Toronto, Ontario – McLain Ward claimed his third win in four days by taking top honours in the $50,000 Weston Canadian Open on Friday night at the Royal Horse Show, held as part of the 83rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair running November 4-13, 2005, in Toronto, ON.

Twenty horses came into the ring to attempt the track set by course designer Leopoldo Palacios, but none were able to catch the time set by Ward. Only the fifth rider on course, Ward of Brewster, NY, blistered around with Goldika 559, the mare he rode to victory in Tuesday’s $15,000 International Welcome and Wednesday’s $60,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix. Despite having 15 horses behind him, Ward’s time of 54.23 seconds held up all the way to the end.

Coming closest to catching him was British veteran Nick Skelton and the grey stallion, Russel, hot off their victory in Thursday evening’s $25,000 National Steel Car Four Bar Challenge. The pair paid the price for not taking an integral inside turn when the clock stopped at 56.08 seconds.

Yann Candele of France tried his best with the Ashland Stables’ entry of Tyra, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, but 57.43 seconds would leave them in third place. Fellow Frenchman Philippe Rozier gave it a shot with Senna, going clear in a time of 57.94 seconds for fourth position.

Mario Deslauriers of Bromont, QC, was the highest placed Canadian, finishing fifth in a time of 58.27 seconds riding the eight-year-old Graf Lando while pathfinder Erynn Ballard of Hillsburgh, ON, posted the only other clear round to finish sixth riding her 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Robin van Roosendael.

On Saturday afternoon, the Royal Horse Show goes to the dogs with the $20,000 International Canine/Equine Challenge, a favourite of young and old alike. In the evening, the sentimental $60,000 Ricoh Big Ben Challenge rounds out the international division of the Royal Horse Show.

Tickets for all Royal Horse Show performances, held as part of the 83rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, can be purchased through Ticketmaster at tel: 416 872-7777 or www.ticketmaster.ca. For more information on the Royal Horse Show, including complete schedules, please visit www.royalfair.org.

$50,000 Weston Canadian Open – Final Results

Rider - Hometown - Horse - Faults - Time
1. McLain Ward - United States - Goldika - 0 - 54.23
2. Nick Skelton - Great Britain - Russel - 0 - 56.08
3. Yann Candele - France - Tyra - 0 - 57.43
4. Philippe Rozier - France - Senna - 0 - 57.94
5. Mario Deslauriers - Bromont, QC - Graf Lando - 0 - 58.27
6. Erynn Ballard - Hillsburgh, ON - Robin van Roosendael - 0 - 59.37