Mary Lisa Leffler and Bling Bling. Photos courtesy of Teresa Ramsay Photography.
Lexington, VA – April 13, 2017 – The Virginia Horse Center is pleased to once again host two premiere grand prix events to capstone the Lexington Spring Festival. The $30,000 Rockbridge Grand Prix on Saturday, April 29th and the $30,000 George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Grand Prix on Saturday, May 6th will both cap off the exciting hunter/jumper action as athletes race to victory.
During the Lexington Spring Premiere on Saturday, April 29th, the $30,000 Rockbridge Grand Prix will be held in the Coliseum at 6:30 p.m., where riders will vie for the coveted Dubliner Trophy donated by Margaret Price. Declarations to the show office are due no later than 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 28th and the entry fee is $500. Both Grand Prix classes held during the Lexington Spring Festival are eligible for inclusion on the Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking List.
In 2016 it was Mary Lisa Leffler aboard Bling Bling, who produced a double clear in the featured event and took home top honors. “It’s just one of my favorite events,” she expressed. “The hospitality of the Virginia Horse Center is second to none. They try so hard during the evening grand prix and they really put on a good horse show. The best part of the whole thing last year was that my sister drove my parents down, so they finally got to see their horse compete. Having them there and winning was great!”
The pinnacle of the Lexington Spring Encore will be the $30,000 George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Grand Prix, also in the Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 6th. Declarations are due no later than 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 5th, the day before the class.
Last year Colombia’s Manuel Torres piloted Christofolini H, a Rheinlander gelding owned by Andrea Torres Guerreiro, to victory with a speedy, clear round. “For us, it is one of our favorite shows of the year,” noted Torres. “We love the crowd, the facilities, and the stabling – the horses are very relaxed here. We come every year and we really like it. They always pick really good course designers to come and do these two weeks of competition, so it is very exciting for us to come to the Virginia Horse Center.”
The Virginia Horse Center Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which owns and operates the Virginia Horse Center. The Foundation is proud to be a part of the Rockbridge community, an asset to the state’s equine economy, and a resource to the East-Atlantic competition circuit. The Virginia Horse Center stands at the forefront of Virginia’s $1.2B equine economy. Founded to promote all disciplines of equestrian sport, its 600 acres of picturesque grounds hold a 4,000 seat coliseum, eight barns to accommodate 1,200 horses, 19 show rings including two large indoor arenas, cross-country and combined carriage driving courses, campgrounds, and full catering and café services.
To view the prize list or learn more about the Lexington Spring Festival at the Virginia Horse Center, please visit www.horsecenter.org.
Contact: Rebecca Walton
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
rjw@phelpsmediagroup.com
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