Tag Archives: Grand Prix

Henri Kovacs and Sassicaia II Race to $40,000 KY Summer Grand Prix Victory at Kentucky Summer Horse Show

Henri Kovacs and Sassicaia II won the $40,000 KY Summer Grand Prix at Kentucky Summer Horse Show. Photo By: Kenneth Kraus

Lexington, KY – August 1, 2010 – The curtain closed on the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, the first in the summer series, and the last event of the week did not disappoint. The week featured classes such as the NAJYRC finals and the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, and the most prize money was offered in this evening’s $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. As the sun set over the Kentucky Horse Park’s Main Outdoor Stadium it was 20-year-old Hungarian Henri Kovacs garnering the win with Plain Bay Farm’s Sassicaia II in their third Grand Prix victory as a team here in Lexington.

Thirty-two entries competed over today’s 13-obstacle, 1.50 m course, designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr. The technically demanding track included a wall fence, triple bar, a double combination and a triple combination. The distances in the related lines required control of the mount, and a tight time allowed required a precise route to break the beam within the 80-second time allowed, which already had been lengthened from the original 72 second limit.

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Adelinde & Parzival Post Best Ever Grand Prix Score to Win Exquis World Dressage Masters at Hickstead

Adeline Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival. © 2010 Ken Braddick

HICKSTEAD, England, July 31 — Adelinde Cornelissen rode Jerich Parzival to victory at the Exquis World Dressage Masters Saturday with their best ever Grand Prix score of 81.362 per cent while Laura Bechtolsheimer and Andretti turned in their best ever result of 73.362 per cent for runner-up and home side joy.

Hans Peter Minderhoud and Exquis Nadine, selected to be on the Dutch team with Adelinde at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in September, finished third with 70.936 per cent.

The €10,000 (£8,320/US$13,000) Grand Prix kicked off the fifth and final CDI5* event for 2010, the second year of the richest lineup of dressage competitions that started with Palm Beach, USA, then moved to Munich, Germany, Cannes, France and Falsterbo, Sweden for the first time. Each of the events carries total prize money of €100,000 (£83,200/US$130,000).

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Ward Is In! McLain Ward & Goldika 559 Won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV to Earn a Spot in the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings

© ESI Photography. McLain Ward and Goldika 559 in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Saugerties.

SAUGERTIES, NY (July 27, 2010) — Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward and Goldika 559 won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, on Sunday, marking the third Grand Prix victory for the duo this year in the Strongid® C 2X Stadium at HITS Saugerties.

Ward, of Brewster, New York and 18-year-old mare Goldika 559, owned by McLain Ward & Blue Chip Bloodstock, were one of 27 horse-and-rider combinations to take the field on a course designed by International Course Designer Florencio Hernandez of Mexico City, Mexico, which saw just four pairs advance to the jump-off.

Hernandez’s first-round course proved challenging, as the first six competitors pairs failed to go clean, with a majority of faults coming in the two double combinations. The time allowed, at 83 seconds, was tight as well and caused many to incur time faults over the course.

Continue reading Ward Is In! McLain Ward & Goldika 559 Won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV to Earn a Spot in the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings

The Global Champions Tour 2010, Chantilly, France, Day Two

Photos by Lulu Kyriacou

Girl Power in Chantilly

24/07/10 – The female of the species was most definitely deadlier than the male in Chantilly today as American Laura Kraut and Cedric headed another all girl 1,2,3. The riders had warmed up earlier in the day with the Prix Amunde, a Table C Speed class. This is where faults are converted to time so if you are very fast it is possible to win even with a fence down. However in this company only being fast and clean over the rails would be good enough. The course featured several alternatives where the line was shorter but the jumps more difficult and Penelope Leprevost riding British bred Belle was the first to set a decent target. 60.68 looked fast and it did take Harrie Smolders on Exquis Powerfee to get in front. The horse who won or was placed in several GCT against the clock classes in 2009 scooted round in 59.12 and then his rider had to wait for the other half of the class to finish to see if he would win. But although he had to endure a couple of close shaves as first Denis Lynch (All Inclusive NW) and then Jerome Hurel (Nectar des Forets) got close the top two did not change. “I think the GCT know all about Powerfee by now” said Harrie “But it is fair to say he is my best all round horse. You can always count on him as a standby for any class!”

