Brookhill Steeplechase Debuts College Park Entertainment Area on Saturday May 3, 2003
RALEIGH, NC- The Raleigh Jaycees’ Brookhill Steeplechase will debut a newly designed College Park Entertainment area with live bands and performances on Saturday May 3 in Clayton, NC. Attracting over 12,000 spectators and Steeplechasing’s finest and highest-acclaimed horses and trainers, this annual horseracing event has become known as “The Triangle’s Biggest Lawn Party,” now in its eleventh season.
Race day activities in College Park feature performances by local music favorites Fat Head Otis and Big Bertha as well as the annual hat and tailgate contests. Tailgaters and spectators can compete in Brookhill’s annual Hat and Tailgate contests, where grand prize winners can receive a pair of airline tickets good anywhere in the continental United States, Canada and the Caribbean, courtesy of American Airlines. The competition is typically fierce as groups decorate their tailgate spots to look like scenes from
television’s “Survivor” and “Cheers” among other themes and hats range from oversized sombreros to ornate masterpieces.
“With so many colleges and universities in the Triangle area, Brookhill’s College Park is a perfect fit,” lauds Race Chairman Will Stanley. “We have received a lot of positive feedback from the universities and alumni groups in the area and we look forward to having them join us on May 3.”
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Dressage In Florida 2003 Winter Season Wrap Up
WELLINGTON, FL (April 8, 2003) – From January through April, Florida hosted more than a dozen rated dressage shows, including four CDIs. Four dressage series, each hosting three shows, provided riders with a selection of competitions from Miami to Orlando: the Winter Equestrian Festival Dressage Show Series and the Gold Coast Dressage Association Series each presented three shows at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington; the Palm Beach Dressage Derby Series at The Horse Park at Equestrian Estates in Loxahatchee offered three shows, as did the Orlando Dressage Series at Clarcona Horsemen’s Park near Orlando. Tropical Park in Miami hosted two show, and Gainesville and Venice each were the sites of three shows.
The most closely watched classes this year were qualifiers in the ‘small tour’ – the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I – as these are the classes that not only will determine which American riders will compete in the Selection Trial for the Pan Ams, but foreign riders also used the classes as qualifiers for their country’s team. Dressage in Florida 2003 showcased Pan Am hopefuls from the US as well as Canada, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East. Florida’s winter shows also provided qualifying classes for the USET Grand Prix Championships, the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Regional Championships, and the North American Young Riders Championships (NAYRC).
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The Coloured Horse Auction at Tolbert
The Coloured Horse Auction at Tolbert was held on Saturday 5 of April in the HJC Manege Tolbert in the Netherlands. It was very successful and many horses were sold.
There were several English people in attendance and eleven coloured horses were sold to England.
This year was the eighth time this Auction ran and next year we will do it again, and we hope that the English people come.
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Phelps Wilkes & Associates, Inc. Hits Another Home Run
Wellington, Florida – April 8, 2003 – The numbers are in, and they did it again. Phelps Wilkes & Associates, Inc. increased the number of spectators attending this season’s seven-week Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington by 50%, as compared to attendance in 2002.
Phelps Wilkes, formed in January 2003 by legendary Olympic competitor Mason Phelps, Jr. and corporate securities attorney Beverly Lake Wilkes, has, in the last 6 months, transformed the rarified air of the Wellington horse show world from a destination for the seasoned equestrian enthusiast to what is now a destination for one and all.
The duo, whose goal is to turn equestrian events into a true spectator sport (much like baseball, football, etc.), is well on its way. Horse showing is the #2 spectator sport in Europe, behind soccer, and is a major spectator sport in Canada. Here in the U. S., the sport is way, way down the list. But Phelps Wilkes is changing that.
Mason and Beverly have collaborated for over 8 years in volunteer work, chairing events for numerous charitable causes. The duo is best known for raising over $1 million for The United States Equestrian Team through their famous Denim & Diamonds Galas.
