Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star placed third in the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier. Photo By: Holly Burns.
East Aurora, NY and Wellington, FL – June 11, 2013 – The best riders in the world traveled to the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ tournament in Calgary, Alberta during the past week, and that included amateur rider Charlie Jacobs. Representing his family’s Deeridge Farms, Jacobs piloted his leading mount Flaming Star to an impressive third place finish during the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier.
The week’s highlight event gathered a large crowd at the international ring as they watched the top show jumpers compete over the technical track designed by Werner Deeg of Germany. Only four horse and rider combinations managed to best the first round, the second of which was Jacobs aboard his 14-year-old Swiss Warmblood gelding by Fairman owned by CMJ Sporthorse LLC, Flaming Star.
When Jacobs returned for the tiebreaker, he opted for the tidy route, which paid off when he crossed the finish line aboard Flaming Star, all the rails intact and the clock stopping at 53.62 seconds. Professionals Kent Farrington and Reed Kessler managed to beat Jacobs time later in the jump-off, but his effort held up for the third place honors as the United States swept all three of the top positions.
“It was amazing,” expressed Jacobs. “There were four that jumped clean, and the course was very solid. It was a meaty track and it caught people at different places. I was ecstatic to jump clean in the first round, and when I came back second in the jump-off I went tidy, but not to the wall fast, and was clear, but then those two came in and were faster.”
Unlike Farrington and Kessler, Jacobs has a fulltime job in Boston with the Boston Bruins hockey team. He does not have the option to ride as much as he would like, but he still manages to compete with the best in the world.
“I love to ride, and I think it speaks volumes about the support that I have not only from my wife and kids but also the team that looks after the horses and rides them at Deeridge when I can’t be there,” he explained. “It’s great to be part of the team with all the people at Deeridge.”
Jacobs added, “Flaming Star is a great animal. He’s a quirky little guy and has particular things that he likes. If you get to know him well enough though and form a partnership, he gets done what needs to get done. He’s all heart and he’s a real competitor; he always goes for it.”
Jacobs will compete again in a few weeks with Deeridge Farms at the Lake Placid Horse Shows in New York before heading to Traverse City, Michigan for Horse Shows by the Bay.
Eric Lamaze riding Wang Chung M2S scored victory in the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup. Photo – Spruce Meadows Media Services.
June 9, 2013 – Calgary, Alberta – 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze was in the winner’s circle after claiming the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup on Sunday, June 9, at the Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament in Calgary, AB.
While Lamaze has welcomed two new international mounts to his stable in recent weeks, it was his partner of almost two years, Wang Chung M2S, that carried him to Sunday’s victory. The pair had the advantage of going second to last in the starting order, knowing they had to better the time of 85.33 seconds set by Reed Kessler of the United States. Catch her time they did, cruising through Werner Deeg’s course in the International Ring in a time of 84.73 seconds. When the final rider, Brianne Goutal of the U.S., proved to be no threat, Lamaze claimed his first victory of the Spruce Meadows summer series.
“We’re out at Spruce Meadows with some young horses and new horses; this horse is the only one left of my old string, so I know him better than the others,” said Lamaze, 45. “This competition really suited him well and I am very happy with the outcome.”
The all-time leading money winner at Spruce Meadows with earnings in excess of $3.7 million at the Calgary venue alone, Lamaze is no stranger to hoisting the winner’s trophy in the International Ring. For his victory in the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup, Lamaze added another $13,200 to his overall winnings.
“I use him quite a bit in the speed competitions so I know him quite well,” said Lamaze of the 10-year-old Irish-bred Dutch Warmblood stallion (Royal Bravour x Ahorn) owned by Morningside Stud of Ireland and Lamaze’s Torrey Pines Stable. “He’s very dependable in the short turns and he has a huge gallop so, on this field, it was advantage.”
In addition to Wang Chung M2S, Lamaze has recently added two new international mounts to his string. Owners Carlene and Andy Ziegler of Artisan Farms purchased Powerplay, the former mount of Swiss rider Pius Schwizer, and Quelmec de Gery, formerly under the saddle of France’s Penelope Leprovost, days before the Spruce Meadows “National” opened. Lamaze made his competition debut with both nine-year-old geldings this week at the Calgary venue.
“I was thrilled with both of the horses in our first week competing together,” said Lamaze who plans to ride one of his two new mounts for Canada in the Nations’ Cup competition on Thursday, June 13. “I didn’t have any sort of practice prior to coming to Spruce Meadows. It’s hard enough to ride any horse that’s never been in the International Ring, let alone a horse that is new to its rider, so I was super happy with how it went. I just took it easy, I’m just getting to know them, but I’m very happy with how everything felt.”
Hailing from Schomberg, ON, Lamaze now divides his time between training bases in Wellington, FL, and Vrasene, Belgium.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
Eric Lamaze Notches Canadian Victory in $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup
Calgary, AB – June 9, 2013 – The final day of the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ Tournament had two exciting competitions that featured speed and stamina. Leslie Howard (USA) and Lennox Lewis 2 took their second victory in the $175,000 Nexen Cup 1.60m Derby, equaling their 2011 finish. Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze went into another gear to notch the week’s first Canadian victory in the International Ring in the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup 1.50m.
Attendance during this ‘National’ week was 86,715, with 36,000 people coming to Spruce Meadows on Sunday. It was a great testament to the fans of show jumping and Spruce Meadows in that there was a 32,000 person increase from this week in 2012.
Since the course was re-designed by Leopoldo Palacios in 2007, there have only been three clear rounds in the history of the Nexen Cup Derby. Riders tackle the same course every year. Two of the clear rounds in the history of the class were tallied by Beezie Madden and Judgement, three-time winners of the competition. Pablo Barrios and G&C Sinatra were also clear in 2010. Last year’s winners, Richard Spooner and Cristallo, had just one time fault.