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Laura Pfeiffer and Anberlin Top $10,000 SJHOF Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix at Horse Shows by the Bay I

Laura Pfeiffer and Anberlin won the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame (SJHOF) High Junior/AO Jumper Prix at Horse Shows by the Bay I. Photos © 2010 Lauren Fisher/PMG.

Traverse City, MI – July 17, 2010 – Jumper action continued in the Grand Prix Ring at Flintfields Horse Park this afternoon as the Low and High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper divisions completed their first week of competition at Horse Shows by the Bay Series I. Running through August 1, Horse Shows by the Bay is the Midwest’s most distinguished equestrian festival, held in the heart of beautiful Traverse City, MI. The $5,000 Low Junior/AO Jumper Classic began this afternoon’s competition with a win for Erin Haas and All of a Sudden. The $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame (SJHOF) High Junior/AO Jumper Prix followed with a victory for Laura Pfeiffer and Anberlin.

Renowned course designer Pierre Jolicoeur set the tracks for today’s classes in the Grand Prix Ring. The $10,000 SJHOF Junior/AO Jumper Prix was held thanks to the generous sponsorship of GGT Footing and Footing First with a class of talented entries. Six made it to the jump-off at the end of the first round and it was the last to go that won top prize. Col De Roussett and Miranda Travers-Cavill went first in the jump-off and jumped clear in 36.356 seconds to eventually earn second place honors. Denise Wilson and Corsavita finished in third with four faults in 35.971 seconds. Laura Pfeiffer and Anberlin were the final pair to return and jumped clear in the fastest time of 34.856 seconds for the win.

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Virginia Is Vale! Aaron Vale and Paparazzi 10 Win the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper

© ESI Photography. Aaron Vale and Paparazzi win the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Culpeper.

CULPEPER, VA (July 13, 2010) — HITS Grand Prix Veteran Aaron Vale and Paparazzi 10, owned by Thinkslikeahorse and Norman Peterson, won the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

Vale, of Morriston, Florida, was one of 22 horse-and-rider teams to compete over a course designed by International Course Designer Olaf Petersen, Sr. of Paehl, Germany. Only three riders jumped clean in what turned out to be a very challenging first round which featured a double and a triple combination, as well as an open water obstacle.

“It was a tricky course,” said Vale. “You don’t come to Culpeper expecting to jump open water and Olaf [Petersen, Sr.] makes it challenging. You needed to do some real horseback riding on this course.”

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Anky & Painted Black Win Falsterbo World Dressage Masters Freestyle for 5th WDM Title

Anky van Grunsven receiving the Exquis World Dressage Masters trophy from WDM CEO Anthony Kies and daughter, Renee. © 2010 Ken Braddick

FALSTERBO, Sweden, July 10 — Anky van Grunsven gave a display of her trademark Queen of the Freestyle when she rode IPS Painted Black to victory in the Exquis World Dressage Masters Grand Prix Kür presented by Axel Johnson Group for her fifth WDM CDI5* title in two years of the richest lineup of competitions on the globe.

Competing in the inaugural €100,000 (US$126,400) WDM at the Falsterbo Horse Show and her first time at this summer beach resort, Anky and the 13-year-old stallion posted a score of 82.40 per cent. The freestyle that was presented by Axel Johnson Group had total prize money of €60,000 (US$75,800) with first place earning €16,000 (US$20,200).

Germany’s Ulla Salzgeber and the 10-year-old mare Wakana showed none of the spookiness from shows earlier this year and placed second on 75.90 per cent with Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven and Favourit awarded 75.40 per cent. They were the hometown favorites of the enthusiastic Swedish crowd that numbered 3,000 paid spectators and many hundreds more who crowded every available place around the arena in sunny weather with temperatures above 80 degrees (27C).