The spectator transformation began with The 119th National Horse Show, held during Thanksgiving week 2002. A mere three weeks before the show was to begin, The National Horse Show, Inc. and Stadium Jumping, Inc. hired Mason and Beverly to promote the event. After years of running in the red with declining crowds, the powers that be decided to move The 119th National Horse Show to The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington. This move was historic, because for 118 years The National had been held in the New York City area and in an indoor venue. The naysayers came out in droves. But they were proven wrong.
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2003 Winter Equestrian Festival Featured Show Jumping and Dressage at its Best
Wellington, FL—April 8, 2003—The Winter Equestrian Festival opened its 31st season at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL, with the Nutrena/Western Hay Wellington Classic, January 22- 26, where Sydney Olympian Lauren Hough of Wellington, FL, captured the first grand prix of the winter circuit and the feature event of the first week, the $35,000 Farr Legacy/ Western Hay Grand Prix of Palm Beach. Under the sunny Florida sky, Hough, aboard Windy City, was one of only three riders out of a starting field of 32 to qualify for the jump-off by riding clear over Conrad Homfeld’s demanding first-round course.
Hough turned in a fault-free jump-off ride in a time of 37.84 seconds to earn the win. Emily Williams of Wellington, FL, rode Hushabye to a second-place finish with a clear jump-off round in a time of 39.87 seconds. Dropping one rail to accumulate four faults in the jump-off, Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, finished in third place aboard Hidden Creek’s Jones.
Dressage competition highlighted the second week of the 2003 Winter Equestrian Festival, the Wellington Dressage Classic, January 30- February 2. Over 9,000 people gathered at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club over the course of the weekend to watch the competition unfold in dressage as well as show jumping.
The primary focus of the week’s dressage competitions was the series of USET Qualifiers, most notably the qualifiers for the Pan American Games Selection Trials to be held at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions, presented by State Line Tack, at the USET Olympic Training Center in Gladstone, NJ, in June.
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Minister launches draft passport legislation at National Equine Forum
Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael chose last week’s prestigious National Equine Forum, attended by HRH The Princess Royal, to launch the draft legislation on the requirement for equine passports.
Speaking at the Forum on ‘a government overview of the horse industry’, Mr Michael summarised the draft legislation, which in line with the European Commission Decision 2000/68/EC, requires all equines in the UK to have a passport by 31 December 2003. He emphasised that there would be a three-month consultation period until 30th June, during which key equestrian organisations were invited to submit comments, before the document was finalised. Some sections of the draft gave a number of the 150 Forum attendees cause for concern. Noted as particularly worrying were the system of equine identification proposed which was seen to have shortfalls and also the compulsory and permanent passport declaration on whether or not horses were destined for entry into the food chain, which gave no flexibility for amendment should the horse enter new ownership.
A highlight of the Forum was a perceptive presentation on the need to recruit, retain and recognise the worth of world-class grooms, from former international dressage groom, Lucy Katan. Lucy, who is now employed by The Blue Cross animal welfare charity, sparked an animated and supportive debate among the audience with her forthright recommendation that grooms should be treated as vital support staff within the World Class programme and with the respect and conditions they deserve.
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Kappler Wins $150,000 AGA Championship
Royal Kaliber Named AGA Horse of the Year, Ward Captures AGA Rider of the Year, Torano Earns AGA Rookie of the Year
Wellington, FL—April 7, 2003—Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ, and Royal Kaliber, a horse he co-owns with Kathy Kamine, were back in the winner’s circle for the second consecutive weekend earning the blue ribbon in the $150,000 AGA Championship, April 6, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL.
Out of the starting field of 30 horse-and-rider combinations, Kappler and Royal Kaliber, a Dutch Warmblood stallion, were the only pair to complete two clear rounds. Finishing behind Kappler, who won the prestigious $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational aboard Royal Kaliber the previous weekend in Tampa, was Kevin Babington of Ireland aboard Carling King, owned by Kindle Hill Farm. Meredith Beerbaum of Germany piloted Shutterfly to the third place award.
