Sharn Wordley and Popstar Lozonais.
Lexington, KY – July 29, 2014 – Many top riders consider the Kentucky Horse Park horse heaven, and today, they took the opportunity to prepare their mounts for upcoming events during the Kentucky Summer Classic. With the fourth event in the Hagyard Challenge Series and the $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by GGT Footings, coming up in a few days, riders geared up by showing the in the 1.40m and 1.35m Open Jumpers. Sharn Wordley and Kyle Timm each respectively picked up top honors aboard their speedy mounts during the competition.
The 1.40m Open Jumper class tested riders’ speed and accuracy as they showed over 11 obstacles, which included an open water option and a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination. Matt Cyphert was the first to test the speed over the track aboard Lochinvar, leaving all the rails in place and setting the pace to beat at 62.275 seconds. The score did not hold up for long though, as Sharn Wordley and Popstar Lozonais easily made their way over each fence leaving out strides and shaving the turns to break the beam at 58.977 seconds. Only one other rider would come close to challenging Wordley’s time, and that was Will Simpson aboard Katie Riddle, who clocked in at a clear 61.699 seconds, taking over the second place position and relegating Cyphert to third place.
“I wanted to go medium quick because there weren’t that many going fast,” admitted Wordley. “Some that were jumping clear I knew were only schooling, so I didn’t go really, really fast. Just fast enough that I could leave them up and still get the check.”
Wordley won the same class last week with Popstar Lozonais, and he knows the horse can be tough to beat. “He’s very fast,” explained Wordley. “If he’s clean, he’s generally the winner because he can turn so fast, and he travels so fast. He won quite a lot of classes in Europe. I got him at the beginning of the year, but I am just getting to know him.”
“He’s French, and he’s a little all over the place, so you have to sit quiet and go for the ride,” added Wordley. “You can’t really over control him. You just need to finesse it and go for it.”
Based just down the road from the Kentucky Horse Park at Ashland Stables, Wordley loves being located in Lexington for the summer. “It’s great for the horses, and it’s especially good as far as vets and farriers. There are also good bars and restaurants downtown. It’s a laid back atmosphere, and it’s central to other shows during the year. I love it here.”
Kyle Timm is also a regular to the Kentucky Horse Park, but his mount Platinum is making her debut and they just scored a blue ribbon together. Fourteen horses advanced to the tiebreaker during the 1.35m Open Jumper class, but only six were able to produce a second faultless effort. Shane Sweetnam was the pathfinder with All Star De L’Aube, leaving all the rails intact in a time of 31.043 seconds, forcing other riders to chase him. Alexis Bowen came close with Oley, breaking the beam at 32.090 seconds to take home the third place award, but the next in the ring would take the lead. Timm and Platinum picked up a big gallop to the first fence. They never held back, leaving out a stride to the final oxer to take over Sweetnam’s lead with a time of 30.958 seconds.
“I saw Shane go, and he was quick. It was a good round,” said Timm. “I actually wasn’t focused on winning today; I was just focused on rideability. Platinum is a fantastic mare, but she’s a finesse ride. You have to ride her a certain way. Last week I didn’t do it properly, but today it was really good.”
Timm continued, “She was a very sensitive horse to start with. It took a lot of belief and a lot of hard work to get her going in the way we like. The last two years she’s gotten better and better, and as an eight-year-old she had unbelievable results.”
Timm has had the 9-year-old mare for three years and has worked hard to produce her and been very careful to not push her. “I always come to Kentucky, but this is her first time here,” he commented. “She usually has the summer off because she’s an Irish horse and sometimes she has trouble with heat, but she’s been going really well this season so I brought her here. The weather has been really nice for her.”
Timm and Wordley will be eyeing further success as the week goes on. The Kentucky Summer Classic will continue tomorrow with the Open Jumpers. The highlight events in the Rolex Stadium will include the fourth $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic on Thursday, and Saturday’s $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by GGT Footing.
For more information about the Kentucky Summer Series, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Kentucky Summer Series Fast Facts
Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2014 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.
What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2014 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions host the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award, as well as the Hallway Feeds National Derby Series.
Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.
When:
NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS – July 15-20, 2014
KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 23-27, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 29 – August 3, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
2014 USEF PONY FINALS – August 5-10, 2014
BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 12-17, 2014
USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event
KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 20-24, 2014
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, GGT Footing, Equestrian Services International, Johnson Horse Transportation, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, Sleepy P Ranch, and the Official Hotel The Clarion
Hours:
8am – 5pm daily
Parking:
Horse Show Exhibitors may purchase a weekly parking pass at the main Horse Park entrance for $15.00. Dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash.
Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located 8 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.
Information:
Before Show – (859) 233-0492, Email: hakshows@earthlink.net
During Show – Telephone: (859) 254-3343, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling – Email Tom Blankenship at tomblank@bellsouth.net
Stable office – Before Show: (843) 269-4737, During Show: (859) 255-0605
Prize List Advertising – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Vendors – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Shownet – www.shownet.biz
Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
Ring Dimensions/Specs:
The Stonelea Ring, Murphy Ring, Walnut Ring, Stonelea/Murphy Schooling Ring, the Alltech Arena and the Rolex Stadium have Otto Sport footing consisting of fine sand and synthetic fiber on pvc mats. The Claiborne, Annex, and Covered Arena (old) rings’ footing consists of a sand cushion on limestone base. The dimensions of the competition areas are as follows:
Stonelea: 140′x 280′, Murphy: 135′x 280′, Stonelea and Murphy Schooling: 110′x 400′
Walnut: 300′x 370′, Claiborne: 140′x 270′, Annex 130′x 250′, Covered Arena (old): 145′x 285′ Rolex Stadium: 360′ x 384′, Alltech Arena: 132′ x 265′
Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.
Hotels:
CLARION HOTEL (Formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859-233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles (OFFICIAL HOTEL)
Discover the place where elegant comfort in an ideal location meets excellent service and affordability. At the Clarion Hotel Lexington, you’ll find well-appointed accommodations with options of double/doubles, double queens, king rooms or suites, exceptional amenities such as our free hot breakfast buffet, and Southern hospitality at its finest. The best hotel for Keeneland – located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region – home of the Kentucky Horse Park, the Lexington Convention Center, University of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – our Lexington hotel is on Newtown Pike at Exit 115 on I-75, close to all the big attractions, and is the perfect place to stay whether you’re here to get down to business or have some fun. Best of all, bring your furry friends for any trip because the Clarion Hotel in Lexington is also pet-friendly.
CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS:
Reservations may not be made through the Horse Show office. To reserve a campsite at the Kentucky Horse Park for any of the horse shows, please call the Campground store at (800) 370-6416 or 859-259-4157 or email Sherry Logan at sherryd.logan@ky.gov. Be specific as to the show name and the dates you wish to stay. Check-in time is 2:00 p.m. and check-out is 12:00 noon. You must make arrangements with the Campground store if you plan to arrive earlier than 2:00 p.m. or stay later than 12:00 noon. Vehicles that are not removed from a campsite by check-out time will be towed.
Management:
Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC
P. O. Box 11428
Lexington, KY 40575-1428
859-233-0492 (phone)
859-233-0495 (fax)
email: hakshows@earthlink.net
website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
Media Contact:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com