Jack Hardin Towell Jr. Brushes with Legends in AGA Budweiser Grand Prix 

Zionsville, IN - After a winning debut just three weeks ago at the Biltmore Summer Classics, the team of budding pro Jack Hardin Towell Jr. and Millstream’s Andrea King decided the prestigious Trader’s Point Hunt Charity Horse Show and its $60,000 Budweiser Grand Prix of Indianapolis would be a great opportunity to step up.

In the show’s main event, held Sunday on Wild Air Farms, Olympic Champions dominated the field, but 19-year-old Towell, of Camden, S.C., was not intimidated as he took the course with his two mounts: Iago du Quesnoy, which he co-owns with Neill Sites, and the Millstream/Janet Peterson-owned Artur 28.  “I was a little nervous, but I’ve shown in Florida in the 1.40s against these riders and have grown up with that,” said Towell. “But more so, this was a new place and a new field for me, and I hadn’t ridden that well in it all week. But I actually talked to Margie [Goldstein Engle, who won the class with Calippo 12] a little bit before the jump off and she was very nice. She told me a couple of places to watch out for. And I just kind of relaxed.” 

Only seven of 28 rider teams made the final round, including nine-time AGA rider of the year Goldstein Engle, Olympian Beezie Madden, and 2nd place finisher Laura Linback.  When the last fence was cleared Towell had captured 5th place aboard Artur, with only one rail down in the high-speed jump off.  “I f I had just left that last rail up I would have been 2nd,” laughed the young rider, “and that would have been really exciting! But I was very pleased.

“Artur was just great,” continued Towell of his relatively new mount. “He has done it all,” he added of the 16-year-old German-bred champion. “And he feels just great. I rode pretty nervous today, but I think after this I will be a lot less nervous about going to bigger classes with both Iago and Artur.”

Towell says he and trainer King are now considering going to the Kentucky Nationals with both his horses and perhaps attempting September’s World Cup Qualifying round. But next on Towell’s schedule is college: He will begin freshman classes at FAU in Florida next week

Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY., is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com or Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322, cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com.

Photo: Hardin Towell and Artur 28 ©Flashpoint Photography