With a course distance of 1,100 meters and 25 obstacles including the large derby bank, table bank, open water, and grob, the Nexen Cup Derby is a challenge for anyone entering the ring. It’s a test of scope, stamina, and heart.
This year the heights and widths of the fences were made more inviting for competitors as part of Spruce Meadows’ commitment to helping develop a new generation of derby horses. In addition, all who completed the course from fifth to 17th place received $5,000 in prize money. There were no eliminations in today’s competition, so everyone took home prize money.
Today’s competition had 17 entries. Two horse and rider combinations were able to get through the course with the least amount of faults: Beezie Madden and Wrigley were the first to accumulate just four faults, which came at fence 3a of the table bank. Seven horses later, it was 2011 Nexen Cup Derby winners Leslie Howard and Lennox Lewis 2 who had one rail at fence 11, the dry ditch oxer.
The two riders could have jumped off for the winner’s share of prize money; however, it was announced that Wrigley could not come back for a jump-off. Howard and Lennox Lewis 2 returned and completed the jump-off with four faults in 54.27 seconds for the win.
When asked why she completed the entire jump-off, Howard replied, “Spruce Meadows does so much for us, and I know it was important for them to have somebody come back for the jump-off. It’s the least we can do to give back to Spruce.”
Madden said it was an easy decision not to return for the jump-off since Wrigley was “quite sore.” Madden explained, “She’ll be okay; her back foot stepped on her front foot. She had a pretty big gash and she was bleeding. At the end when I pulled up, I could tell it was bothering her, but I didn’t notice it during the course. It’s disappointing I didn’t get the chance to win, but I’m ecstatic about how she went. Second is still a good prize in the derby.”
The course stays the same every year, and that’s something that Howard says helps if you have a veteran horse like Lennox Lewis 2. “It gets easier if you’re riding a horse that you’ve ridden over that course before. I used to get sick to my stomach when I did the derbies,” she revealed. “When I walked the derby, I’d literally get ill. Now with ‘Lennie,’ you wake up on Sunday morning and go, ‘It’s Derby Day!’ If you have a horse that you don’t know, you wake up and go, ‘Oh dear, it’s Derby Day.’ It really depends on the horse you’re on. It’s a blast because I know he’s going to go through grob, he’s going to do the liverpools, I know he’s not going to do anything stupid. The worst that’s going to happen is we’re going to have some rails.”
Howard described Lennox Lewis as the quintessential derby horse. “He’s been in the top of the derbies every year since I’ve been doing them, probably four or five years,” she said. “He’s just a great derby horse. He’s easy to ride, he’s very brave. He’s not hard on himself. He never jumps too exuberantly; he doesn’t get too excited about anything. He’s just very steady Eddie. That’s a great attribute in a derby horse.”
Although Madden had never ridden Wrigley in the derby before, Wrigley’s former rider, Callie Schott, had, so Madden knew the grey mare could do it. “It’s like Leslie said – it’s nice to be out there with a horse you have confidence in and you know is going to go from start to finish without any big catastrophes. It gives you more confidence. It enables you to ride the course so that the horse can jump clean too, because otherwise you’re overriding everywhere,” she said. “She has good blood and stamina, for sure. That’s part of what makes her a good derby horse.”
Ashlee Bond had a solid day with her two horses in the competitions. She and Wistful had two rails at fences 19a and the final jump, 19, for eight faults in 155.05 seconds for third place. On Cadett 7, she had 12 faults in 148.23 seconds for fourth place.
This was Wistful’s first derby, and their finish today helped Bond win the CN Spruce Meadows Canadian Championship. “I’m so proud of her,” Bond said. “This whole week she has just risen to the occasion. Everything I’ve ever asked of her, she’s never questioned.”
The CN Spruce Meadows Canadian Championship was decided today after points were accumulated in four competitions: the Friends of the Meadows 1.60m, Spectra Energy Cup, CN Reliability Grand Prix, and Nexen Cup. For her top placings all week, Bond received $15,000 in bonus prize money, a championship cooler, and medal. Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star won the Silver Medal and $7,500 in prize money. The bronze medal and $2,500 went to Katie Prudent and V.
Bond expressed, “I’m very honored. It was a nice surprise. Before I did Cadett, I knew I had won that. It’s a really great accomplishment. To be able to do it twice now is great. Every time I come here, I’m really excited because I know the competition is going to be great and there’s a lot of prize money to be had. You’ve got to come with the right horses. Wistful decided to grow up a little bit this week. It worked out to be a consistent week. I’m savoring it for right now and on Tuesday it’s a clean slate all over again.”
Lamaze Victorious in Speed
The $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup 1.50m featured 21 entries going for speed over a faults converted format course. Going second to last, it was Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S who would be able to take the lead with a time of 84.74 seconds. Three horses earlier, it was Reed Kessler (USA) and Ligist who set a time of 85.33 seconds, which would eventually finish second. Cameron Hanley (IRL) and Newton du Haut Bois were third with a time of 85.58 seconds.
Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S
Lamaze made the decision to watch most of the competition to see how he could be faster. Lamaze explained, “In these classes, it’s so important to watch more than warm-up. In the class there are so many fences to jump, so I only jump six fences (in the warm-up). The best are at the end, so I glued myself to the TV for as long as I could to watch, watch, watch. I had my strategy. I knew I could do nine (strides) to the double vertical with him. He’s very clever with that stuff.”
Wang Chung, a 10-year-old KWPN stallion by Royal Bravour x Ahorn owned by Morningside Stud & Torrey Pines Stable, is now Lamaze’s most experienced horse. As “a great 1.45m, 1.50m horse,” Lamaze noted that competitions of this type are exactly in his comfort zone.
