Clover Leaf Races to Top of Class in $30,000 Ariat Congressional Cup Grand Prix, Presented by Stillwell Hansen, Inc.

Upper Marlboro, MD – October 5, 2002– Leslie Howard made certain that catching her clear round would be next to impossible as she piloted Clover Leaf through two inside options and over the seven-fence jump off in a blistering 33.664 seconds.

In true Howard style the United States Equestrian Team veteran raced to the top of the $30,000 Ariat Congressional Cup Grand Prix, presented by Stillwell Hansen, Inc., held during the last evening session of the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD. “I knew for Clover that it was a jump off built for him,” said Howard. “You can turn back to anything with him. The sharper the turn usually the better he is. Those three jumps were made to order for him. He’s very powerful, very catty,” she added. “If you have a straight approach to a jump he’s very hard because he just starts running.”

Out of a field of 36 horses that attempted the first round of the course designed by Anthony Di Ambrosio, fifteen were able to keep the rails in the cups and return for the jumpoff. Howard and Clover Leaf were fourth to come back and the pair set a pace no one was close to catching – except for McLain Ward. Ward returned with three in the jump off and attempted the quick inside turns that made Howard’s ride so fast. Unfortunately for Ward, he couldn’t keep the back rail up on a big oxer boasting a five-foot spread. Each time he attempted the fence the back rail hit the dirt.

Howard also waited through rides by such notable riders as Alison Firestone, Margie Engle, Molly Ashe, Joe Fargis, Kimberly Frey and Jimmy Torano. Howard knew Engle wouldn’t attempt the inside turns because she was on a green horse. Her only worry was Ward. She said, “I knew McLain could catch my time on the last one he did but I sort of felt that that was a young horse, a green horse. It took an older horse to do what Clover did.” Clover is a 15-year-old Irish-bred gelding she has been teamed up with for four years.

Howard also qualified Paloma for the jump off but the young mare misread Howard’s directions in front of the third fence and ran through it, sending the rails on the 4’9” oxer flying. The Belgian-bred is ten years old but was imported late after having three foals in Europe. Howard is looking forward to pushing to the next step with Paloma. She said, “I think she has world class scope. I think she’s one for the future.”

The Capital Challenge Horse Show wraps up on Sunday, October 6, with classes in three rings. The junior and children’s hunters will run throughout the day. The highlight of the final afternoon will be the two World Champion Hunter Rider challenge classes and the junior/amateur-owner jumper prix. Admission is free. For more information please contact the show office at 301-952-7944/7945 or look for scheduling, full results, photos and more on the show’s official website – www.capitalchallengehorseshow.com.