Marley Goodman And Jumper Win $10,000 Adequan Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic High

Wellington, FL - February 14, 2004 - It was a happy Valentine's Day for 34-year-old Chris Pratt of Toronto, Canada. Riding Rivendell for owner Sue Grange, Pratt bested a field of 53 riders to win the $20,000 1.50 Meter Classic, Time First Jump-Off at the 32nd Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, today. Pratt was the fastest of five double clear performances. Going last in the 17-horse jump-off, Pratt shifted the leaders down a notch from what looked like a cinched one-two-three finish for Norman Dello Joio, McLain Ward, and Markus Beerbaum. "I've got a superb horse," said Pratt. "He's fast and I trust him."

Eighteen horses cleared the breezy 15-effort Round One test in a generous 90-second time allowed, but Eric Lamaze scratched Millcreek Stables Nurejev, leaving 17 to return for the eight-effort short track. The tiebreaker proved challenging for a few - Frankie Cheslar aboard VDL Nuit de Pomme lost a shoe and retired, Leopold Van Asten riding VDL Groep Fleche Rouge went off course and was eliminated, and Megan Lamaze was excused after two refusals.

Of the clears, it was Canadian Ainsley Vince as the second rider on course aboard her own Uno who set the pace at 43.873, but she finished in fifth place. Markus Beerbaum riding Le Mans 8 for Hyperion Farm was seventh in the order and snatched the lead in 39.342, but ended up fourth. Five riders later, McLain Ward put the pedal to the metal and took over the top spot riding one of his own, Furioso Du Parc, and tripped the timers at 39.273, but he finished third. Norman Dello Joio went immediately after Ward, riding Leonardo for owner Anthony Weight, and took over the lead with his blazing time of 38.990. Four more riders chased Dello Joio, but none were clear or fast enough, except the last to go - Pratt galloped the course in 38.078 for the win.

"I knew how fast I had to go," said Pratt who noted that he watched the riders before him. "Those were top international competitors ahead of me. This is the biggest win to date in my career."

Pratt has been riding Rivendell, an eight-year-old, 16.3-hand chestnut Westfalen by Piano for just over a year. He explained that he beat the leaders' time by turning back to the combination faster and leaving a stride out going to the sixth fence on course. He said his mental strategy going into the pressure-cooker jump-off was to "stay positive. I was worried about one turn, but it was no problem. I have 100% confidence in my horse." He said the key to his relationship to Rivendell is, "Patience. This is a super quality horse that in other hands might have been pushed before he was ready."

Pratt operates his own training business in Canada and has seven horses with him at WEF. All of them belong to Sue Grange and her Lotlorien Farm. Pratt has never been on a Canadian team but described his career as, "Coming along slowly, bringing along horses slowly, but now we're coming on strong." As far as representing his country in competition? "Soon," he grinned.

Marley Goodman And Jumper Win $10,000 Adequan Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic High

In earlier competition in the Internationale Arena today, Marley Goodman, 23, of Wellington, Florida, aboard Jumper won the $10,000 Adequan Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic High, besting a field of 56 entries. Thirteen horses went clear over the 14-effort Round One course and qualified for the Jump-off. Goodman was the second rider to go over the eight-effort course and set the pace with her clear round in 41.508 seconds. The dozen riders who chased her time could not catch her, though four more riders produced clear performances. Cara Raether riding Zypria for Trelawny Farm Inc. placed second, tripping the timers in 41.807. Paige Johnson riding Landria W for Salamander Farm took the third place ribbon, covering the short course in 41.947.

"It's always difficult going early in a jump-off because you don't know how fast to go," said Goodman. "I decided to use this as practice and go as fast as I could. I was lucky enough to keep the lead. You have to have luck with you as well. I don't think there was any place where I could have been faster." Goodman noted that she made time on two of the gallops between fences, in the beginning of the course and at the end.

The aptly named Jumper is a 12-year-old, 16.2-hand, bay Dutch warmblood gelding with one blue eye. Goodman and her family's Turtle Lane Farm have owned him for three years. "He's just a fantastic horse. He always wants to win for you, every time," Goodman said. At last year's WEF, Jumper was the second leading money winner in the amateur division. "I know how he rises to the occasion. He's the perfect fit for me."

Goodman was on the USET Foundation's Developing Rider Tour in Europe this summer and competed in many Nations' Cups. While in Europe she trained with France's Eric Navet. She continues to train with Navet stateside, as he is also competing at WEF, riding for Lassergut Farm.

Today's win marked Goodman's first victory in this year's WEF. "It feels very good," she said. "We were second last week in this class and it was nice to win it, very nice. It's always good to win a class here because the competition is very difficult with many competitors with good horses and good riders."

For complete results, visit www.stadiumjumping.com

2004 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL TICKET INFORMATION
Show days for the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival are Wednesday through Sunday. Gates open at 8:00 am. Ticket Prices: Wednesdays are free to everyone; Children 12 and under are admitted free every day; Young Adults 13 to 18 and Seniors are $5 on Thursday through Sunday; Adults are $5 on Thursday and Friday, $10 on Saturday, and $15 on Sunday. The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club is located on Pierson Road off South Shore Boulevard. For additional information, visit www.stadiumjumping.com or call 561-793-5867.