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Ian
Milllar And Promise Me Win The $50,000 EMO Grand Prix At HITS
Ocala Winter Circuit |
OCALA, FL (February 16, 2004)—Seven-time Olympic veteran, Ian
Millar of Perth, Ontario, rode Promise Me to the blue ribbon in Sunday's
$50,000 EMO Grand Prix at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. Millar was
the faster of two double-clears in a seven-horse jump-off, managing
to shave over a second off Harold Chopping's double-clear ride on
Kathleen 16, owned by Silver Oak Stables. Aaron Vale, holder of the
record for the most Grand Prix wins in a single year, had the second
fastest time aboard Quendo, owned by Town Creek Investment, but an
unlucky rail left him in third place. Ian Millar also qualified In
Style, owned by Susan Grange & Lothlorien Farm, for the jump-off,
delivering a four-fault performance that gave them fourth place. Millar
and In Style were the winners of the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix during
the first week of the circuit.
Course
designer Javier Hernandez of Guadalajara, Mexico, built a 12-obstacle
first round course that included a triple at Fence No. 4, and a
double at Fence No. 10. The time allowed was set at 77 seconds.
Of the thirty-two starters, only seven horses advanced to Hernandez'
seven-element short course. The time allowed was set at 56 seconds.
Harold
Chopping and Kathleen 16 were first to attempt the jump-off course,
leaving all the rails up in a time of 48.04 seconds. Ian Millar
and Promise Me matched Chopping's clear round, while shaving 1.25
seconds of his time to win the competition. There were no other
clear rounds amongst the remaining five horses. The crowd pinned
their hopes on Derek Peterson from Archer, Florida, the last to
go in the jump-off. The Floridian was cheered on in the hopes of
his upsetting Canadian Olympian Ian Millar, but it was not to be.
Despite his blazing fast time, the fastest in the jump-off, Peterson
accumulated 8 faults.
The
$50,000 EMO Grand Prix showcased the talents of an Olympic pair
in the making. After the competition, Ian Millar stated, “if
I am given the nod to ride for Canada in the Olympics, this is the
horse I will take.” “Promise Me is a 10-year old Dutch
Warmblood that I got from the Hendricks Brothers in Holland, said
Millar. He was originally owned in part by [fellow Canadian] Marni
Von Schalburg who frequently showed here in Ocala. The Hendricks
brothers always kept a part-ownership position, but when Marni decided
to sell her interest in the horse, Andre Hendricks called me and
said Get on a plane.' I flew to Holland and tried the horse out
and said right then give me a week.' A week later I had assembled
a Baker's Dozen' of investors and we bought the horse. I have been
buying horses from the Hendricks Brothers for the past 21 years
and have had great luck with them, starting with Big Ben.”
Asked
about his horse's name, Millar answered, “His name comes from
a line in a Lee Ann Womack song: Promise me you'll give faith a
chance'I bought him on faith and I gave him a chance.”
The
Millars are regular competitors at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit,
and call Ocala their winter home. “My family and I arrive December
15th and we have our Christmas here rather than up north in the
snow,” said Ian Millar. “Now that my son and daughter
work with us we can all be together here. I am a great fan of Team
Struzzieri. He knows the sport and he knows the business. Lots of
show managers know one or the other, but he knows both. Ocala offers
us a great opportunity to train our students.”
Other major award winners at HITS Ocala I included:
HBO Junior Medal Winner - Michelle Ahmann, Southlake, TX
Charles Owen Children's Medal Winner - Sammy Horowitz, Huntington
Valley, PA
Charles Owen Adult Medal Winner - Deirdre Catani, Duxbury, MA
Bayer Legend Leading Hunter Rider - Jennifer Alfano, Buffalo, NY
Bayer Legend Leading Jumper Rider - Aaron Vale, Aiken, SC
The
next Grand Prix event of the Ocala Winter Circuit will take place
on Thursday, February 19th at 1:00pm. Spectators will enjoy world-class
show jumping competition as riders compete for top honors in the
$25,000 Peterson & Smith Grand Prix.
$50,000 EMO Grand Prix - Sunday, February 15, 2004
HITS Ocala I - Ocala, FL
Course Designer: Javier Hernandez, Guadalajara, Mexico
Place
Horse Rider Owner Prize Money Rd1 Faults JO Faults JO Time
1st Promise Me Ian Millar Millar Brook Farm $15,000 0 0 46.79
2nd Kathleen 16 Harold Chopping Silver Oak Stables $11,000 0 0 48.04
3rd Quendo Aaron Vale Town Creek Investment $6,500 0 4 47.13
4th In Style Ian Millar Susan Grange / Lothlorien Farm $4,000 0
4 48.53
5th Promised Land Derek Petersen Derek / Anita Peterson $3,000 0
8 46.14
6th Cybella Mac Cone Southern Ways $2,500 0 8 48.22
7th Neander Andre Thieme Redfield Farm LLC $2,000 0 8 49.56
8th Kartousch Mary Lisa Leffler Rolling Acres / McLain Ward $1,500
1
9th Karat Jonathon Millar Johnathon Millar $1,500 4
10th Cortino Aaron Vale Town Creek Investment $1,000 4
11th Melinda Mac Cone Southern Ways $1,000 4
12th Pop Socks Aaron Vale Temecula Valley Eq Center $1,000 5
WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, 2004 REMAINING SHOW DATES ARE:
Ocala Winter Festival II - February 18-22
Ocala Masters III - February 25-29
Ocala Tournament IV - March 3-7
Ocala Winter Finals V - March 10-14
FEATURED
EVENTS:
$25,000 Peterson & Smith Grand Prix - Thursday, February 19
at 1:00pm
$50,000 HITS Grand Prix - Sunday, February 22 at 1:00pm
$25,000 HITS Grand Prix - Thursday, February 26 at 1:00pm
$50,000 HITS Grand Prix - Sunday, February 29 at 1:00pm
$25,000 HITS Grand Prix - Thursday, March 4 at 1:00pm
$50,000 HITS Grand Prix - Sunday, March 7 at 1:00pm
$25,000 HITS Grand Prix - Thursday, March 11 at 1:00pm
$25,000 Marshall & Sterling Junior / Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic
- Sunday, March 14 at 10:00am
$25,000 Marshall & Sterling Child / Adult Jumper Classic Sunday,
March 14 at 12:00 noon
$100,000 King Shavings Grand Prix of Ocala presented by Great American
Insurance Group - Sunday, March 14 at 2:00pm
SPECIAL
EVENTS:
Kids Day presented by Cox Communications - Sunday, February 29
Grand Finale - Sunday, March 14
Champions of the Week Presentations are held on Sundays prior to
the 1:00pm Grand Prix.
Website:
www.HitsShows.com
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