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Jonny Hilberath & Amüsant Win Moorland Grand Prix Special Dressage Derby

Jonny Hilberath and Amüsant in victory gallop after winning Exquis World Dressage Masters Grand Prix Special. © 2010 Ken Braddick

FALSTERBO, Sweden, July 9 — Germany’s Jonny Hilberath who has been competing Amüsant internationally for just four months notched their first victory Saturday by winning the inaugural €30,000 (US$37,860) Moorland Grand Prix Special Dressage Derby presented by Agria as part of the Exquis World Dressage Masters.

Jonny and the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Elisabeth Max-Theurer and competed once internationally by her daughter, Victoria, almost two years ago scored 69.292 per cent despite mistakes in both the one- and two-tempi changes. The Netherlands’ Christa Laarakkers and Divoza Horseworld Ovation finished second with 67.250 per cent and hometown favorite Charlotte Haid Bondergaard on Lydianus was third on 66.292 per cent.

For Jonny and Amüsant’s first WDM, and the first time the Falsterbo Horse Show has included the prestigious CDI5* in its competition schedule the win earned them €9,500 (US$12,000) while Christa, who competed at WDM in Palm Beach earlier this year, earned €7,000 (US$8,830) and Charlotte €5,500 (US$6,940).

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Anky & Painted Black Win First Falsterbo World Dressage Masters Grand Prix

Anky van Grunsven on IPS Painted Black in the Exquis World Dressage Masters Grand Prix Thursday. © 2010 Ken Braddick

FALSTERBO, Sweden, July 8 — Anky van Grunsven, the most successful rider in the Exquis World Dressage Masters, on Thursday rode a newly recovered IPS Painted Black to victory in the Grand Prix of the first €100,000 CDI5* competitions staged by the Falsterbo Horse Show.

Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven, one of Sweden’s most popular dressage stars, gave the big crowd that turned out to support the event good cause to applaud even more enthusiastically than they did for all the riders when she and the 11-year-old Favourit turned in a performance that placed them second.

Anky and the 13-year-old stallion Painted Black was the unanimous choice by the judges for first place in the Nurnberger Versicherungsgruppe Grand Prix presented by Agria with a score of 75.234 per cent with Tinne and Favourit posting marks of 71.957 per cent. Germany’s Anja Plönzke and Le Mont d’Or, competing in their fourth WDM CDI5* event so far this year–Palm Beach in the USA, Munich, Germany and Cannes, France in addition to Falsterbo–was third on 68.723 per cent.

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McLain Ward & Vocas Win the $25k Fairfield Grand Prix to Benefit The EQUUS Foundation

Vocas, owned by Louisburg Farm and ridden by McLain Ward, winner of the $25,000 Fairfield Grand Prix and the Callari Cup presented by Wells Fargo Advisors. Photo courtesy of Reflections Photography.

WESTPORT, CT – June 29, 2010 – McLain Ward, aboard Vocas, owned by Louisburg Farm, emerged victorious over a field of 27 competitors at the $25,000 Grand Prix on Saturday, June 26, 2010, the culminating event of the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show held in Westport, Connecticut.

Urged on by spectators and over 350 guests at The EQUUS Foundation Grand Prix Benefit Luncheon, Ward and Vocas claimed victory in an exciting jump off. Ward also placed 4th aboard Esplanade 7 owned by Louisburg Farm, and 12th aboard Miel D’Amuray owned by Gabby Slome. George N. Venizelos representing Wells Fargo Advisors was on hand to present the well-earned blue ribbon, along with Jonathan Moffly of Moffly Media, Show Co-Chairs, Alison Ashman and Catherine Herman, Jenny Belknap Kees, Chairman of the Board of The EQUUS Foundation, and Lynn Coakley, President of The EQUUS Foundation.

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