Photos: McLain Ward and Sapphire, Nick Skelton and Nemo 119, Todd Minikus and FTI Rider Challenge winners McLain Ward, Beezie Madden and Charlie Jayne with Dennis Shaughnessy, FTI Chief Executive Officer. All photos" © 2009 Ken Braddick

McLain Ward & Sapphire Win $400,000 FTI Finale Grand Prix CSI 5*
Todd Minikus Takes $200,000 FTI Rider Challenge at Palm Beach

WELLINGTON, Fla., Mar. 21--Olympic double gold medalist McLain Ward and Sapphire won the biggest purse in his career Saturday night by capturing the $400,000 FTI Consulting Finale CSI 5* Grand Prix Saturday night at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Todd Minikus of Wellington won the $200,000 FTI Rider Challenge in a double header event that made the total purse the largest pay day in U.S. jumping history.
The finale grand prix of the 12 weeks of the FTI Winter Equestrian at PBIEC that has undergone a multimillion dollar makeover was a dramatic highlight of the world's longest and largest horse show with prize money approaching $6 million in jumpers, hunters and dressage.
Lauren Hough of Wellington, Fla. who had dominated the circuit-long FTI Rider Challenge withdrew her horse, Quick Study, only hours before the competition due to a slight strain in the high suspensory on the left hind leg, an ailment that veterinarians said could have allowed her to ride. She withdrew "for the sake of the horse," an action that drew unanimous praise.
Despite heavy rain throughout much of the day that stopped just as the first of 35 horse and rider combinations went on the course designed by Guillherme Jorge of Brazil, about 5,000 spectators turned out for the event under lights.
Eight pairs made it to the jump off.
Ward of Brewster, N.Y. and the 14-yeard-old Belgian warmblood mare, owned by Ward and Tom Grossman's Blue Chip Bloodstock, were the fastest in the jump off, posting a time of 41.56 secs., earning them $120,000.
The win was the third in a row for Ward and Sapphire, earning the pair $320,000 at this winter circuit.
Great Britain's Nick Skelton and Nemo 119, owned by Beverly Widdowson, cleared the course in 42.55 secs., earning them second place and $88,000. Venezuela's Pablo Barrios and Lagran, owned by Pablo Barrios and Andres Olivares, rounded out the top three with a time of 43.64 secs., earning them $52,000.
The Finale Grand Prix was the concluding event of the $200,000 FTI Rider Challenge.
After Hough's withdrawal was announced, Ward said: "Lauren made a hard call today. A lesser horseman would have gone. By taking herself out tonight, she took herself out of the bonus."
The fifth place finish tonight by Pavarotti, owned by Todd Minikus LTD., the Wellington resident captured the top spot on the Rider Challenge rankings and $100,000.
Ward was second in the Challenge taking home another $50,000. Third place and $30,000 went to Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, N.Y., the 2008 winner, while fourth place and $20,000 went to Charlie Jayne of Elgin, Ill.
Minikus said of the Challenge: "There's no question you think about it. Tonight was a huge class. It's a high pressure situation."
"My stomach started to turn yesterday. It's a familiar feeling. I was excited for tonight and giddy this afternoon," Ward said of Saturday's class which he ranked as one of the top three victories of his career that includes gold medals on Sapphire at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
Skelton, one of the most celebrated riders in show jumping history, said: "I knew McLain was going to take a bit to beat. I think it was a lack of experience on the horse and a trip up by the in-gate. I was going as fast as I could."
Dennis Shaughnessy, Chairman of FTI Consulting, the New York Stock Exchange company that sponsored both the grand prix and the challenge, described his company's involvement:
"At FTI we fix tough problems and people have to trust us.
"I have never seen a sport where you have to have that trust between the horse and rider. That's why this sport is such a good parallel to what we are trying to do."
Minikus said his jump off round was "not smooth enough" but that winning the FTI Rider Challenge is "outstanding."
Ward said the goal for Sapphire is the World Cup Final in Las Vegas April 15-19.
Meantime, he said, he has bought a new farm and home in Wellington for which Saturday night's winnings help to meet the mortgage.
                 