“He’s really a competitive horse,” he noted. “When I had the other horses, that’s what he did for me, that I used in all those (speed) classes. It’s great to go in a competition like that, feeling maybe not that you’re the favorite, but I feel like I can play to win. It’s nice to have one during the week that you can really go on.”
While Wang Chung is a “very little horse,” Lamaze said his big stride is what helps him, along with the fact that “you can run him and he never gets flat or strong.” Lamaze added, “What makes him a great speed horse is that he’s very cold. He never gets hot, he never gets quick. You can always push him. He doesn’t go by himself, that’s why he’s able to do so many speed classes.”
Since revamping his string of horses, Wang Chung has had to step up in certain events, like Florida’s Nations Cup event. But Lamaze is excited to have two new nine-year-old horses that will move up to the big grand prix events in the coming weeks at Spruce Meadows.
Since stepping off the plane last week from Belgium, both Powerplay and Quelmec du Gery had a trial by fire in the International Ring. “If you’ve never competed on a horse here, even if you know it well, it’s always difficult,” Lamaze conceded. “So on horses that have never been here and you don’t know, it’s a difficult task, but they went extremely well. The most logical thing was to do 1.30m or 1.35m with them, but I was so excited to be in this ring that I was like, ‘Eh, I’ll try it!’ It’s really exciting for me. This season is going to be about learning everything about them and them learning about me.”
Additional Honors and Awards
PD Stables won the “Jump To It” contest and took home the prize of a full set of jumps for their farm.
Dr. John and Chris Wood “Pegasus” Memorial Award is given to a volunteer that has gone above and beyond the call of duty, and this year’s winner is Renee Richardson.
The RSA Scholarships were awarded today as well, with Maeve Scarborough on Oscar and Shelby Edwards on Renaissance taking home the honors.
The ‘National’ Tournament concluded with today’s competition. The Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments continue next week on June 13-16 with the ‘Continental’ Tournament CSIO-W 5*. For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Ashlee Bond Speeds to Victory in $60,000 TransCanada Parcours de Chasse; Katie Dinan Tops ConocoPhillips Junior/Amateur Cup 1.40m
Calgary, AB – June 8, 2013 – The biggest prize money purse on offer at the ‘National’ Tournament was in today’s $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix, CSI-W 5*, and it was Kent Farrington (USA) who took home the winner’s share for the second year in a row with Uceko. Reed Kessler (USA) Cylana finished second, while Charlie Jacobs (USA) and Flaming Star were third. Earlier in the day, Ashlee Bond (USA) sped to victory in the $60,000 TransCanada Parcours de Chasse 1.45m with Cadett 7. In the All Canada Ring, Katie Dinan and Sandro won the $10,000 ConocoPhillips Junior/Amateur Cup 1.40m.
The ‘National’ Tournament concludes on Sunday, June 9. Tomorrow’s highlight is the $175,000 Nexen Cup 1.60m Derby on Sunday, June 9, at 2:30 pm. The Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments continue next week on June 13-16 with the ‘Continental’ Tournament CSIO-W 5*.
There were 36 entries in the grand prix, but only four were able to clear the first round course set by Werner Deeg of Germany. Fifth place went to Kirsten Coe (USA) and Baronez, who had two time faults.
First to return in the jump-off was Eric Navet of France on Quanto Fino 2, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Quick Star x Stutbuch 1 owned by Signe Ostby. They had an unfortunate rail at fence 10b and finished with four faults in 54.99 seconds for fourth place.
The next three riders would all be clear and the winning time fell with each start. Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star, a 14-year-old Swiss Warmblood gelding by Fairman owned by CMJ Sporthorse LLC, would put in a neat clear round in 53.62 seconds, which slotted them in third place.
Jacobs was “extremely pleased” with his horse. “Flaming Star I thought was fantastic today,” he acknowledged. “For me, this is great for him to come and jump a 1.60m class. This is our second time ever in Spruce Meadows (together). We came briefly in 2011 and jumped in some amateur classes. He was great today. My hats off to these two to my right (Reed and Kent), but I think it was lights out for him. I could have pushed the gas a little more, frankly. With the times that these two put in, I could have gone a lot faster.”
Reed Kessler and her Olympic partner Cylana were next in, and they galloped through the timers in 50.05 seconds. They would have to wait and see what the final rider would do.
Kessler said she couldn’t rest easy knowing Farrington still had to go after her. “Definitely not – I knew Kent would come, he would be clean, and he would be really fast,” she agreed. “I just tried to go as fast as I could without making any silly mistakes. I’ve made that mistake of having the vertical down into the combination a couple times with her, like at World Cup Finals, so I maybe took an extra stride than he did there. I could have been sharper down the last line. Watching Kent in those two places, that’s definitely where I think he got me.”
Cylana and Kessler competed at the FEI World Cup Finals in April, and Cylana, a 2002 Belgian Warmblood mare by Skippy II x Darco, had not shown since then until earlier this week. “She was really begging to jump this week,” Kessler said with a smile. “She’s one of those horses that if she doesn’t jump frequently, she’s miserable. She was very happy that it was as massive as it was today; she likes to work hard. She couldn’t have gone much better.”
Entering the ring as reigning champions of the competition, Farrington and Uceko, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Celano x Koriander owned by RCG Farm, picked up a quick pace going to the first jump and never looked back. They had to stretch over a wide oxer halfway through the course, and then went flat out across the ring in the long run to the last two fences. Their speed paid off as they stopped the clock in 48.73 seconds for victory.
Farrington said that Uceko is at his best when he’s fresh and has a lot of energy. Although he stands under 16 hands, Farrington said he rides like a “very large horse.” He described, “He actually goes best in big venues like here. He has a massive stride and he’s probably the smallest horse in the class, but he has the biggest stride. He’s pretty unique like that. He has exceptionally long legs for his body. I think that’s why his gallop is so big.”
