Lake Placid, NY—July 8, 2005—Max Amaya of Argentina piloted Sonate S, owned by Cloverleaf Farm, to victory in the $7,500 1.45m Nicola’s Family Restaurants Open Jumper class on Friday, July 8 at the 28th annual I Love New York Horse Show.

Out of a starting field of 10, Amaya rode fault-free over the 14-obstacle, first round course at the North Elba Showgrounds. In a dramatic fashion that would foreshadow the action in the jump-off to come, Amaya came out of the saddle and hit the ground just after crossing through the timers at the finish line. He immediately remounted and readied himself to join Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, in the two-rider, tie breaking jump-off.

Engle’s first round time aboard Panama, owned by Robert Pargemate, had been a second faster than Amaya’s, so he knew he’d have to pick up the pace in the jump-off. Amaya and Sonate S flew over the 7-obstacle course, finishing in a time of 42.982 seconds. Engle followed on Panama, but the win proved elusive as she also fell off her mount and was eliminated from the jump-off at the final fence.

In the $5,000 Price Chopper 1.40m Speed Challenge earlier in the day, Engle picked up the win aboard Calippo, owned by Wyndhurst Stables. She topped a field of 11 horse-and-rider combinations in a time of 48.997 seconds, one half of a second ahead of second place finisher, Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, NJ. Chapot rode Samantha, owned by the Sundance Group.

Competition in the 2005 I Love New York Horse Show continues through Sunday and is highlighted by the $75,000 Hermès I Love New York Grandprix CSI 2* on Saturday, July 9. After the Grand Prix, the Richard and Diana Feldman Perpetual Challenge Trophy for Excellence will be awarded to the rider who has won the most prize money in the Lake Placid Horse Shows’ two Grand Prix combined. Once again, the Lake Placid Horse Shows will also offer the $25,000 Hidden Creek Challenge, with $25,000 to be awarded to the horse-and-rider combination that earns the highest overall placing in both the Budweiser Grandprix of Lake Placid CSI 2* and the Hermès I Love New York Grandprix CSI 2* combined.

Saturday’s schedule also includes the Woodlea Farms Parade of Champions, the Kathy Scholl Equitation Championship, the Shamrock Ventures LLC High Junior Jumper Classic and the Charlotte Bobcats Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Both of the Jumper Classics are member events of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame series.

On Sunday, July 10, the Lake Placid Lodge WIHS Adult Amateur Jumper Classic and the Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau WIHS Children’s Jumper Classic take center stage. Both of these classes are member events of the WIHS Championship Series and will count as points towards the Championship held at the Washington International Horse Show. The Levy Family Low Junior Jumper Classic and the Pepsi Pony Hunter Classic will be held on Sunday, July 10 as well.

The horse shows’ 13th annual Doggie Costume Contest returns on Saturday, July 9 at noon. All people with leashed dogs in costume will be admitted to the horse show free of charge. Contestants will strut their stuff in a special ring set up near the horse show’s Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix Field. There is no entry fee. Awards, including the Lulu Perpetual Trophy for the funniest costume, will be presented to this year’s “top dogs.” New award categories for this year include “Best in Show – Group,” “Best in Show – Solo,” “Most Unusual,” “Most Personality,” and the top three “Overall Best.”

The 2005 Lake Placid Horse Show and I Love New York Horse Show sponsors include A& M Beverages, Adirondack Life, Adirondack Store, American Grandprix Association, Anonymous, Ariat International, Inc., Barbara & Michael Bitterman, Brandy Parfums, Ltd., The Brown Dog Café and Wine Bar, Budweiser, The Charlotte Bobcats, Jane Forbes Clark, C.M. Hadfield’s Saddlery, Inc., Clothes Line Laundry, The Cottage Café, The Country Saddler, Ltd., David R. Fowler Custom Tack Trunks, Der Dau Custom Boots and Shoes, Fox Run, Ltd., Golden Arrow Hotel, Grill 211, Hermès, Hilton Lake Placid Resort, The Hooker Family, Horse Watch, James Leslie Parker Photography, Juliam Farm, Lake Placid Lodge, Lake Placid Resort Hotel & Golf Club, Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau, The Levy Family, Lonesome Landing Garden Center, McDonald’s, Mirror Lake Inn, Moss Communications, Mountain Horse, Mr. Mike’s Pizza & Pasta, Muirfield Insurance, Inc., Nicola’s On Main, North Elba Park District, On a Fence Designs & Rentals, ORDA/Whiteface Mountain, The Phillips Family, Pin Oak Farm, Price Chopper, Red-Kap Sales, Ruthie’s Run, Sidelines, Shamrock Ventures LLC, SLVR by Aerogear, Turtle Lane Farm, The Tytel Family, Unusual Silver, U.S. Olympic Spirit Store, The Whiteface Lodge, Wild Horse Wines, Woodlea Farms, WPTZ News Channel 5, and Y106.3 – Mountain Communications LLC.

Admission to the Lake Placid and I Love New York Horse Shows is $2.00 on weekdays and $5.00 on weekends. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free. Tickets are available at the gate. For more information, please call the Lake Placid Horse Show Association at (518) 523-9625 or visit www.lakeplacidhorseshow.com.