Ken Braddick - Director of Communications
Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC
14440 Pierson Rd., Wellington, FL 33414
561-214-2672
kbraddick@equestriansport.com

Media Information
Media inquiries, credentials and interviews
Ken Braddick

Tel: 561.793.3684

kbraddick@equestriansport.com
--MEDIA ADVISORY--

FTI WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL SATURDAY NIGHT $600,000 FTI FINALE PAY OUTS

PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTER
SATURDAY NIGHT, MAR. 21

$400,000 FTI FINALE GRAND PRIX
$200,000 FTI RIDER CHALLENGE

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

OPENING CEREMONIES - SALUTE TO 2008 OLYMPIANS

7:00 p.m. - Pipe Band Marches Around International Arena

7:10 p.m. - 2008 Olympic team gold medal riders, Canadian team silver medal riders, and riders from Great Britain, Russia and Venezuela who participated in the 2008 Games driven around International Arena in four convertible autos in Salute to 2008 Olympians

7:13 p.m. - Winner of Braman Motorcars WEF Challenge Cup Series presented with keys to BMW 323i Convertible

7:26 p.m. - Rodeo queen with Stars and Stripes leads parade of cars, stilt walkers and clowns in International Arena

7:28 p.m. - National Anthem

7:30 p.m. - First horse on course

9:30 p.m. (approx.) - Awards:

$400,000 FTI Finale Grand Prix
$200,000 FTI Rider Challenge

Media parking passes are available at the PBIEC media center

For more information, please call Ken Braddick 561.214.2672 or email kbraddick@equestriansport.com


DIRECTIONS: From the Florida Turnpike south, take Exit #93, Lake Worth Blvd., and travel west, crossing over US 441. Travel five miles to South Shore Blvd., turn right on South Shore and proceed one mile to Pierson Road, then turn left at the light. Spectator Entrance is first left, Equestrian Club Road.

From Interstate I-95, take Exit #49. Travel west on Forest Hills Blvd. 11 miles to South Shore Blvd. Turn left on

Come See Us in Wellington for the World Dressage Masters.

Thursday, Jan. 29 - Saturday, Jan. 31
$135,000 Prizemoney
Spectacular Palm Beach
International Equestrian Center
Under Lights Friday Night
Anky van Grunsven Clinic
Under Lights Saturday Night
Grand Prix Musical Freestyle


* Anky Van Grunsven NED * * Steffen Peters USA * * Ashley Holzer CAN* * Edward Gal NED * * Hans-Peter Mindehoud NED *
* Anne van Holst DEN * * Stefan van Ingelgem BEL * * Lars Petersen DEN * * Michael Barisone USA * * Tosca Visser NED *
* Jan Ebeling USA * * Mikala Gundersen DEN * * Jacqueline Brooks CAN * * Jane Hannigan USA * * Joe Sandven USA *
* Tara Stegen USA * * Marco Bernal COL * * Arlene Page USA *

Friday and Saturday will present two days of unprecedented dressage festivities in the United States with the entire International Arena including the International Club catered by Equestrian Club by Tavern on the Green, VIP boxes and general admission seating available for reservations.

On Friday, van Grunsven will host a clinic with a group of selected riders in the International Arena under lights, an environment that is similar to the 2008 Olympic equestrian venue in which van Grunsven won her third straight Olympic individual gold medal.

The riders in the clinic include young riders, small tour competitors and Grand Prix combinations.

Saturday will be the WDM highlight with the * €30,000 ($40,000) Grand Prix Special and, €60,000 ($80,000) Grand Prix Freestyle.

Engle Wins 2008 Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship; Farrington takes $60,000 Holiday & Horses FEI World Cup Qualifier
December 7, 2008

Margie Engle and Hidden Creeks Quervo GoldWellington, FL – The second and final leg of the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship presented by Equine Motorcoach showcased some of the country’s best horses and riders. Todd Minikus won the first leg on Friday night with Pavarotti but Sunday brought a whole new challenge.