Farrington was very happy with his win on Uceko, a reliable, successful partner of his for years. “Right now in his career, he’s basically learned everything there is to learn. Now it’s my job as a rider and a horseman to manage his career, to pick the right venues and the right classes to aim him towards so I can make his career last as long as possible. With as much money as there is now in the sport, it’s a matter of managing horses so that they can be at their best when it counts,” he said.
Speed Is Key for Ashlee Bond
Ashlee Bond and her veteran partner Cadett 7, a 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Cor de la Bryere x Capitol I owned by Little Valley Farm, flew through the 16 numbered obstacles on today’s course for the $60,000 TransCanada Parcours de Chasse 1.45m to take the top prize in 100.059 seconds. John Perez (COL) and Utopia set the early winning pace and finished second in 103.505 seconds. Third place went to Francois Mathy (BEL) on Elvis van de Vrunte in 103.962 seconds. There were 18 entries in today’s competition over a faults converted track that included the derby bank and grob.
Ashlee Bond and Cadett 7
Today’s competition was a perfect warm-up for Bond and Cadett 7, who will also take a shot at tomorrow’s $175,000 Nexen Cup 1.60m Derby. On today’s ride, Bond said, “It worked out. That is his forte. This is not as big as he normally jumps, so it was a little bit easier on him, which was kind of the idea. He could go in and have a not so tough day. He felt super and he was on it.”
Her plan was to establish pace before the first jump. She explained, “It’s better to just pick up a good gallop and stick with it, rather than running and whoa-ing. He was on the muscle. We tried to maintain that throughout. He’s game for everything.”
Bond said that Cadett 7 had a splint in his leg before this year’s FEI World Cup Finals in April, so she left him at home and took her newer horse Wistful. Since then, she has been slow in bringing him back to top form. “He’s 16, so a couple weeks is like a couple of months for him. It takes a while to build him back up,” she remarked. “This is his fifth class. He feels better and better each class. I’m building up to the bigger stuff in the second half (of circuit). (But) he’ll tell me if he doesn’t want to jump 1.50m, 1.60m anymore and I’ll keep him in 1.45m.”
Bond finished second in the Nexen Cup in 2010 and knew that she would have to let Cadett 7 practice the grob jump so that he is prepared for tomorrow. “That was my main concern today, but he was dragging me through it and didn’t care!” she said. “I’ve done that course before and he has too. He’s really smart. When he’s feeling strong and healthy, he’s really fast. We can’t go as fast because he’s got to jump bigger, but I think we’ll have a pretty good shot tomorrow, I’m hoping.”
Dinan Tops ConocoPhillips Junior/Amateur Cup
Katie Dinan (USA) brought home the win as the last horse in the jump-off in the $10,000 ConocoPhillips Junior/Amateur Cup 1.40m. They sped through and made a daring jump up the bank to save time in a rollback turn, which helped them stop the timers in 42.88 seconds. Second place went to Kara Chad (CAN) and Alberto II in 43.49 seconds. Meagan Nusz (USA) and Vesuvius were third in 44.42 seconds.
Katie Dinan and Sandro
Dinan explained her jump-off ride: “In the jump-off, after the skinny (jump), you went around the bank to jump the plank (fence). I couldn’t leave (a stride) out to the skinny because he doesn’t have a huge stride and I wanted to do the seven (strides) there instead of six. He’s so brave that we planned on just jumping up the bank, which wasn’t flagged or anything, to save time. That almost gets him more excited.”
She noted, “I think a lot of people think the All Canada Ring is one of the more difficult rings to ride in here because it’s so hilly and there are so many natural obstacles that they use in all the classes, but funnily enough, the three years I’ve had him here we’ve mostly shown in the All Canada Ring. Sandro and I are kind of used to it and I like showing him here.”
Dinan and Sandro, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Larino x Casimir, have been together for two and a half years, and this is their third Spruce Meadows. Although he has won classes here, they had never won this class. This was their second victory of the week.
Dinan said Sandro is “a lot of fun.” She went on to say, “He definitely has the most personality of any horse you’ve ever met. He’s a little bit of a troublemaker, but just in the most playful way possible. He always is the one kicking his stall door at the barn demanding 100% of everyone’s attention. But I think that that personality really shows in the ring.”
She added, “He goes with his head up a little bit; he’s fast. He looks a little bit like a pony in the ring, but he’s ready to go and he thrives on it. He’s competitive and wants to do the right thing. He’s a great horse to be in that situation, like when I went last in the jump-off. I knew there were some fast people before me. You always feel like you can win when you go in with him.”
The ‘National’ Tournament CSI-W 5* concludes tomorrow with the $175,000 Nexen Cup 1.60m Derby at 2:30 pm. Also in the International Ring will be the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Speed. For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
What Can You Do at Spruce Meadows?
Spruce Meadows includes affordable fun for the whole family. With admission starting at only $5 per person, and children (12 & under) and seniors (65 & up) free, it is the perfect venue to unwind and enjoy a day of show jumping, activities, delicious food, and shopping.
From Friday through Sunday, there will be a number of activities for the whole family (all included in your admission to Spruce Meadows) such as Pony Rides, presented by Kozy Shack, the Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs, presented by RE/MAX, Wagon Rides, Face Painting, children’s games in the Garden Court Restaurant and more! Delicious food is offered throughout the grounds, featuring a healthy menu at the Garden Court Restaurant, a wide range of options at the Time Faults Public House, and International Fare in the Plaza.
