Beacon Hill Equestrian Grand Prix Wrap-Up
RELEASE: June 25, 2008
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Susan Benson
Riding Ultimo Van Ter Moude, Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL, shaved the final turn to the Wachovia plank to stop the clock in 33.301 seconds to win the $50,000 Budweiser Grand Prix, presented by Wachovia, at the Beacon Hill Equestrian Grand Prix. Held at the Beacon Hill Show Stables in Colts Neck, NJ, the Budweiser Grand Prix drew 22 entries over a long course designed by Richard Jeffery.
Andrew Ross, 44, had luck and speed on his side when he outraced fifteen other riders in the jump off to win the $15,000 NJ Life Magazine Junior/Amateur-Owner Prix aboard Electra.
In the $2,500 Children’s Jumper Classic it didn’t look as if Devon Esrick of Odessa, FL, was going to lay down the fastest trip with Tadafanory after a stalled approach to the rock jump. But to cheers and encouragement from fans in the VIP tent, Esrick picked up the pace and galloped into the lead.
Following the victory gallop Esrick returned to the arena to collect the championship ribbon for the children’s jumper division. Reserve was awarded to Olivia Clancy and Casper.
In the $2,500 Adult Jumper Classic it was a repeat performance for Kali Jerman who collected the blue for the second consecutive year. This year Jerman of Holmdel, NJ, rode Inca, a 16-year-old Mecklenburg mare to the win.
One of the classes that made the Beacon Hill Equestrian Grand Prix weekend special was the $10,000 NAL Beacon Hill Speed Derby held on Saturday afternoon. The course was a true derby with banks, double liverpools, live water, and a grob. A true derby horse proved that experience makes a difference. Corina, a ten-year-old Dutch mare, has competed on the field at the Hampton Classic as well as at Spruce Meadows. Going sixth in the order, Corina and rider Chris Cauley of Wellington, FL, galloped around the course of nineteen obstacles fault-free. Cauley, 33, rode Corina in the Derby to get her ready for owner Olivia Jack to show at Lake Placid in the low junior jumper division.
The second open jumper class, held prior to the Speed Derby on Saturday afternoon, was the 1.35 Meter and the last proved to be the best as Lisa Jacquin and Amis De Kannan posted a clean round in a winning 36.403 seconds.
Earlier on Saturday the children’s jumpers drew 28 in the $500 qualifier. Fanny David rode Kelso over the long course, and held the lead until Olivia Clancy of Colts Neck, NJ, entered the ring. As the 27th in the order Clancy and Casper posted a clean round in 65.943 – a score good enough for the win. The top 25 in the qualifier continued on to compete in Sunday’s $2,500 Children’s Jumper Classic.
In the $500 Adult Jumper qualifier the blue ribbon was awarded to Anne Hyman of New York, NY, riding Galant Dream.
The $2,500 Junior/Amateur-Owner qualifier drew 39 entries creating an exciting speed class. Andrew Ross and Electra collected another blue when they finished in a blistering 69.297 seconds.
Riding in the $500 Children’s Jumper Welcome the Horzepa sisters of Millstone Township, NJ, jumped to the top of the class finishing one-two.
In the $500 Adult Jumper speed class 42 horses attempted the long course on the grass. Susannah Wise on Hillary posted the winning time of 57.151. Wise also rode a second mount, Tanzanite, and the pair collected a fifth place ribbon.
A field of 24 horses turned out to vie for the blue ribbon in the $1,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class. The third jumper class of the day saw only five clean trips. Rachel Cline of Moorestown, NJ, riding Splinter were able to keep the rails off the ground while stopping the timers in 72.627 seconds for the win.
In the final class of the day Ronan McGuigan flew around the $5,000 1.30 Meter Open Jumper speed class riding Delano Peak. Stopping the timers in 65.671 seconds, the pair was nearly four seconds faster than Kevin Babbington aboard Spellbound who had to s