35 riders went to task in Sunday’s $60,000 Holiday & Horses FEI World Cup Qualifier which included riders from six nations and featured the final USEF National Championship of 2008. Veteran rider Margie Engle put in the most consistent performance over the two rounds to end up on top. Despite placing eighth overall on Sunday – their third place from the first leg propelled them into the winner’s spot. Riding Hidden Creek’s Quervo Gold on Sunday (and Hidden Creek’s Pamina L on Friday) she ended up on 44 points,, beating out Kirsten Coe and Starlight for the coveted Rolex watch.

“There were so many different things going on,” said Engle. “So I wasn’t sure – so it was kind of a nice surprise.”

Engle won the National Championship a decade ago on Hidden’s Creek Glory in Gladstone, NJ, and she felt this year’s course was plenty tough.

“I thought it was a good test and it was big enough and some technical parts to it,” said Engle. “The rails seemed light. I saw a couple roll off easily. It was a big enough course for what we do this time of year. I didn’t think their would be a ton clears when I walked it.”

Engle, who celebrated her 50th birthday in 2008, rode Hidden Creek Farm’s dependable campaigner, Quervo Gold to an eight fault round but her overall placing was good enough for the championship. The 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding jumped up from third for his rider, after Minikus had four down on Pavarotti and Hillary Dobbs, who was second after the first round, had 13 faults on Marengo.

Engle, who has been a cornerstone of the US show jumping programs for decades sees this season as a rebuilding year.

“I’m trying to rebuild my string a little bit,” said Engle. “I have two young horses and hopefully have one for the WEG (the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games) so this year I hope to have those young horses gain some experience here over the next few months. Going to the World Cup Final would be a bonus because I love Las Vegas.”

Coe and Starlight were crowned the Reserve Champions on their score of 42 points, they too had an eight fault performance on Sunday, and were slightly slower than Engle to slip into the runner-up spot to remain one spot behind Engle.

28-year-old Coe from Johnson, SC, and Laura King’s 9-year-old KWPN gelding recently represented the US on the winning Nations Cup Team at the CSIO Buenos Aires in November.

Anthony D’Ambrosios’s track proved difficult and only two managed clear rounds. Russia’s Ljubov Kochetov jumped the first fault-free round on Aslan, as the 12th combination in the arena. Seven horses later, the 2007 National Champions, Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui, guaranteed a jump-off by putting in one of their signature impressive clear rounds. Neither rider was in the hunt for the National Championship, but when the dust settled after the jump-off, Farrington and the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood prevailed with a faster clear in the jump-off and won the World Cup Qualifier.

“I had to be a little bit careful because I had to go clear,” said Farrington, who followed Kochetov in the jump-off. “I had a light rub in the in and out and got away with that so then I just let him go. My horse is naturally faster, he’s that type of horse so I knew I had to make one or two neat turns, going last is a huge advantage.”

Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui won the Grand Prix second legFarrington’s goal for Up Chiqui is to pick up enough World Cup points to qualify with the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final in Vegas.

“He’s a funny horse when he hasn’t shown in a while, he felt a lot better today than he did the other night,” said Farrington of the incredibly consistent Up Chiqui. “I have a lot of confidence in that horse and I always think there is a chance I can win even when I might not have a chance.”

Farrington finished fifth in the National Championship standings after he finished 14th in the opening round.

“Of course I was disappointed, I knew after the other night that it was probably unrealistic,” said Farrington about defending his title from 2007.

Kochetov was delighted with her horse’s performance, the 8-year-old Aslan hasn’t competed since the Olympic Games, so his rider had ‘no complaints’ with her second place finish.

For more information please contact Joanie Morris at jmorris@usef.org. For complete results please see www.equestriansport.com.

Written by Joanie Morris · Filed Under Hunters & Jumpers, Joanie Morris, USA, WEF

Holiday and Horses.

Holiday and Horses set forDecember 3rd-7th, celebrates the joy of the holiday season with families and horse lovers alike. Join us for the $125,000 Rolex/USEF National Jumper Championships presented by Equine Motorcoach (Dec. 5th night and Dec. 7th afternoon), Dressage under the Lights (Saturday Dec. 6th evening) and daily national hunter/jumper competition. Seasonal family activities take place on the weekend of December 6th-7th. Enjoy the Village of Wellington Tree Lighting, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and a visit with Santa Claus (Saturday Dec. 6th at 7:00pm).