Looking to test your luck? Spruce Meadows has several contest options for those wanting to win excellent prizes, including the Jump to It contest, with a chance to win a full set of jumps, the CN/Sun Media Name the Foal contest, and the Win a Year contest, with a chance to win a year of access to all Spruce Meadows events. If you are looking for some retail therapy, vendors in the Gallery on the Green and Vendor Village offer an excellent variety of gifts and services, both equine and non-equine in nature.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Lucas Porter Captures Mercer Junior/Amateur 1.40m Win
Calgary, AB – June 7, 2013 – Beezie Madden led the victory gallop in both competitions in the International Ring today. In the $35,000 RBC Capital Markets Cup 1.50m, she and Amadora found the path to win. The $35,000 ATCO Energy Solutions Cup 1.45m had a field of 62 competitors, and it was Madden and Wrigley who were fastest in the jump-off. Fifteen-year-old Lucas Porter rode Phineas to victory in the $10,000 Mercer Junior/Amateur 1.40m.
The ‘National’ Tournament continues through Sunday, June 9. Weekend highlights include the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix, CSI-W, on Saturday, June 8, at 2 pm and the $175,000 Nexen Cup 1.60m Derby on Sunday, June 9, at 2:30 pm.
The $35,000 RBC Capital Markets Cup 1.50m was the feature event and was held in the winning round format. The top 25 placed horses from the Enbridge Cup on Wednesday qualified for today’s competition. From the top 25, the top eight returned to compete over a shortened course to determine the winner.
Madden and Amadora, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Chin Chin x Indoctro owned by Abigail Wexner, were clear in the jump-off and able to set the winning time at 42.18 seconds, despite adding a stride to the last jump.
“For sure to the last fence I got a little Edward Scissorhands-ish there!” Madden laughed. “I thought I was going pretty good until after the double combination. I could have been a little faster to the coin (jump) and for sure a lot faster to the last.”
Second place went to Enrique Gonzalez (MEX) on Quilebo D Tillard, who were also clear in 43.79 seconds. Meagan Nusz (USA) and Dynamo, owned by Amalaya Investments, were third in a time of 49.47 seconds.
Madden is second in the All-Time Money Won List at Spruce Meadows, and her two wins today have helped inch her toward first place, currently held by Canadian Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze. Madden won this class last year with another mount, Mademoiselle.
Amadora has been in the Maddens’ barn since she was five years old, and it has taken time to get the “sensitive” mare on a consistently winning track. “We knew she always had a lot of quality. She’s been a little bit of a project,” Madden described. “Although she’s very nice to ride, she actually has a lot of blood and a bit of a fight in her. When that fight went in the right direction, we knew we’d have a good horse. It’s been an up and down road, but she’s starting to get more consistent now. We can count on her.”
Enrique Gonzalez had an unfortunate fall outside the ring before the awards ceremony, so he was unable to attend the press conference.
Meagan Nusz was there and spoke about her plan going into the jump-off. “I knew the few before me had rails and I knew who was coming behind me. I thought if I could just put in a good, clean round, that would be good for me. This is only my second year to show in the International Ring. My main strategy was just to stay clean.”
Nusz has ridden Dynamo for almost three years and said when she brought him to Spruce Meadows last year for the first time, he “grew into himself.” She explained, “He was a completely different horse. He loves the grass, he loves Spruce Meadows, he loves the ribbon presentations, everything about it, which is great for me. He jumps awesome here and gives me a lot of confidence.”
Nusz will continue to show at Spruce Meadows before traveling to Europe, where she will represent the United States at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Beezie Madden and Wrigley
Madden’s First Win of the Day in ATCO Energy Solutions Cup
The $35,000 ATCO Energy Solutions Cup 1.45m had the largest starting field of the day with 62 entries, and 10 qualified for the jump-off. Leading the pack with a time of 38.72 seconds was Olympic gold medalist and 2013 FEI World Cup Finals winner Beezie Madden on Wrigley, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Padinus x Burggaaf owned by John Madden Sales, Inc.
Second place went to Jonathan McCrea (USA) and Twisther, owned by Candy Tribble, who had a jump-off time of 39.27 seconds. Katie Dinan (USA) and Grant Road Partners’ Glory Days were third in 39.61 seconds.
Madden said of the track, “It was a tough enough course with the time allowed factor. You needed a little speed in the first round. The jump-off, I didn’t see anybody go, but my husband told me it was quite fast. I just tried to go as fast as I could. I think I was pretty fast from the triple bar to the double (combination), and then I was really fast over to the coin jump.”
While Madden just got the ride on Wrigley this year, she knows the mare quite well; former student Callie Schott used to ride the grey mare for her and husband John Madden’s business, John Madden Sales. She described, “Wrigley started very late in her career. She’s had two foals, I think. She wasn’t even broke to ride until she was five years old. She is a little green for what she’s done, but she’s game.”
She went on to say, “She’s brave and careful. She’s a naturally fast horse too; she covers the ground pretty quick. You can run her and she stays careful. She has a funny mouth, but she’s not really strong. Like I can not be afraid to run her over to the coin jump and she’s going to slow down when I stop pushing. That’s always a nice feeling.”
Madden said it was nice to win already, and she feels good about showing Simon in tomorrow’s $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix CSI-W 5*. The ‘National’ is their first competition back after they won the FEI World Cup Finals in April.
Lucas Porter and Phineas
Lucas Porter and Phineas Race to Mercer Junior/Amateur-Owner Victory
In his biggest win yet at Spruce Meadows, 15-year-old Lucas Porter of Bartonville, TX, raced through the jump-off on Phineas, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Lamentos x Quattro B owned by Sleepy P Ranch LLC, to win the $10,000 Mercer Junior/Amateur-Owner 1.40m. He beat 27 entries in the competition and six others in the jump-off for victory in 38.943 seconds.
Beatriz Franco Sol (MEX) and Melody de la Fosse set the early pace in 39.085 seconds, which would hold up for second place. Third place went to Catherine Tyree (USA) and Don’t Go, who stopped the timers in 39.573 seconds.
