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English Events Horse Happenings

Eric Lamaze Claims First $3,000 Bonus in SSG Gloves Promotion

Wellington, Florida – For the second week in a row, Eric Lamaze won the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup and, for the second week in a row, also claimed a $3,000 bonus in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion for wearing SSG ‘Digital’ riding gloves on his way to victory.  The SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion runs throughout the duration of the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival, held January 7 through March 29 in Wellington, FL.

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English Events Horse Happenings

Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Faithful Win at the Wellington Turf Tour

Wellington, FL – January 15, 2015 -Vast green polo fields created the perfect backdrop for the start of the second week of The Ridge at Wellington’s Turf Tour.

 Competition in both rings remained strong throughout the day on Wednesday, January 14. While the weather remained overcast for most of the morning, the sun peeked out during the afternoon to highlight a beautiful set of courses that rode well for the competitors. The Grand Prix field saw riders from 8 a.m. until the sun began to fade around 5 p.m. The second ring stayed quite busy until the medium jumpers finished up in the mid-afternoon. The show saw almost 130 trips, significantly growing from week one of the Turf Tour.

Kristen VanderVeen rode Bull Run’s Faithful, owned by Bull Run Jumpers, Inc. to the top of the standings in the first $2,400 1.3-1.35m jumpers. VanderVeen was very pleased with her new ride on the mare.

(below:Bull Run’s Faithful and Kristen Vanderveen Win $2400 1.3-1.35m Jumpers at The Ridge at Wellington. Photos by Shannon Bower/Phelps Media Group)

Bull Run's Faithful and Kristen VanderVeen Win at The Ridge at Wellington's Turf Tour

“She’s brand new, so it’s only the second time we’ve shown. Last week we did her at the first stop of the Turf Tour, so I’m really happy,” VanderVeen said. “She’s a little spicy so I’m getting used to her, but she’s a gamer in the ring. It’s really nice here; the ground is so solid I don’t feel like we’re going to have any trouble.”

Jeffery Welles finished second on Triton Ventures Farms Inc’s Calais, finishing less than a tenth of a second behind Faithful. He was also fourth on Herbert Sambol’s Broken Heart. 

 

Andrew Welles rode his own Quickly 3 to a third place finish. Andrew spoke very highly of the Turf Tour.                                                 (Calais and Jeffery Welles)

Jeffery Welles and Calais

“It’s a fantastic facility and a great opportunity to do something different with our horses. I think it’s fantastic that we get to come and jump on grass, not just grass but a facility like IPC is just phenomenal for the horses,” Andrew said. “I’m planning to come back on Friday. The horse I did had a nice little break after doing well in the grand prixs in December so this was his first week back.”

 

Tennyson, ridden by Darrin Dliin for Susan Grange, came in fifth. Peter Leone rode Lionshare Farm’s My Pleasure to finish sixth. Leone was enthusiastic about why he chose to come to The Ridge at Wellington’s Turf Tour. “Quality venue, quality jumps, quality course designing and nice money.”

 

(Cassidy and Ansgar Holtgers)

Ansgar Holtgers, riding his own Cassidy, won the second $2,400 1.3-1.35m jumper class. Cartoon City, owned and ridden by Marcus Hagglund finished second. Third went to Gabrielle Pelchat, riding her own Just Stella. Hot Topic, owned by Finca Horses Inc and ridden by Nina Fagerstrom finished fourth. Beth Underhill rode her own Viggo to claim a fifth place. Nimbus, owned by Blue Gate Farm LLC was ridden by Denise Wilson to finish sixth.

The second ring saw plenty of action throughout the morning and early afternoon. The first class of the day was the low jumpers, won by Sarah Wayda on Rene Johnson’s Josephine, out of a very competitive field of 29.

Second went to Click For Quality, ridden by Marshall Field for Hidden Brook Farm. Jennifer Knobel rode her own Stash to finish third. Fourth went to Chambery 25, owned and ridden by Adolpho Franco. Alpen Star Enterprises’ Ae La Gracia finished fifth, ridden by Tatiana Gabrush. Debbi White rounded out the top six on her own Basil Hayden.

 

Marshall Field, who rode Hidden Brook Farm’s London and Carpathia K to finish first and second, dominated the second class of the low jumpers. Morgan Bailey rode her own Baby Ruth to finish third. Fourth went to Ansgar Holtgers on his own Delinda. Christine McCrea rode Candy Tribble’s Centrefold to a fifth place finish. Ae La Gracia finished sixth, ridden by Tatiana Gabrush and owned by Alpen Star Enterprises.

 

The second division was the medium jumpers at 1.2-1.25m. Paul Yanke continued to build on his successes from last week, claiming first aboard Equinvest’s Lady Sparkle and second on his own Carle. Sarah Wayda had three horses in the ribbons, riding Rene Johnson’s horses Maximus and Artemis to finish third and fifth respectively. She also rode Rian Miller’s Contentus to sixth. Fourth went to Unik De Vergne, owned by Nicolas Paillot and owned by Anne Caroline Valtin.

Ansgar Holtgers on his own El Casper won the second class of the medium jumpers, followed by Eric Flameng riding Floriac LLC’s Balous Boy.

