McLain Ward Wins Budweiser World Cup Qualifier of Syracuse, Harrie Smolders Wins Speed and Kimberly McCormack Wins Maclay

Syracuse, NY: An action packed $75,000 Budweiser World Cup qualifier of Syracuse challenged 29 of the world’s best riders and their horses. Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios’s course had tests of power, speed, agility and bravery throughout. In the end, nine horses made it clear all the way through to go on to the jump-off round. The key to this course was having a horse with lots of power to jump significant height, the scope to jump the wide oxers and rideabilty to make the tight turns. Trouble spots on the course were jump 6, an oxer along the rail, which was taken down 8 times; fence 7, a skinny white gate, fell down 9 times; and the triple combination, fences 9A, 9B, 9C, caused run outs, stops and rails while toppling the hopes of top riders such as Nick Skelton and Beezie Madden.

Brianne Goutal was the first to return for the jump-off on Onira. The pair put in a fast round but had a rail. Next to go was the last year’s winner, Michael Whitaker, this year riding his talented stallion Insul Tech Mozart Des Hayettes; they were clean and through the times in 36.28. The remaining 7 riders had to go all out to go for the win. Danielle Torano and Christine McCrea went for the win but had 8 and 4 faults respectively. Fifth to go was the current leading rider in East Coast World Cup points, Kent Farrington on his amazing horse, Up Chiqui. This pair was fresh off a win in Harrisburg where they had bested McLain Ward and Larioso. Farrington and Up Chiqui were on fire as usual tonight as they jumped clear in a blazing 34.50 seconds. Next to go was Ken Berkley on his talented Carlos Boy. A pulled rail knocked Berkley back to 7th place. The eighteen year-old William Whitaker of Great Britain was next on course and went all-out on his mare Arielle. They flew around the course but still missed Farrington’s time and ended up third. Next on course was Lauren Hough on her mare Casadora. They were not able to break the 35 second mark and finished in fourth. Last to go was McLain Ward and Phillipa. In a nail biting performance, the pair whipped around the course with Ward giving the mare the mare the signal to give her all at the last fence. The ride was just fast enough for Ward to come out on top.

McLain was ecstatic over the win on his new mountPhillipa saying he “has never ridden a horse like her” and that he “never felt a horse jump so easy”. Ward explained that the 9-year old mare jumped her first Grand Prix in May of 2007 and was found by his father. Phillipa is now owned by Sagamore Farms, and Ward said that although she is for sale, he will have the ride through the 2008 Olympics.

The Budweiser World Cup Qualifier of Syracuse Marks the conclusion of the series of qualifying competitions for tomorrow’s $50,000 Animal Planet Sporthorse cup. Seven riders qualify to compete based on their performance in six international jumper competitions during the Tournament. The seven qualified riders are: McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, Margie Engle, Harrie Smolders, Stein Endresen, Leslie Howard and Lauren Hough.

In afternoon action, the notoriously fast $15,000 TK 99 Speed Derby lived up to its reputation. With 34 of the international division riders mounted on their fastest horses representing Olympic veterans and the top rookies in the country. Harrie Smolders’ trip from the Netherlands was made worthwhile with his win on his long legged, flashy mare Indiana. Second place finisher, Michael Whitaker, who is from Great Britain, came up just .74 seconds shy on his quick-footed Insul Tech Quidame Des Hayettes Z. In 3rd place was up-and-comer Sarah Segal on True Love followed by her mentor, Olympian Beezie Madden, riding her mare Onlight.

Empire Tractor Ride & Drive presented by Pin Oak Farm was a crowd pleaser. Five very competitive International division riders were put to the test which required that they first pilot their horse over a tricky course, then dismount and jump on a tractor with a wagon attached and drive it around a windy course. While piloting the horses proved to be no problem for the riders, the tractor driving that was the real challenge, especially the final part of the course that required them to back up to stop the timers. The winner was Stein Endresen who handled his horse and the tractor with ease.

The National Horse Show ASPCA Championship was another highlight of the afternoon session. The final eighteen riders chosen by the judges from an original field of 153 competed in their final jumping round in front of an appreciative War Memorial crowd. The courses were designed by judges George Morris and Linda Hough. The first round of jumping proved particularly challenging with rider after rider plagued with refusals and knockdowns. In the end it was Kimberly McCormack riding Sundance who proved her consistency to the judges to become the 2007 National Horse Show ASPCA Maclay Champion. Reserve went to Elizabeth Lubrano on Golou II. Kimberly is trained by her sister Kristy McCormack, Missy Clark and John Brennan. Elizabeth is trained by Frank and Stacia Madden. Third place went to Shelby Wakeman who rode San Francisco and is trained by Karen Healey. 

PHOTO CREDIT: McLain Ward and Phillipa Won the $75,000 Budweiser World Cup Qualifier of Syracuse
Harrie Smolders and Indiana won the TK99 Speed Derby
Kimberly McCormack is the 2007 National Horse Show ASPCA Maclay Champion
Credit: Reflections, Inc.