AUGUSTA, NJ—May 6, 2004— New Jersey professional riders shined at the Garden State Horse Show as the second day brought some of the nation’s top riders to the main ring. The Garden State Horse Show is being held May 5-9 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ. Last year’s winner of the Garden State Grand Prix, Chris Kappler of Flemington, NJ, warmed up to defend his title riding Korina to the top of the class in the first Modified Jumper Stake class.

The pair stopped the clock in a blistering 35 seconds. It was no contest for Korina who bested Callan Solem riding Quiet Winter Farm’s Warsaw. Solem piloted Warsaw to a 38.001-second finish.

Kappler also piloted Profox, his winning mount in last year’s grand prix, to a fifth in the modified class.

In the second modified class course designer Michael Rheinheimer set a track that narrowed the field of 19 to six. Another New Jersey resident, Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, took the blue riding Little Big Man. The pair left the rails in the cups while posting a winning time of 32.884 seconds. Chapot also piloted a second mount named Sprite to the fourth-place finish.

In the hunter divisions rider Kate Milton rode Justice to the championship in the Green Conformation hunter division. Justice, a 15.3-hand bay gelding had a consistent showing over two days, picking up four firsts and two seconds. Justice is owned by Danielle Glass of New York, NY.

Another consistent showing was demonstrated by horses from Lane’s End Stables. In the Hopeful Hunter division Kipling collected the championship with Rob Burroughs of Hoboken, NJ, in the irons. The reserve championship also went to Lane’s End Farm for the points collected by Charming Billy and rider Megan Maillet. Maillet also piloted a second Lane’s End Stables horse named Season Pass to the reserve championship in the Special Working Hunter division. The championship in that division was awarded to Lasandro, owned and shown by Janice Hess.

The Garden State Horse Show, presented by Junior Essex Troop, has long been a part of every horseman’s calendar. This year is the show’s 53rd year and with nearly 1200 horses registered it is a record year for entries. This weekend’s events include the $50,000 Garden State Grand Prix, a member event of the King Shavings/US Grand Prix League, to be held on Saturday at 1:30pm in the main ring. Saturday will also feature the $7500 Colonial George S. Saunders Memorial Gamblers Choice class to be held in the main ring following the main ring.

Admission is free every day except for Grand Prix Saturday. Tickets on Saturday are $10 a carload. For more information on the Garden State Horse Show call the show grounds at 973-948-5022.

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