Wellington, FL—February 24, 2003— The Zada Enterprises, LLC Wellington Masters took over the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL, February 19-23. The event, which marked the fifth week of the 2003 Winter Equestrian Festival, brought more warm weather and hot competition. The week culminated in an exciting grand prix win for Olympic veteran Norman Dello Joio of Wellington, FL.

Dello Joio and Quriel, owned by Belknap & Weight, bested a starting field of 36 horse-and-rider combinations to win the week’s featured event, the $75,000 Zada Enterprises Wellington Masters Cup. Six horses went clear in the first round to earn the right to ride over the shortened jump-off course.

In the end, it was Dello Joio and Quriel, who crossed through the timers the fastest. The pair edged out the second place finisher by the slimmest of margins. Sydney Olympian Laura Kraut and Anthem, owned by the Summit Syndicate, stopped the timers only one one-hundredth of a second slower then Dello Joio to earn second place. Finishing in third place was Canadian Karen Cudmore, aboard Blair Cudmore’s stallion, Conejo.

Yann Candele and Millcreek’s Marco Taere bested the field of 47 horse-and-rider combinations to win the $25,000 WEF Challenge Cup. Only six horses out of the start list jumped clear in the first round to qualify for the jump-off. Four horses turned in clear performances in the jump-off, and Candele was the fastest by 1.38 seconds. Megan Lamaze rode Chardo to second place and Markus Beerbaum rode Royal Discovery to a third place finish.
Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, found herself in the winners’ circle again at the Winter Equestrian Festival when she won the $20,000 1.5m Classic, a time-first jump-off class. Aboard Authentic, Madden was the quickest of 11 competitors in the jump-off round and was one of only three to jump the jump-off course clear.

Leslie Howard of Fairfield, CT, took top honors in the NAL Americhoice Challenge. Aboard Youp, Howard turned in a faultless round with the fastest time, beating out the huge field of 86 entries. 17 horses produced clear rounds over a course designed by Olaf Petersen of Germany, but Howard and Youp were the fastest of the group. The pair edged out Joe Fargis and Diams III, owned by Mary B. Schwab and O.E. J.I Farm, by just eight-tenths of a second.

Evan Coluccio, of Middleburg, VA, rode Alex Carl’s White Russian to the win in the $15,000 BET On Jazz Junior Jumper Classic. This win marked the second time Coluccio was in the spotlight during the course of the week. He also won the $2,500 High Junior Jumper Time First Jump-Off aboard McLain Ward’s Romeo.

Cara Wilson and So What, owned by Trelawny Farm Inc., topped 53 entries in the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. The pair also finished the weekend as Champion of the High Amateur-Owner division.

The hunter divisions also provided thrilling competition during this week in Florida. Miracle, owned by Christy Russo, and ridden by Ken Smith was Champion in the Regular Working Hunter division. After competing last year in the Second Year Green Working Hunter Division, this marked only Miracle’s second competition in the four foot division.

Scott Stewart piloted Grace, owned by Sarah Alvarez, to the Championship in the Second Year Green Working Hunters. The Reserve Champion ribbon went to Nairobi, owned by Kimberly Wang Unlimited. Nairobi was ridden by Morgan Thomas.

In the pony hunter divisions, Far From Home, owned by Olympic Dreams LLC, and ridden by Alexandra Arute, was Small Pony Working Hunter Champion. The Medium Pony Working Hunter Champion award went to Lucky Too with Alexandra Skiffington riding for Rachael Herkowitz.

Michael Morrissey, who has proven to be a dominant force in the equitation division this winter, earned two more wins. Morrissey, trained by Missy Clark, beat 66 entries to win the Washington International Equitation Class. He also topped 65 entries in Section B of the BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search class and took home second place in the ASPCA Maclay class.

Admission to the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington is free every Wednesday, and children under 12 are always admitted free. Adult admission is $5.00 on Thursdays and Fridays, $10.00 on Saturdays, and $15.00 on Sundays. Senior citizens are $5.00 every Thursday through Sunday. All adults who attend the Festival any Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday will receive a coupon entitling them to a two-for-one admission on that weekend.

For more information on the Winter Equestrian Festival and all its exciting events and activities, please call Stadium Jumping, Inc. in Wellington at (561) 793-JUMP or visit www.stadiumjumping.com.

Winter Equestrian Festival Dates:

(Each week runs Wednesday through Sunday beginning at 8:00 AM daily)

Tommy Bahama Palm Beach Open – February 26 – March 2
Cosequin Wellington Finale – March 5 – 9
Zada Enterprises, LLC WEF Dressage Classic – March 13 – 16

After March 9, competitors move to Tampa to continue the Winter Equestrian Festival

Dates for Tampa Winter Equestrian Festival

(Each week of competition runs Wed - Sun beginning at 8:00 AM)

Suncoast Internationale March 13-16
Tampa Bay Classic March 19-23 CSI***/W
Tournament of Champions March 25-29 CSI**/W
Budweiser American Invitational March 29 in Raymond James Stadium

Tickets for Winter Equestrian Festival at Tampa Fairgrounds are Wednesday through Friday $5. Children under 12 years are free. Saturday and Sunday Adult tickets are $10. Seniors and Students are $5 all days. For schedule, directions and information visit www.stadiumjumping.com.

Tickets for the Budweiser American Invitational, March 29 at Raymond James Stadium are available at Ticket Master (813) 287-8844 or at Stadium Jumping (877) 909-9436.