Upper Marlboro, MD – October 2, 2003 – Cutting time with tight turns and speed across the ground Chris Kappler and Korina posted a time that couldn’t be touched in the Open Jumper Stake at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Besting a field of 47 horses Kappler and Korina stopped the clock in a blistering 51.560 seconds, nearly two seconds faster than Jeffrey Welles and Equinox who posted a clean round in 53.694.

The win was another in a long list of accomplishments Kappler has gathered throughout the year. His impressive resume includes winning the $150,000 American Grand Prix Association Championship in West Palm Beach, FL., as well as the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational in Tampa, FL. He earned an individual silver medal in the Pan American Games this summer and most recently collected the blue in the American Gold Cup in Devon, PA.

The speed class was a warm-up for Saturday’s $30,000 Ariat Congressional Cup Grand Prix, an FEI World Cup Qualifier. In addition to Kappler, other riders expected to show in Saturday’s class include his team mates from the Pan Am Games – Lauren Hough, Beezie Madden, and Margie Engle – as well as two-time Olympian Leslie Howard and Norman Dello Joio, Individual Bronze Medalist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Earlier in the day Betty Oare dominated the Amateur Owner Hunter division collecting the Championship in the 36 and over division, as well as the Grand Champion and the World Champion Hunter Rider national Amateur Owner title. Oare rode Harmony to the honors.

In the younger division Danielle Torano picked up the tri-color riding Lebon. The pair also topped the World Champion Hunter Rider Challenge class posting an average score of 95.2 from the panel of five judges.

Lebon is a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion who was imported this summer. The chestnut was showing in the jumper division in Europe, but made a career change upon his arrival to the U.S. Now Lebon competes in the amateur owner hunter division as well as the regular working hunters with Torano’s husband Jimmy.

Hunter classes continue tomorrow with the junior riders taking over the action in both rings. Tomorrow’s events will also include the ARIAT Adult Medal Finals and the State Line Tack Children’s Medal finals.

Classes begin at 8am each day and evening classes are held in the Show Place Arena through Saturday. Aside from the top hunter and jumper action running in two rings, the horse show also offers some of the best in equestrian shopping. The boutique areas are located inside and out, with the expanded shop area on the concourse featuring over twenty vendors. Pick up your holiday gifts early from shops offering unique gift items, artwork, the finest jewelry and a variety of quality equestrian equipment.

Admission and parking are free throughout the week. The schedule and results can be found on the Capital Challenge website: www.capitalchallengehorseshow.com. For more information on the Capital Challenge Horse Show call (301) 952-7944/7945.