology systems, 1.5 Tesla Siemens Open MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy, an on-site laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, full surgical services, 24-hour ambulance and emergency services, and Hyperbaric Medicine. The institute has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 133 years and is currently composed of over 60 experienced veterinarians, with 12 board certifications in specialty areas of Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, and Theriogenology.
For more information about the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, please visit http://hagyard.com.
Several generous sponsors have helped make this exciting series event happen. These gracious supporters include: presenting sponsor Pfizer Animal Health, Audi of Lexington, Dean Dorton Allen Ford, Hagyard Flex-tra HA, Johnson Horse Transport, J. P. Morgan, Hallway Feeds, MWI Veterinary Supply, Powell-Walton-Milward, Kirk Horse Insurance, LLC, and Stoll Keenon Ogden.
For more information about Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, in 2012, please go to www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Media Contact: Mason Phelps
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com