Vivian Yowan and Vornado van den Hoendrik.
Lexington, KY – May 8, 2015 – For Lexington native Vivian Yowan, the winner’s circle at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show is a familiar place. Today, the young talent returned to the Rolex Stadium with veteran mount Vornado van den Hoendrik, capturing the $1,500 High Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper as the only double-clear combination of the class.
Twenty-eight contenders took their try at Richard Jeffery’s High Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper course. Only three would make it through to the jump-off, but as the trailblazer of the class, Yowan set the pace at 34.049 seconds with a faultless round, which would be good enough to take home the victory.
“I was actually the first one to go in to the jump-off, so I didn’t know if anybody else would have a rail. I kind of just went for it, and obviously it paid off. I rode the jump-off like there would have been more double clears; it just kind of worked in my favor,” Yowan said.
Where many of the riders saw the rails fall during the double and triple combinations, Yowan kept confidence in her 17-year-old mount, Vornado van den Hoendrik. During the jump-off, she caught the first jump and moved forward utilizing his large stride to cover the ground in seven strides instead of eight, which she had previously walked.
“He has a really big stride; that probably helped out because he’s kind of a slower mover, but he has such a big stride that the jump-off is kind of where you catch the time, taking out a stride where you can,” Yowan explained. “He’s so scopey; this was nothing for him, but it was a good warm-up for the spring and summer series, as well as Devon and Young Riders.”
Noel Fauntleroy of Manakin Sabot, Virginia and her mount Cabras rode to the second place finish with four faults in 36.210 seconds. Canada’s Veronica Bot and Calato’s Charles scooped up third place with their conservative effort of 38.950 seconds and four faults.
Earlier in the day, the $5,000 1.45m Open Jumper division took center stage in the Rolex Stadium. Thirty horse-and-rider combinations attempted the same course as the High Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumpers, and only one pair would clear the opening track to score the victory – native Australian Scott Keach and Fedor.
“It’s a schooling class for next week for me, and I just put him in there to jump the water a couple times before the Grand Prix next week,” Keach said. “I assumed there would be quite a few that would go okay, so it’s a bit of a surprise that I was the only clear. I think that the combinations, for some of the greener horses, was just enough to get some out.”
Second place was awarded to Juan Andres Rodriguez and Bugatti for their careful first round effort. The pair only earned two time faults, but it was enough room for Keach to take the victory.
Keach said, “I’ve had Fedor for two years, and he’s a 10-year-old Belgian, and he’s actually quite straightforward. He’s come a long way in his first year. We’ll see what happens. He’s got some big classes this summer, and it’s a bit of an open book, but we’ll see how it goes. At the moment I think he’s ready to go.”
Keach has made Kentucky his summer home, returning for his third consecutive year. Now, with Tryon only five hours down the road, Lexington makes the perfect pit stop on his summer tour. The addition of the FEI competition to the spring shows has opened new doors for many of the riders, Keach admitted.
“It’s good isn’t it?” Keach smiled. “It’s crazy! I think with Tryon down the road, it adds a lot more ground to the area. I think that’s helped contribute to all these horses being here, I really do. Most of the people are going to Tryon, which is great because it means this show is winning as well, which I hope it does. I hope in the long term this show continues to do well, and both of shows complement one another.”
The jumper action at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show will continue tomorrow with the $85,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI2*, set to start at 6:30 p.m. in the Rolex Stadium. The $25,000 Bluegrass Classic and the $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix will wrap up the first week of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show on Sunday.
For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Kentucky Horse Shows 2015 Horse Show Series Fast Facts
Events: 2015 Kentucky Spring Horse Shows
What:
The Kentucky Horse Shows 2014 series includes two weeks of top hunter/jumper competitions during the month of May. The Kentucky Horse Show Series is the host of the Hagyard Challenge Series and Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter 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:
KENTUCKY SPRING HORSE SHOW – May 6-10, 2015
$34,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI2*
$85,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI2*
$25,000 Bluegrass Classic
$25,000 U25 Classic
$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Recognized Hunter Competition
KENTUCKY SPRING CLASSIC – May 13-17, 2015
$34,000 Welcome Speed CSI3*
$34,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI3*
$127,000 Hollow Creek Farm Grand Prix CSI3*
$50,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix
$20,000 Bluegrass Classic
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Hollow Creek Farm, Audi of Lexington, Sleepy P Ranch, CWD, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program 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
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