Porter recounted, “I knew Beatriz who was leading did nine (strides) from (fences) one to two, which was a turn. With his stride, I could do a fast eight (strides). That’s where I made up my time. Other than that, I basically matched her. She was so fast.”
Porter “inherited” Phineas from his older brother Wilton, who rode him for two years. Porter and the bay gelding started together in the Low Junior Jumpers and moved up the 1.40m level. They were selected for the U.S. team at the FEI Junior Nations Cup in Wellington this past March.
“He’s just been awesome,” Porter described. “He’s extremely careful, really fast, and he has a little bit of a short stride, but that makes the lines quick. I can do quick adds. He sometimes gets a little spooky, but you just have to ride him through it and he gets over it. Once he’s in the ring, he goes into a different mindset and is all focus.”
Porter credited his trainer John Roche for his biggest win at Spruce Meadows in the three years he’s been coming here. “He’s been an amazing help. I’ve won a couple times, but not as big of a class as this one. It’s pretty amazing. I didn’t actually think I was quick enough in the jump-off, but I guess my kick through the last really did it.”
The ‘National’ Tournament CSI-W 5* continues tomorrow with the highlight event of the week, the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix, CSI-W 5* at 2 pm. Also held in the International Ring will be the $60,000 Transcanada Parcours de Chasse 1.45m Speed. For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
What Can You Do at Spruce Meadows?
Spruce Meadows includes affordable fun for the whole family. With admission starting at only $5 per person, and children (12 & under) and seniors (65 & up) free, it is the perfect venue to unwind and enjoy a day of show jumping, activities, delicious food, and shopping.
From Friday through Sunday, there will be a number of activities for the whole family (all included in your admission to Spruce Meadows) such as Pony Rides, presented by Kozy Shack, the Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs, presented by RE/MAX, Wagon Rides, Face Painting, children’s games in the Garden Court Restaurant and more! Delicious food is offered throughout the grounds, featuring a healthy menu at the Garden Court Restaurant, a wide range of options at the Time Faults Public House, and International Fare in the Plaza.
Looking to test your luck? Spruce Meadows has several contest options for those wanting to win excellent prizes, including the Jump to It contest, with a chance to win a full set of jumps, the CN/Sun Media Name the Foal contest, and the Win a Year contest, with a chance to win a year of access to all Spruce Meadows events. If you are looking for some retail therapy, vendors in the Gallery on the Green and Vendor Village offer an excellent variety of gifts and services, both equine and non-equine in nature.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Calgary, AB – June 5, 2013 – The 2013 Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments began today, and riding on new turf footing, riders contested four FEI-level competitions. For the third year in a row, Kent Farrington (USA) captured victory in the $33,000 ATB Financial Cup 1.50m, this year with Blue Angel. In the $33,000 Enbridge Cup 1.45m, McLain Ward (USA) was victorious with Super Trooper de Ness. Christine McCrea (USA) and Romantovich Take One won the $33,000 Bantrel Cup 1.45m, while Francois Mathy (BEL) on Polinska des Isles won the opening competition of the day, the $33,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.60m.
The $33,000 ATB Financial Cup 1.45m was the highlight competition of the day and the final one in the International Ring. The course designer in the International Ring this week is Werner Deeg of Germany. There were 49 entries in the ATB Financial Cup, but only one made it through the first round without faults. With a tight time allowed in the first round, it was difficult to go clear without jumping or time faults, and nine entries finished with one time fault.
Farrington and Blue Angel, an 11-year-old Warmblood mare by Luidam x Ascendent owned by Robin Parsky, posted a clear round in 77.968 seconds for victory. Darragh Kerins (IRL) and E Muze Yek, owned by Kerins and Maarten Huygens, were just over the 80-second time allowed in 80.899 seconds. Third place went to Charlie Jacobs (USA) on CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Flaming Star, who crossed the timers in 81.918 seconds.
“Basically it just turned into a speed class, more or less,” Farrington remarked. “Everyone was trying to go as quick as they could and leave the jumps up. That horse is fast all by itself, so that probably played a big advantage today. I don’t think there was anything special that I did except use the horse’s natural speed and really watch my turns.”
Farrington said that Blue Angel is “an experienced horse that can win at a lot of places.” He continued, “I have big hopes for her in the future and it will be fun to see what she can do. She likes it here and the ground is great. It’s always tough competition and I’m happy to win.”
Blue Angel will compete in her first team competition in next week’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at the ‘Continental’ Tournament.
McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness
Ward’s Early Speed Stays at the Top
It seemed like the rest of the field was going for second place after McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion by Vigo D’Arsouilles x Polydor owned by Grand Road Partners, galloped through the speed course in the $33,000 Enbridge Cup 1.45m. They went fifth in the order and stopped the timers in 64.310 seconds for victory, one second faster than second place finishers, Cadett 7 and Ashlee Bond (USA). Bond and Cadett 7, owned by Little Valley Farm, made a solid effort in 65.353 seconds and came closest to Ward’s time. Third place went to John Perez (COL) on Utopia, who finished in 67.474 seconds.
When asked if he thought his time would hold up, Ward replied, “I knew there would be a chance to be beat and it’s always nice to win, but I was really happy with the way the horse went in his first time in the big ring here. Everything is a bit new for the first time for him this year. It was nice to win.”
Ward explained that the reason Super Trooper is so speedy is thanks to his ability to keep the rails up without slowing down before the fence. “He felt really relaxed, and he’s naturally an incredibly careful horse, so you could let him go a little bit,” he said. “I loved the way he covered the ground because he’s a very, very careful horse. Sometimes he gets a little frozen and doesn’t cover the ground. But he felt loose in there and it’s wonderful footing, which helps. He’s a horse you never have to set up anywhere, you can kind of just stay on a lick. I think in the end, that makes him a faster horse than most horses. As long as you don’t make some kind of gross error, he’s going to get out of the way.”
