Horse Shows by the Bay Series III Wrap-Up
RELEASE: August 4, 2008
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Phelps Media Group
The highlight class of the third week at Horse Shows by the Bay was the $25,000 D-BRAIDER Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix, which was held on Saturday, August 2. The class was generously sponsored by Karin Flint and D-BRAIDER.
Inside the VIP tent there was a catered dinner and the always-popular silent auction. Items available for bid included halters worn by famous racing Thoroughbred's like Storm Cat, portraits of horses like Barbaro, a ticket package for the U.S. Open, and much more.
The loudest cheer of the night was when Scott Lenkart galloped through the finish timers with double-clear rounds. A crowd favorite, he was awarded top honors for the second consecutive week in a row. He won aboard Impulsive, a flashy bay gelding out of Impulse. Impulsive and Lenkart brilliantly handled the course, which was designed by Brazilian Guilherme Jorge.
In the jump-off, Lenkart was a little nervous about his plan because of the angles he planned to take. The other riders put in some quick times, so Lenkart had to rise to the challenge.
Jumper HighlightsSeveral jumper classes were held on Wednesday, including Level 5, 6 and the North American League (NAL) Open Speed class. The course designer for the grand prix ring is Guilherme Jorge from Brazil.
The first class of the day was $750 Level 5 Jumpers, sponsored by Buckeye Nutrition. Winning for the second week in a row was David Beisel. Aboard Rockstar, a Selle Francais gelding, the pair had a blazing first-round time of 69.15 seconds, followed by a jump-off time of 32.015 seconds.
The $1,000 Level 6 Jumpers followed Level 5. Most of the riders in the class made it to the jump-off, so the times had to be quick. Winning the class was Lisa Goldman and Centurion B. The horse is owned by Mary Goldman.
Goldman and Centurion B handled the course well. Even though they were the first in the class, they managed to hold the lead the entire time.
After the Level 6 Jumpers finished their class, the $3,000 NAL Open Speed class began. This class was the first to use the grassy bank built into the far corner of the ring. Riders has to jump a fence onto it, gallop up the hill and back down, then jump a fence back into the ring.
This class used a time allowed of 89 seconds and riders were making up time wherever they could since they didn't know how the bank would ride. Winning the class was Henry Pfeiffer on Sister.
In the Children's Jumpers on Friday, one of the classes was a speed class. There was no shortage of talented riders in the class, making it the most intense and exciting of the day.
Coming out on top was junior rider Rebecca Hudson and her aptly named 12-year-old Thoroughbred, Playboy. The pair comes from Clarkston, MI, and rides with Tara Golaszewski of Hidden Hollow Farm in White Lake, MI. Hidden Hollow Farm has a long history of producing top horses and riders. Hudson came to Horse Shows by the Bay with jumper rider and trainer Michelle Freidman while Golaszewski manages another horse show. Friedman's facility is Dragonfly Farm out of Northville, MI.
The class to watch on Sunday was the North Face Farm $10,000 NAL/WIHS Child/Adult Jumper Classic. The class was intense, and the course was tough for many riders. The class had close to 40 entries. Out of those in the class, only nine managed to go clear and made it to the jump-off. With a time of 74 seconds, there were many riders who accrued time faults, including four who were clean in the first round.
The course was extremely technical and cost many riders' rails. The combination was tricky for many and required a waiting ride; there were not many places to open up and gallop. Lisa Baker and her Horse King Tobias were awarded to blue ribbon in the $10,000 NAL/WIHS Child/Adult Jumper Classic sponsored by North Face Farm of Maple City, MI.
Hunter HighlightsWeek three continued with a ve