Evan Coluccio and Cardozo.
Lexington, KY – June 29, 2014 – Cardozo just became a hunter three days ago, but today at the Kentucky Summer Classic he showed signs of a promising future ahead in his new found division. Evan Coluccio guided the 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood through his first hunter courses and to his first blue ribbon hunter win today in the High Performance Hunters at the Kentucky Horse Park.
“Today was his very first day ever doing hunters,” Coluccio said. “I was very proud of him. We did the Second Years as a bit of practice and to kind of work out kinks and get to know him a little. Literally, he just came to us [at Lane Change Farm] this weekend. He belongs to Ronnie Beard and Michael Dorman. He was a jumper. I think he was doing 1.30m classes.”
Coluccio continued, “They thought he was a little quiet for the jumpers, and he’s so careful and tries so hard that they thought maybe he would be better in this ring. He still has some parts to learn, but I think he’s going to be a natural at it.”
Cardozo seemed to improve with every trip today in the Stonelea Ring, picking up both a third and first place finish in the High Performance Hunters. With his strong performances today, Coluccio is optimistic for what is to come for the gelding.
“He wants to be so easy. Once he understands the job, he’s going to be really great,” Coluccio said. “He never really made any major mistakes today. I think he’s going to be quite good at the derbies too. That’s our main goal for him: to let him do some of those.”
Besting Cardozo for the win in the second High Performance Hunter division was one of his new barn mates, Enticement. After several weeks off, the 6-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare came back to the show ring last week with Kelley Farmer in the First Year Green and Green Conformation Hunters, and this week the pair shot to the top of the leader board in the High Performance Hunters.
Following the mare’s success last week, Farmer is contemplating pointing her at the upcoming USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, to be held August 14-16, 2014.
“I’m going to hold out on her entry for as long as possible. I want to be fair to her, but right now it’s looking like it,” Farmer said of competing Enticement in the Derby Finals. “She can definitely jump it, but she’s only 6 years old. I don’t want to push her too hard, but we’ll see how she is doing.”
If today was any indication, she seems to be doing quite well. In addition to her win in the second over fences class, Enticement finished second behind Cardozo in the first class.
In the Second Year Green Hunters, Christopher Payne and Susan Moriconi’s Channing continue to be a dominating force. The duo has been extremely competitive in the division throughout both the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows and the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, and today they added another first and second place ribbon to their string of division accolades.
Besting Channing in the second over fences class of the division were Tim Goguen and Character, owned by Belhaven Stables, LLC. Both mounts will return tomorrow to via for the championship in the conclusion of the Second Year Green Hunter division at the Kentucky Summer Classic.
All professional hunter divisions conclude tomorrow with classes beginning at 8 a.m. In addition to offering a full range of competitive hunter divisions, the Kentucky Summer Classic features the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby on Saturday, August 2.
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