Ward will continue to show Super Trooper de Ness this week with the aim toward preparing him for next week’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup.
Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One
McCrea and Romantovich Take One Find the Fast Path
The $33,000 Enbridge Cup 1.45m was held in a speed format with 48 entries starting. The fastest clear round was posted by Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Numero Uno x Karandasj owned by Candy Tribble. They finished faster by a large margin in 64.855 seconds. Second place went to Remarkable Farms LP’s Nice de Prissey and Brianne Goutal (USA) in 68.266 seconds, while Reed Kessler (USA) and Wolf S, owned by Iron Works Partners, were third with a time of 68.478 seconds.
McCrea did not watch anyone go before her since she was competing in another ring, but luckily she had the ride on Wannick WH earlier in the order, which gave her a good idea of how she could be faster with Romantovich Take One.
“It was a very nice course,” McCrea said. “You got to jump all over the field in the different parts of the ring. It wasn’t enormous; it was just a nice welcome back into the ring. The footing is just outstanding and it’s just perfect. I know him so well that I decided to go for the win and it worked out.”
This win marks yet another in a string of grand prix victories that McCrea has had over the past month, which included two at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows and two at HITS Saugerties. McCrea attributed her success with Romantovich Take One to three things, “He likes cooler weather, a little excitement, and he likes to travel around. I think all of those things have come into play the last couple of months, which has kind of perked him up a little bit. He loves it here.”
Today’s success was McCrea’s first win in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows. “That was my first time and it was so fun!” she said with a smile. “I’m really proud of it actually! It’s really cool.”
Francois Mathy and Polinska des Isles
Mathy Takes Opening Win
It was a fast jump-off for the opening competition, the $33,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.60m, in the International Ring for the ‘National’ Tournament with Belgium’s Francois Mathy Jr. galloping to the win on Polinska des Isles, a 10-year-old Selle Francais mare by Diamant de Semilly x Valespoir Malabry owned by Team Harmony and Francois Mathy.
Mathy was one of five double clear rounds in a jump-off of nine entries. He and Polinska crossed the timers in 39.356 seconds, just edging out Olympian Reed Kessler (USA) and Cylana, who posted a time of 39.496 seconds. Third place went to Enrique Gonzalez (MEX) on Criptonite, who had a time of 41.892 seconds.
Polinska was successful at her last show, the La Baule CSIO 5*, in May. They placed fifth in the grand prix. Mathy said, “She’s been quite competitive since I’ve had her, so I’m really happy. She won her first grand prix at end of year at a three-star when she was eight. One year ago she started to do the big classes.”
Mathy competed with Polinska at the 2012 Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, so he felt comfortable taking her in the 1.60m in her first start out. “She knows the ring, which is a help when you start directly in a big class. The course was quite open, so I think that helped us get a bit into the rhythm,” he noted.
Although he didn’t see anyone go before him in the jump-off, Mathy planned to keep his turns tight and pace steady. “Daniel (Bluman) was in the lead and I knew he was quite fast. I just tried to keep everything tight and it seemed to work. I think where I had a good turn was to the double (combination). I think there I was quite tight and I think that helped me make up a bit of time. I didn’t see Reed’s round, but I saw she was just a little bit slower than me. That could have made the difference.”
Mathy plans to compete at all five weeks of the Summer Tournaments and was happy to win his first competition. “It’s a big investment for us when we come from Europe, so it’s super to start like that,” he remarked.
The ‘National’ Tournament CSI 5* continues tomorrow with three main events: the $33,000 Prairie Mines & Royalty LTD Cup 1.50m, the $33,000 ATCO Pipelines Cup 1.45m, and the $35,000 Spectra Energy Cup 1.60m. For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Ward Wins Again, Tisbo Takes First Victory in International Ring
Calgary, AB – June 6, 2013 – The $35,000 Spectra Energy Cup 1.60m was the highlight of today’s schedule at the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ Tournament. Darragh Kerins (IRL) and E Muze Yek found the key to a clear round and were fastest in the jump-off for Kerins’ first victory in the International Ring. McLain Ward won for the second day in a row, this time on Zander in the $33,000 ATCO Pipelines Cup 1.45m. Another first-time International ring win came for Lauren Tisbo and Roundthorn Madios in the $33,000 Prairie Mines & Royalty Cup 1.50m.
The ‘National’ Tournament continues through Sunday, June 9. Weekend highlights include the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix, CSI-W, on Saturday, June 8, at 2 pm and the $175,000 Nexen Cup 1.60m Derby on Sunday, June 9, at 2:30 pm.
The $35,000 Spectra Energy Cup 1.60m had 28 entries that contested a course set by Werner Deeg of Germany. Nine were clear through to the jump-off. The winning time of 40.165 seconds was set early in the jump-off by Kerins and E Muze Yek, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by For Pleasure x Carthago owned by Kerins and Maarten Huygens. They went second in the jump-off and no one was able to catch their speedy time and keep the jumps up.
Kerins was “delighted” with the way his horse jumped, and with his progress over the past five months. They started out in the 1.40m classes in Florida this winter, although Kerins has ridden E Muze Yek off and on for over a year. Coming to Spruce Meadows and going into the International Ring, Kerins “didn’t know what to expect.” He described, “He can be a bit sensitive and this ring can be daunting. He’s maturing very quick. I didn’t think he’d be this far a couple months ago. I couldn’t be happier with where he’s at right now.”
While he has notched several second place finishes, this was Kerins’ first victory in the International Ring. “The first couple of years I came, it beat me up pretty bad. To come back this year and win was great,” he expressed.
