Wellington, FL – February 26, 2004 – Topping a class of 66 horses, Beezie Madden, 40, of Cazenovia, New York, riding Authentic for owners John Madden Sales and Elizabeth Bush Burke won the $25,000 PDP Capital WEF Challenge Cup Series Round V, CSI*** today at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Madden was the fastest of seven double-clear performances, claiming victory over a 13-horse jump-off. France’s Yann Candele of Schomberg, Ontario, riding Millcreek’s Sweet Dream for owner Millcreek Stables placed second. Ian Miller of Perth, Ontario, aboard Promise Me for the owners’ syndicate The Bakers Dozen was third. Leopoldo Palacious Jugo of Venezuela designed the course.

“It was a typical Leopoldo course for during the week – he doesn’t usually build so big, but it’s always tricky, very careful and pretty technical,” said Madden of the 13-jump Round One with its tight time allowed of 82 seconds. “You had a lot of ride-ability questions. For the triple combination you needed a very handy horse to make it through that – not so much scope or power, but more handiness there.” Madden noted that it was the structure of some of the fences that made the course ‘tricky’. “A lot of delicate fences fell down easily,” she said. “There were options in some places where you might want to add a stride but because of the time allowed you were better off leaving it out, which always makes it harder to jump the real delicate fences.”

Thirteen horses went clean and qualified for the tiebreaker. Madden went sixth in the order, clocking in clean at 38.95 seconds, which edged Alison Firestone of Upperville, VA, aboard Iceburg out of the lead and into an eventual sixth place for her clear round in 42.57. Madden’s time held up over the next five clear rounds, including Candele’s at 39.20 and Millar’s at 40.75 and she claimed the victory. Madden’s strategy was simple: “Basically to try to win. My horse is a fast horse anyway and if I just let him go at his own speed he’s really fast. There were long runs in between the fences and he’s very fast at that.”

Madden noted that she used different approaches to the fences and took risks that cut time. “From fence one to two, I did six strides and McLain did five on his last one, but I bent the six more so I had more foot speed to one and more foot speed to two and because of the line I used I had a quicker line to fence three. Then particularly down by the ingate I took a big risk at the in of the double combination. I didn’t set him up a lot for it or give him a big chance to eye it up. He just had to come through and he was great there.” McLain Ward with two mounts in the jump-off posted the fastest time at 38.67 aboard his first mount Hurricane but had a rail to take eighth, then tried for the win with Sapphire only to incur a rail in 40.57 for ninth.

Authentic is a 16.3-hand, nine-year-old Dutchbred gelding that Madden has brought along since she got the ride on him as a six-year-old. He won the last grand prix he contested, which was in December in Maastricht, Holland. This was his first week of showing since then and today’s class was the first Grand prix this year. “It’s a nice class to win. It’s $25,000 which is really nice,” said Madden. She competed yesterday and plans to compete in the $75,000 PDP Capital Masters Cup on Sunday. “I like to show in enough classes during the week so that when I get to a big championship type event, my horse is used to showing,” Madden explained. “I schedule it where they have a week or two off and then when they show, they show for the week. I like to practice going well all week so that when you get to a World Championships or a World Cup final, or Olympics, the horse is used to having pressure.”

Madden does have her eye on the Olympics and considers Authentic a possible contender. “We certainly have hopes that he is and whether he does it this year or not, we’re letting him tell us during this circuit whether he’s ready for the 2004 Olympic Trials. It’s a little early in his career, but he’s done everything that we’ve asked of him and he has a huge heart. He might just do it.”

In earlier competition today, McLain Ward riding Northfields won the Second Year Green Hunter Championship. The Reserve Championship went to Southern Lights ridden by Samantha Conroy.

Scott Stewart riding Tribute won the First Year Green Hunter Championship. Tommy Serio aboard Popeyek earned the Reserve.

Scott Stewart also won the Regular Conformation Hunter Championship with For The Music. Addison Phillips riding Tinsel Town was the Reserve.

Ken Smith in the irons on Storyline won the Regular Working Hunter Championship. Bev Seymour earned the Reserve.

Wendy Lewis saddled Forget Paris to win the Adult Amateur Hunter 3’3” Championship. Caryl Phillips earned the Reserve.

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.