The Dixon Oval. Photo by Phelps Media Group Inc.
Excitement is building for the inaugural $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing, presented by Mid-Atlantic Packaging, and we have a first look at the horses and riders who will be taking on the class at Pennsylvania’s iconic Devon Horse Show & Country Fair this Sunday, May 28.
The entry list includes a mix of familiar four-star names and rising stars, plus one very special celebrity we haven’t seen compete since 2015. Get ready to cheer for:
Amanda Beale Clement (USA) with Get Ready
Amanda Beale Clement (USA) with Peter Pan
Jennie Brannigan (USA) and Cambalda
Will Coleman (USA) with Gideon
Justine Dutton (GBR) with Huck Finn
Justine Dutton (GBR) with Jak My Style
Lisa Marie Fergusson (CAN) with Honor Me
Sara Kozumplik Murphy (USA) with Rubens D’Ysieux
Boyd Martin (USA) with Kyra
Boyd Martin (USA) with Ray Price
Hillary Moses (USA) with Zanadoo
Erika Nesler (USA) with Right Above It
Doug Payne (USA) with Flagmount’s Mischief
Doug Payne (USA) with Getaway
Waylon Roberts (CAN) with Kelecyn Cognac
Waylon Roberts (CAN) with Lancaster
Waylon Roberts (CAN) with Mindful
Colleen Rutledge (USA) with Shiraz
Allie Sacksen (USA) with Sparrow’s Nio
Erin Sylvester (USA) with Campground
Sharon White (USA) with Cooley On Show
Ryan Wood (AUS) with Alcatraz
Horses and riders will take on a 1,000-meter course that runs through the Gold Ring and Dixon Oval. Designed by Capt. Mark Phillips, the course will include both cross country and show jumping fences set at a maximum height of 1.20 meters or 1.40 meters for brush fences, with a maximum top spread of 1.60 meters.
Fifteen cross country fences are being shipped from Fair Hill in Maryland to build the course, which is expected to include 25 jumping elements in all. The course will be built on Sunday at approximately 4:45 p.m., with the class slated to start at 7 p.m.
Seconds will be added for a knock down and for exceeding the time allowed, which will be calculated at 450 meters per minute. All riders with no penalties in the first round will go on to a jump off, which will run over a shortened course in the Dixon Oval.
The fastest time in the jump off will take home the win and $15,000 for first place. The rest of the $50,000 purse will be split as follows: 2nd: $10,000; 3rd: $7,500; 4th: $6,000; 5th: $4,500; 6th: $3,000; 7th: $2,000; 8th: $1,000; 9th: $500; 10th: $500. There is no entry fee for the class.
Tickets for reserved grandstand seating are available for $40 at this link. For those who can’t attend, USEF Network will be live streaming here.