Second place went to Ashlee Bond (USA) and Wistful, owned by Little Valley Farm. They were clear in 40.959 seconds. Ian Millar (CAN) and Team Works’ Star Power were third with no faults in 41.023 seconds.
Bond noted that this was Wistful’s “third or fourth 1.60m class ever.” She said, “We bought her as a seven-year-old. She’s still very green and I’m trying to give her good experiences and not take too much out of her. I’m elated and so proud of her. It’s a huge accomplishment for her to do that tonight.”
Ian Millar was pleased with his partner of four years, but is also looking at the long-term plans of the next World Equestrian Games/Pan American Games/Olympic Games cycle. “They’re long-term partners,” he said, “so it gets very personal with horses and ourselves.”
All three riders praised the new turf footing in the International Ring. Millar pointed out, “To get new ground to maturity in about eight months is a huge accomplishment. It’s another first for Spruce Meadows. No other venue in the world has ever put in ground that has come in line this quickly, that’s been this good.”
McLain Ward and Zander
McLain Ward Makes It Two
McLain Ward is starting off his Spruce Meadows Summer Tournament in his usual fashion: winning. After a win yesterday with Super Trooper de Ness, he led the victory gallop again today in the $33,000 ATCO Pipelines Cup 1.45m with his own Zander, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Cantos x Saygon, owned by Ward and Grant Road Partners LLC. There were 65 entries in the competition, and 20 advanced to the jump-off.
Ward and Zander went into the shortened course chasing a fast time of 35.46 seconds set by Kent Farrington (USA) and Zafira, owned by Haity McNerney, who went first in the jump-off. Ward and Zander boldly left out a stride in the first line, and along with one stride less in the line to the double combination, they cut down the winning time to 34.84 seconds. Third place went to Conor Swail (IRL) and Martha Louise, owned by Susan and Ariel Grange, who finished in 36.54 seconds.
Ward recapped, “I didn’t see Kent go, but I heard about it. I know him pretty well and we have a great, competitive friendship. I knew the only place was to do one less stride from (fences) one to two. It was a little dodgy, but this horse has a huge stride and I figured it was worth the risk. I had planned it before I went. I saw a few horses getting stuffed in the seven (strides). He does have a massive stride and he’s quite brave off a long spot. There was a moment in the line when I wasn’t sure I was getting there, but he was a good boy.”
Ward described Zander as a “confident and a really humble horse.” He added, “He wants to do a good job. Sometimes he’s a little babyish, but he’s really learning. I’ve tried to be really careful with him, but I’ve believed in him from the beginning. I try to move him up when I really think he’s ready to do that. This is the next step of his education.”
Ward plans to show Zander in Saturday’s $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix, CSI-W 5*.
Lauren Tisbo and Roundthorn Madios
Tisbo Has Inaugural International Ring Victory
The $33,000 Prairie Mines & Royalty LTD Cup was held in a winning round format. From the original 38 entries, the top 16 came back for a second round. From there, the top eight returned again over a shortened jump-off course. The only horse and rider combination to go through all three rounds without fault was Lauren Tisbo (USA) on Roundthorn Madios, an 11-year-old Irish Sporthorse gelding by Condios x Clover Hill owned by Tequestrian Farms LLC.
In the third round for speed, Tisbo and Roundthorn Madios finished with the fastest time of 45.22 seconds. Second place went to Katie Dinan (USA) and Nougat du Vallet (46.13 seconds), owned by Grand Road Partners LLC, while Conor Swail (IRL) and Susan Grange’s Game Ready were third in 46.98 seconds.
Tisbo felt that it was a big chance to take an inside turn in a rollback to a vertical, but that it is what helped her get the win today. “I think only one or two other people did it. Candice King, who is helping me here this week, said, ‘If you land and you see it, go to it.’ So I guess I got lucky! It just worked out,” she said.
Tisbo and Roundthorn Madios have been paired since November; the horse was brought along by Irish rider Andrew Bourns and competed in the BMO Nations Cup at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament. “He brought him along beautifully and already gave him his debut in the International Ring, so I knew I had nothing to worry about,” Tisbo said of their first time together at Spruce Meadows.
This was Tisbo’s first win in the International Ring. “I don’t think it’s quite set in yet,” she expressed. “Ever since you first come here, you see the classes in this ring and you think you want to show in them one day. Then you’re showing in them and you think, ‘I want to win one day.’ And it finally was my day.”
The ‘National’ Tournament CSI-W 5* continues tomorrow with two main events: the $35,000 ATCO Energy Solutions Cup 1.45m and the $35,000 RBC Capital Markets Cup 1.50m. Junior and Amateurs will contest the $10,000 Mercer Jumper 1.40m in the All Canada Ring. For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
What Can You Do at Spruce Meadows?
Spruce Meadows includes affordable fun for the whole family. With admission starting at only $5 per person, and children (12 & under) and seniors (65 & up) free, it is the perfect venue to unwind and enjoy a day of show jumping, activities, delicious food, and shopping.
From Friday through Sunday, there will be a number of activities for the whole family (all included in your admission to Spruce Meadows) such as Pony Rides, presented by Kozy Shack, the Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs, presented by RE/MAX, Wagon Rides, Face Painting, children’s games in the Garden Court Restaurant and more! Delicious food is offered throughout the grounds, featuring a healthy menu at the Garden Court Restaurant, a wide range of options at the Time Faults Public House, and International Fare in the Plaza.
Looking to test your luck? Spruce Meadows has several contest options for those wanting to win excellent prizes, including the Jump to It contest, with a chance to win a full set of jumps, the CN/Sun Media Name the Foal contest, and the Win a Year contest, with a chance to win a year of access to all Spruce Meadows events. If you are looking for some retail therapy, vendors in the Gallery on the Green and Vendor Village offer an excellent variety of gifts and services, both equine and non-equine in nature.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
