Jimmy Torano Tops $10,000 Open Jumper Circuit Awards in Vermont

East Dorset, VT – Jimmy Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, topped the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Awards, presented by Sir Ruly, Inc., at the six-week Vermont Summer Festival held July 9 to August 17 in East Dorset, VT.

Offered for the second year, the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Awards, presented by Sir Ruly, Inc., awards $10,000 in bonus money to the most consistent open jumper competitors throughout the six-week circuit. For the second year in a row, it was Torano who came out on top. Torano is one of the busiest riders at the Vermont Summer Festival and, during weeks one through four, had 31 horses from his JET Stables on-site.

“I’m lucky to have so many nice horses to ride,” said Torano, 43. “It’s great to have an award like this for the riders to shoot for.”

Torano accumulated 301 points by consistently placing in the top eight in the designated level 7 and level 8 open jumper classes and in the top 12 in the weekly Sunday grand prix classes. Although he normally competes at the Vermont Summer Festival for all six weeks, Torano left after week four to judge at the USEF Pony Finals in Lexington, KY. He went out on a high note, winning week four’s $30,000 Mount Equinox Grand Prix riding the nine-year-old stallion, Caldam D’Or, owned by SCNC Investments.

Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, took home $3,000 as the runner-up with 181 points. During week one, Dobbs won the $5,500 Open Speed, the $10,000 Polo Ralph Lauren/Lilly Pulitzer Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, and the $30,000 Vermont Summer Special Grand Prix.

Joe Fargis of Middleburg, VA, finished third in the standings with 82 points to earn a check for $2,000.

Torano’s wife, Danielle, accepted the award on behalf of her husband during the awards ceremony held before the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix on Sunday, August 17.

“We’ve had a great circuit and I’m really happy he could win again,” noted Danielle Torano as she held the check for $5,000. “We look forward to coming back next year, too, so this will go right back into the pot.”

Ruly Torano of Sir Ruly Inc., who also happens to be Jimmy’s uncle, was proud to hand over the Open Jumper High Score Award to his nephew for the second time.

“I’m very happy for my nephew, he’s a very determined rider,” he said. “Hillary Dobbs is also a very talented rider and, of course, Joe Fargis is as well. They all deserved to win.”

The Vermont Summer Festival, held for the 15th year at the Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, offered a total of $750,000 in prize money throughout the six weeks of competition, making it the richest sporting event in the state. In 2009, the Vermont Summer Festival will again offer six weeks of competition from July 1 to August 9. Visit the Vermont Summer Festival <http://www.vt-summerfestival.com/> website for more information.

$10,000 Sir Ruly Inc. Open Jumper High Score Awards

Rider - Hometown - Prize
Jimmy Torano - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - $5,000
Hillary Dobbs - Sussex, N - $3,000
Joe Fargis - Middleburg, VA - $2,000

PHOTOGRAPH: For the second consecutive year, Jimmy Torano won the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Award, presented by Sir Ruly, Inc., at the 2008 Vermont Summer Festival. Photo credit – David Mullinix