Mark
Muntean Photo |
Wordley
Wins Another With Gorki in $20,000 Bayfest Grand Prix in Woodside
Woodside, California. Sharn Wordley is on a roll. Last week
at the Woodside Circuit Opener, Wordley rode Gorki to the win
in the $5000 Jumper Classic. This week at the Bay Area Festival
(June 30 - July 4) Gorki was among the 29 horses in the $20,000
Bayfest Grand Prix. Mike Galloway built a demanding 14 obstacle
course on the undulating Woodside jumper field for the first
ever grand prix at the 272 Horse Park at Woodside. |
Nine horses posted clear rounds and Wordley had two of them. In jump-off
Wordley was first to go with Cody, a nineteen year old gelding he
bought in Europe just before shipping to the United States the first
of this year. Wordley set the pace for the jump-off with a time of
28.435. Amateur rider Alicia Jonsson has been knocking on the door
of the big classes and she met Wordley’s bid and then raised
him by screaming around the course aboard NZ Better Believe It with
a time of 26.952. Although several tried to match Jonsson’s time,
no one quite made it....until Gorki.
“I
didn’t know how fast he could go,” smiled Wordley, “but
I was a bit faster from one to two, and then I did nine instead
of ten to the last oxer.” Wordley managed to shave a half a
second off of Jonsson’s time with a 26.448. “Gorki’s
half owner, Beverly Grundhofer is going to be very pleased with
his performances. People have been coming up to ask if he is for
sale, but we might keep him a while.”
The
$20,000 Bayfest Grand Prix kicked off with an opening ceremony that
included bringing the dignitaries, Al Behr, Executive Director of
the Horse Park, and Jodie Lawler, a longtime resident of Woodside
and neighbor to the Horse Park, to the ring in an antique Victoria
carriage driven by Gerald Fischer. The First California Hussar Regiment
carried the colors, accompanied by riders from the Mid-Cal Pony
Club.
In
other action, Carrie Robinson swept the Amateur Owner Hunters 18-35
by winning all five classes and the championship with Ballari. Tarni
Bell was the Amateur Equitation champion. In the Pre-Green Hunter
section, Leslie Nelson rode Ooh-La-La to the championship for owner
Robin Klein. K.C. Kelley’s Amika was Green Working Hunter champion
with John French in the irons, and then Holly Andrews rode the chestnut
mare to the Adult Amateur championship.
The
contest is close in the Woodside Hunter Incentive Program. The trainer
accruing the most points during the seven show series wins an eight
day stay in a beachfront villa on Maui’s world famous Kaanapali
Beach. After the Woodside Circuit Opener, Lynn Irving maintained
her lead, but Leslie Nelson was close behind.
The
three week Woodside Summer Circuit concludes next week with the
Golden Gate Classic. In addition to the $20,000 Golden Gate Grand
Prix, circuit champions will be presented.
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