Adding to Kappler’s wins aboard Royal Kaliber in Florida was to the horse’s being named AGA Horse of the Year for the 2002/2003 season. After a stellar 2002/2003 season, McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, earned the AGA Rider of the Year title for the second consecutive year and the third time overall. Danielle Torano of Wellington, FL, was named the AGA Rookie of the Year for 2002/2003.
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Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series Kicks Off 2003 Season
Tampa, FL – April 7, 2003 – The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series started its 2003 competition with six exciting events held in the East Conference and one in the West Conference. The series kicked off in February and runs through November, culminating in a Year-End Championship to be held at the National Horse Show.
Evan Coluccio and Romeo took the early lead in the junior division in the East Conference, while Tani Zeidler Anderson and Illusion sit in first place in the amateur-owner division. In the West Conference, Megan Edrick and Just On Time lead the junior division, while Nicole LaMott and Laredo sit atop the amateur-owner division standings.
Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series East Conference – Junior Division
In the first East Conference competition of the season, the $15,000 BET on Jazz Junior Jumper Classic, held during the Zada Enterprises Wellington Masters, February 19-23 in Wellington, FL, Evan Coluccio took first place aboard White Russian.
Cody Baird and Orlandia rode away with the win in the $15,000 BET on Jazz Junior Jumper Classic, held at the Tommy Bahama Palm Beach Open in Wellington, FL, February 26 – March 2. Ashlee Bond rode Fabius 45 to the win in the $15,000 BET on Jazz Junior Jumper Classic held at the Cosequin Wellington Finale in Wellington, FL, March 5-9.
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Hanoverian Horse Happenings
From 'Around the World' to 'Vista Ridge Farm' - Spring 2003
News from the USA Annual statistics for 2002 from the American Hanoverian Society
News from Vista Ridge Farm It's the time of year again, the mares and foals have been switched to new pastures and barns as we start the foaling and breeding season
News from Germany Sensational price at the Hanoverian Stallion Licensing - 515.000(EUR) to US Buyer
Other News from the US The DR. WALTER HARTWIG PRIZE for Best North American-Bred Young Mare
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SCOPE Awarded Inward Buyer Programme by Irish Horse Board
SCOPE Auction, Ireland’s first and only “elite” auction of young showjumping, eventing, and dressage prospects, has been awarded the prestigious Inward Buyer Programme by the Irish Horse Board. The Inward Buyer Programme reimburses the cost of plane or ferry tickets to travellers from outside of Ireland who purchase a horse at the SCOPE Auction.
SCOPE Auction, which is dedicated to offering buyers the “very best of the best” young horses in Ireland, is unique because:
-- Every horse has been chosen by a selection committee of three Olympians, representing the disciplines of showjumping (Col. Ned Campion of Ireland), eventing (Gillian Rolton of Australia), and dressage (Jennie Loriston-Clarke of Great Britain), and led by Holland's top stallion expert (Jaap Werners, chairman of the KWPN’s stallion inspection committee);
-- Every horse is evaluated for bloodlines, conformation, type, athleticism, movement, potential for excellence in sport, and potential for excellence in breeding. Only the "very best of the best" are selected;
-- Every horse has passed an independent veterinary exam on the day of the inspection;
-- Every yearling and 2-year-old has x-rays evaluated by one of Europe's leading radiographic experts (Dr. Hans Schougaard of Denmark), using the same criteria he uses for the Danish Warmblood Society and Hanoverian Verband stallion inspection committees;
-- Every horse has a note stating if the breeder has conformed to the SCOPE Breeder's Code, which is based on state-of-the-art, scientifically-validated feeding and management practices designed to reduce the risk of developmental bone disorders;
-- Every buyer from outside of Ireland -- whether as close as Great Britain or as far as North America or Australia -- can have his or her airfare or ferry costs reimbursed by the Irish Horse Board's Inward Buyer Programme.
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