North Salem, NY – September 15, 2012 – Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas, came away with the win in the $35,000 Double H Farm Classic 4* on Saturday at The American Gold Cup.
The weather was crisp and clear as the horses and riders took to the field at the picturesque Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY, and by mid-afternoon the wind picked up and the flags snapped in the gusts of wind.
Fenney said she was hesitant to come and ride against the well-seasoned competition ‘out East,’ but her horse was ready for the challenge and did well over the Steve Stephen’s designed course. Ready indeed, as the pair produced the only fault-free go of the day, racing home in 79.610 seconds for the Saturday afternoon win.
“My horse has such a ginormous stride that he just covers the ground and I did six to the purple [jump],” Fenney said. “I think the people, when they slowed down to do the seven, they slid a lot and it kind of scared the horses.”
Mike McCormick, co-owner of the horse with Fenney, said the jumps were challenging. “The course is really spooky and it’s designed for that,” he explained. “It took jumping ability and you had to be very careful and you had to be, obviously, fast. It’s a speed class and faults converted and we didn’t have to convert any faults, thank goodness.”
McCormick said he had been to Old Salem Farm years ago and that the show grounds are lovely. “It’s a feel good for the horses, it’s a feel good for the riders,” he said. “It’s a gorgeous place to show horses. It’s a good venue and a good place for The Gold Cup to be. It’s nice to have it here.”
Rounding out second and third places in the Jumper Classic were Charlie Jacobs riding Flaming Star owned by CMJ Sporthorse, and Richie Maloney riding Alsvid, owned by Equinimity Inc. Each rider had an original time that was fast enough for the victory, but both had a rail down along the 14-jump course that increased their original times by four seconds. Jacobs finished in 81.330 seconds while Maloney tripped the timers in 82.390 seconds.
Hunter Harrison, the sponsor of the Double H Farm Jumper Classic, said it was a great class and he was proud to sponsor it for The American Gold Cup. “Over the last two or three years, it ranks among the top shows in North America, and if they keep it up, the world,” he said.
Other exciting show jumping action included a win by Charlotte Jacobs on Promised Land, with the only double clear round in the $25,000 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic. The class was an East Coast qualifying competition for the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classic series.
She said the course was difficult, but she loves riding on a grass ring. “It was very back and forth,” Jacobs added. “They put stuff up on the hill and sort of in the grob and it was all over the place and it was very long. There were never really many options anywhere. Time allowed was tight and so you had to be prompt everywhere.”
She said that Promised Land, who she calls “Peanut,” is experienced and was ready for the challenge. “But Peanut’s 18, and he’s been-there-done-that,” she said. “And I can always count on him. So, I kind of went in and was like, ‘Come on ‘Nut,’ and he was perfect.”
Also making it to the jump-off by riding clear in the first round was Jay Land riding Nepal, who earned the red ribbon, and Rachael Ricci riding True Religion, who took home the yellow.
Alexandra Cherubini nabbed both the first and second place ribbons in the $10,000 Mitchell-Innes & Nash Fine Art Adult Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on Equifit Carlos and Equifit Navarado respectively.
Cherubini has had the 9-year-old Carlos for about a year and a half. “He’s like a little motorcycle,” she said. “He’s compact. He’s quick and he’s careful and I’ve never had a horse like him.”
She said the course was fun to ride, big and long. “The drop was in there, which I’ve never done before, so that was a fun added element,” she said.
She added that that she was thrilled to be at The Gold Cup. “It’s excellent,” she said. “I’m a big fan of Stadium Jumping and I think they do an incredible job and I can’t wait to come back next year.”
Another winner thrilled to be in New York was 16-year-old Rowdie Adams, from Texas, who rode S&L Shoefly to the win in the $10,000 NAL Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.
“My horse is so cool,” she said. “He’s the coolest horse I’ve ever ridden. He can get me out of the horrible situations that I might accidentally put him in and he’s super fast, turns great, tries his hardest and he’s just unbelievable.”
A former three-day eventer, Adams has only been show jumping for four weeks with trainer Mike McCormick and she loves the sport.
“I just like being able to control everything about it and jumping the big fences is way more fun than jumping tables,” she said.
Adams was star-struck by the big name line-up at The American Gold Cup.
“I got to watch McLain Ward and I got to sit next to McLain Ward,” she exclaimed. “It was so cool being that close to an Olympian! It’s like super cool.”
The super cool action will continue Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. with the $200,000 American Gold Cup CSI 4* in the Grand Prix ring.
The official prize list for this year’s event is now available online at www.stadiumjumping.com and www.theamericangoldcup.com. You can see live streaming or check on your favorite horse and rider’s ribbon counts at www.ShowNet.biz.
Media Contact: Mason Phelps
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