 

Friday’s events promise to be exciting, with the $15,000 1.4m Grand Prix running from 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.. Beginning at 8 a.m., there will be both child/adult and masters jumper classes, along with a classic round for both divisions, running concurrently with open cards until noon.

 

In addition, there will be a low schooling jumper division with two classes running concurrently offered at this height. The $2,000 Child and Adult Classic is pointed from Marshall & Sterling, NAL & WIHS. The $2,000 Master’s Jumper Classic, open to riders 50 and over, is also pointed from Marshall & Sterling, NAL & WIHS.

 

The JR/AOs will start at 12:30 p.m. and run until 4:30 p.m., with both the regular class and classic card open concurrently. The $3,000 Junior and A-O Jumper Classic is NAL pointed. High schooling jumpers will also be offered with cards running concurrently.

Week two of the Ridge at Wellington’s Turf Tour is taking place at The International Polo Club, located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington, FL 33414. The show entrance is off 120th Street between Lake Worth Road and Pierson Road.

Meadowbrook Horse Transport will provide transportation to and from the horse show and other locations throughout Wellington for both the Wednesday and Friday events. The transportation is a nominal fee of $50 per horse, and will be calculated into the final show fees. To make a reservation for one of the three pickup times: 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. please call Peter Tufano of Meadowbrook Horse Transport at (954) 415-7217, or call Nona Garson at (908) 500-0996.

For more information about the Ridge at Wellington please go to www.theridgefarm.com. For up-to-date information please follow the Ridge at Wellington on Facebook.

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English Events Horse Happenings

Up (IRE) Commands $2.2 Million on Second Day of Keeneland January Sale

LEXINGTON, KY (Jan. 13, 2015) – The sale of Group 2 winner and classic-placed Up (IRE), a 6-year-old daughter of Galileo (IRE) in foal to War Front, for $2.2 million and her first foal, a yearling filly by War Front, for $800,000 highlighted Tuesday’s second session of the 57th annual Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.

The price for Up, purchased by Ran Jan Racing of Californians Robert Naify and his wife, Jan Van de Bos, was the highest for a horse sold at the January Sale since 2008. Up’s yearling, acquired by Solis/Litt Bloodstock, recorded the sixth-highest price for a yearling filly in January Sale history.

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Events Horse Happenings Western

Denver Chute Out attracts top bull riders from the PBR

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 12, 2015) — The Professional Bull Riders’ (PBR) Denver Chute-Out has traditionally seen super-star athletes making the trip to the Mile High City.
This year is no exception as 90 riders are trying to win a title and cash here. Additionally, the year-end champion from the PBR’s Touring Pro Division will be crowned on Wednesday night. The first performance was held Monday where bulls dominated. There were only nine successful rides with a Brazilian taking the top spot.
Valdiron de Oliveira from Aparecida de Goia, is the leader of the pack with an 87.5-point effort aboard Mike Hadley’s bull named Bono. Right behind him with an 87 was Carlos Garcia, from Hammondsport, N.Y., who rode Wyatt Crowder’s bull The Rocker. Strider Leverton, a newcomer to the PBR from Vernal, Utah, made his mark in Denver with an 81.

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English Events Horse Happenings

Lucchese Boots It in 13-11 Over CT Energia

Wellington, FL – January 10, 2015 – Two points made all the difference in both games Saturday as the 2015 Joe Barry Cup continued at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Lucchese took CT Energia 13-11, and Audi bested Tonkawa 10-8.

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English Events Horse Happenings

High-Goal Winter Polo Season Opening Day Features Star Power and Horsepower

Wellington, FL – December 30, 2014 – On Sunday, January 4, the drama and excitement of the high-goal polo season kicks off at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. For 16 weeks, the world’s finest polo players and their ponies storm into Wellington, where 12, 20-goal teams and eight, 26-goal teams go head-to-head in the greatest athletic and equine polo matchups on Earth.

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English Events Horse Happenings

International Polo Club Palm Beach High-Goal Season Kicks off with the Herbie Pennell Cup

Wellington, FL – January 2, 2015 – International Polo Club Palm Beach’s signature palm trees and lush, manicured fields provided the perfect backdrop for the first high-goal games of the 2015 season. The first match between Casablanca and Coca-Cola demonstrated the strength of the young Casablanca players. In the second face-off of the day, Villa del Lago pulled out a win over the Lechuza Caracas team.

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Arts & Collectibles English Horse Happenings

The Painter Who Hated Picasso

Sporting artist Alfred Munnings loved horses, the English countryside and a good stiff drink. What he didn’t like was modern art.

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Entertainment Horse Happenings TV & Film

War Horse superstar: The Mail tracks down the unsung star of Spielberg’s blockbuster – and the Hollywood ‘horse whisperer’ with whom he has an almost telepathic bond


Those who gathered in New York to watch the stars arriving at the world premiere of the film War Horse last week could have been forgiven for feeling that someone was missing from the glittering event.

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English Events Horse Happenings

Tennessee Grand Prix at Brownland Farm this weekend

Horse lovers and party lovers are invited to enjoy a warm, spring Sunday afternoon at the Tennessee Grand Prix at Brownland Farm. The event is hosted by the Williamson County/Franklin Chamber of Commerce and Brownland Farm and sponsored by Tennessee Equine Hospital and the American Association of Equine Practitioners.