Todd Minikus and Gardenio Capture $15,000 Open Jumper At Marshall & Sterling National Indoor Finals

WORCESTER, MA (September 20, 2003)--Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, Florida, and Gardenio gave a command performance in the ring at Worcester's Centrum Centre arena during the Marshall & Sterling League National Indoor Finals. Minikus qualified three horses for the $15,000 Open Jumper competition. He took home top honors with Gardenio, a ten-year old black Hannovarian gelding, owned by Y Z Partners LLC. Minikus also placed fifth aboard Roller Coaster, owned by Elaine Decanio. Manuel Torres of Leesburg, Virginia, rode Andrea Torres' Matilde Lina to second place. Jonathon Millar of Perth, Ontario, rode Karat owned by Mr. & Mrs. Don Stewart to third place.

Twenty-five horse and rider pairs put on a fine display of show jumping competition for the evening crowd at Worcester's Centrum Centre. Course designer David Ballard from Hornby, Ontario, set a challenging first round course. The eleven-fence course was beautifully accentuated by trees and shrubs provided by Weston Nurseries, of Hopkinton, Massachusetts. The double combination seemed to pose the most problems for the competitors, and served to narrow the field to six horses for the jump-off round.

Katie Sykes of Plainville, Massachusetts, and Costello were the first to enter the ring for the shortened six-fence jump-off. The time allowed was set at 37 seconds. Sykes and Costello incurred twelve faults and a time fault for a total of 22 faults. Next up was Todd Minikus riding Roller Coaster. The pair had a knockdown at the double and another unlucky rail for a total of 8 faults in a time of 35.28 seconds. Manuel Torres and Matilde Lina were the first to give the crowd a clean round. They crossed the timers in 37.54 seconds. Minikus and Gardenio were next to canter into the ring. Minikus set a blistering pace and guided Gardenio clear in the winning time of 32.34 seconds. Tricia O'Connor of Ocala, Florida, and Furistos Treasure made an effort to catch the pair. Their speed cost them a rail at the second to last fence, with a finishing time of 33.04 seconds. Last in the jump-off was Jonathon Millar from Perth, Ontario, on Karat. Millar pulled out all the stops to pass the timers in 30.98 seconds, but an unlucky rail ended his chances.

In other competition from the day, the $5,000 Low Jr/A-O Jumper was won by Evan Coluccio of Middleburg, Virginia, on Dilton. The $3,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter was won by Le Bon, owned and ridden by Danielle Torano of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The $3,000 Junior Working Hunter was won by John Courage, owned and ridden by Abigail Carpenter of Greenwich, Connecticut. The Children's Working Hunter Horse Championship was won by Renoir, owned and ridden by Kelsey Rae Calabro. The Children's Working Hunter Championship Pony was won by China, owned and ridden by Patty Graham-Baker.

For a full listing of the day's results please visit http://www.hitsshows.com/resultssummer-03.html

$15,000 Open Jumper - Friday, September 19, 2003
New Marshall & Sterling League National Indoor Finals
David Ballard, Hornby, Ontario: Course Designer

Place Horse Rider Owner Prize Money Rd1 Faults Rd 2 Faults JO Time

1st Gardenio Todd Minikus Y Z Partners LLC $4,500 0 0 32.34
2nd Matilde Lina Manuel Torres Andrea Torres $3,000 0 0 37.54
3rd Karat Jonathon Millar M/M Don Stewart Jr. $1,650 0 4 30.98
4th Furistos Treasure Tricia OConnor Cloverlea Farm Inc. $1,050 0 4 33.04
5th Roller Coaster Todd Minikus Elaine Decanio $900 0 8 35.28
6th Costello Katie Sykes Annie Hazelhurst/Acres Wild Farm $825 0 22 46.31
7th Ground Clearance Darrin Dlin Kaye Cross $825 4
8th Mr. Itt Jonathon Millar Melissa De Caster $750 4
9th Captain Willie Ian Silitch Page Flournoy $750 4
10th Jennieta Kristi Smith Knights Fork Inc $750 4
11th Beaucoup Jeffery Welles Ashley Baker
12th Fairplay Tricia OConnor Cloverlea Farm Inc.

Saturday's competition at the Marshall & Sterling League National Indoor Finals will include:

7 AM - 3:00 PM (approximately)
$6,000 Amateur-Owner Working Hunter Stake
- A-O Working Hunter Championship Presentation
$6,000 Junior Working Hunter Stake
- Junior Working Hunter Championship Presentation
- Best Junior Rider on a Horse Presentation
$2,500 Adult Amateur Working Hunter Stake
- Adult Amateur Hunter Championship Presentation
$1,250 Large Pony Hunter $2,000
Large Pony Hunter Stake
$1,250 Medium Pony Hunter
$2,000 Medium Pony Hunter Stake
$2,000 Small Pony Hunter Stake
$750 Large Pony Hunter Under Saddle
$750 Medium Pony Hunter Under Saddle
$750 Small Pony Hunter Under Saddle
- Small Pony Hunter Championship Presentation
- Medium Pony Hunter Championship Presentation
- Large Pony Hunter Championship Presentation
- Best Junior Rider on a Pony Presentation

6:00 PM - 10:00 PM (approximately)
$15,000 Low Jr./A-O Jpr. Classic, Time 1st Jump-Off
- Entertainment - "One Arm Bandit" & "K-9's in Flight"
$10,000 Open Jumper Speed, Faults Converted
$15,000 High Jr./A-O Jumper, Time First Round