Saturday July 15, 2006

Mountain Majesty and Historic Estate Provides A Paradise For Summer Showing

Asheville, NC –With moderate temps, gentle breezes and an unparallel view it’s no surprise why the Biltmore Estate Summer Classics remain one of the season’s most popular events for competitors across the country. Improvements made to the stabling areas, roads, and ring walkways were the icing on the cake for exhibitors this year. “Just gorgeous! We’re having a wonderful time and the improvements to the grounds are great!” Sanford, Florida based trainer Bill Schaub commented.

Week one kicked off with top notch hunter competition in the main ring, from the Baby Green division it was veteran rider Harold Chopping riding Tarantella for owner Sandy Yancey taking Championship honors and emerging pro Michael Tokaruk partnered with Polaroid for owner Mary Haley Hamm receiving the tri color ribbons in the Hopeful Hunter division. Encore, owned and ridden by Brandi Carpenter were named Classic Hunter Champions for week one. “I always enjoy showing at the Biltmore but this is a wonderful start to my week,” a smiling Tokaruk said, “Polaroid is a great partner! We’re having a terrific season together.”

Competition heated up among the hunter ponies as the quest for points toward the first annual Supreme Kahuna Pony Classic started. Beginning with the first day of Pony Model and Under Saddles using a numeric system of judging the riders gave it their all. These points then moved forward to the Classics of each pony division to aid in determining the ultimate winners. Overall points from the Pony Model classes counting as 25%, points from the Pony under Saddle classes another 25% determined scores. These two scores were in turn added to the two Classic rounds, which counted as the remaining 50%, to decide the final total scores.

Front-runners on Thursday included Reid Patton with Star Command in the Small Hunter Pony, Taylor Ann Adams with High Fashion in the Medium Hunter Pony, and Catherine Gore riding Windfall’s Caroline in the Small/Medium Green Pony classes. As the regular divisions ended today the Classics became the main attraction to watch as exhibitors vied for a piece of the nearly $14,000 in prize money and awards from sponsors which included a $75.00 Gift Certificate from Farm House Tack, a custom Essex Classic shirt -just in time for Championships, and listing with photo in a full page color Congratulatory ad appearing in the Chronicle of the Horse issue prior to the Pony Finals courtesy of Flashpoint Photography.

As the last of the judges scores were tallied anxious riders, trainers, and parents surrounded the ring hoping to hear their name announced for the highly sought after title of “Most Supreme Grand Kahuna Pony”. Bob Bell, president of Classic Company said of the event, “We’ve had such terrific response to the Kahuna Pony classes! 100% participation from all the pony divisions in each of the Classics and the competition has been fierce!” Asked if the event would return next year Bell smiled and said, “We’ve already started working on it!” As Bell stepped toward the end gate for the official presentation a complete silence engulfed the ring, “the winner of the first Most Supreme Grand Kahuna Pony Championship goes to Alise Oken of Charlotte, NC riding her pony Mea Gold Card…” the loud speaker rang out as a beaming Alise took center stage in the ring to a thunder of applause.

Joining Alise and Mea, as winners were owner-rider Derek Hirsch and Go For The Gold as the Small Kahuna Pony Champions, Mea Gold Card and Alise Oken again as the Medium Kahuna Pony Champions, and owner-rider Lauren Hogan with Time To Talk were the Large Kahuna Pony Chmapions. From the Green Divisions, owner-rider Catherine Gore with Windfall’s Caroline are the Small-Medium Green Kahuna Pony Champions and Taylor Ann Adams partner with owner Bill Schaub’s All Heart were the Large Green Kahuna Pony Champions.

The day also saw the return of an exhibitor favorite, the “Mystery Man” classes, instead of two modified classes for each of the Adults, Children’s, Amateur Owners and Juniors, there was one blue / red ribbon class. Following was a second class based on the “best seven out of eight”, where each rider upon exiting the ring would “instruct” the judge which fence not to count. This year’s Mystery Champion was Lauren Hogan of Tampa, FL riding Natalie for owners Mr. and Mrs. Hunt Tosh with a total score of 87.

In the Grand Prix arena Ivan Zamora of Dallas, TX and Portland a 12-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Armando Zamora beat out a field of 15 nationally and internationally recognized competitors to win this week’s Lucky Sevens Welcome Stake presented by H and D Stables, Inc. Course designer Michel Vaillancourt provided a sample of things to come with his 15-effort layout making full use of the beautiful grass grand prix field with sweeping turns as well as two monster combinations, including a double consisting of oxers with big spreads and a tight time allowance of 86 seconds. “It was perfect, just perfect for this level of rider.” Vaillancourt commented, “With such a strong field of exhibitors for this class it was a great chance to prep them for the Grand Prix this weekend.” A mere 4 riders had clear rounds to qualify for the jump off option.

Moving up in the order of go, Zamora and Portland were the first to tackle the table 2AB course with a clear first round time of 85.70. “It was a challenging and very technical course to ride.” Ivan commented on his first ride. The paired elected to remain for their jump off round and again went clear over the 7-effort layout in 37.742 seconds, well within the 45-second limit. Making note of the light rain shower that had passed through the evening before he said, “I didn’t make my turns as tight as I’d like but didn’t want to chance the field being slick.” The pair will compete again in Saturday’s $25,000 Juan Hernandez Memorial Grand Prix.

Close on Portland’s hooves was Lord Byron owned and piloted by Michael Tokaruk of Cordova, TN with a fast clean round of 76.74 seconds and an equally close jump off time of 37.771 to cinch second place. Third place went to owner-rider Elizabeth Towell of Camden, SC with her partner Rockefeller scoring a first round time of 85.85 and a jump off time of 41.450. Fourth place found new comers Johan Tschannerl of St Augustine, FL and Black Forest Commodoro riding for owner the late Karl Giebmanns with a time of 84.24 in the first round but an unfortunate 4 faults and time of 43.927 in the jump off. Completing the top five was owner-rider Haley Sturgis of Charleston, SC riding Sideshow as the fastest of the 4 faulters in round one with a time of 77.34.

The Biltmore Estate Summer Classics continue through July 23rd with showing taking place Wednesday through Sunday each week. Classes begin daily at 8AM until approximately 4:30PM and the public is invited. Admission is required to the Biltmore grounds and may be purchased at the gates. Each Saturday evening will host an exciting $25,000 Grand Prix jumper event. For more information or results on the Summer Classics visit www.classiccompany.com or call the show office at 828-225-6202.