Mr. Candyman, Fernhill Fugitive and Kildalton Cooley en route to Galway Downs. Photo via Facebook.
It’s hard to believe the season is nearly coming to a close. Horses have grown wings this past week and made their way towards Galway Downs in California, which is hosting the final CCI3* of the year in addition to a CCI2* and CCI*. It is an important competition, as Galway is one of the final Rio Olympics qualifiers in North America. Quite a few combinations are traveling all the way from the East Coast to compete, and a few have rerouted to Galway after less than ideal results at Fair Hill. We’ll be sharing our picks to win later this week and Sally will be your boots on the ground with coverage from our last big three-day of the year.
U.S. Weekend Action:
Waredaca H.T. & Classic Three Day [Results]
Windermere Farm H.T. [Results]
Holly Hill Farm H.T. [Results]
Hagyard Midsouth CCI, Classic Three Day, & H.T. [Results]
Monday News and Notes:
Due to injuries sustained from a fall while competing during the World Young Horse Championships in France, two clinics in Kentucky and Virginia with William Fox-Pitt have been cancelled for now, with plans to reschedule at a later date. The organizer of the clinics, Team EnGaged Clinics, is offering all auditors who had already registered for the clinic in Kentucky or in Virginia, an option to either (1) credit their payment toward auditing another TEC clinic of their choice in 2016, or (2) receive a full refund of the fee, less handling charges. Team EnGaged Clinics must be notified of your decision by November 5, 2015, and you can reach them at [email protected].
Simon Grieve retired his horse Cornacrew after he refused the skinny grapes fence late on the course at Le Etoiles de Pau CCI4*. He actually moved the jump as he ran past it. Simon did not hesitate in putting his hand up, as he had felt his horse tiring a few fences before. “Bozzie” is still a winner in his rider’s eyes. [The result doesn’t reflect how hard Boz tried]
It’s no wonder that a number of local riders participated in the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover competition at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky this weekend. Not only have the public been learning about the breed, but riders have been falling in love all over again joining their horses on a journey towards success in a new career. [Hometown riders shine at the Thoroughbred Makeover]
Just two years after his last race, Graham and Anita Motion’s Icabad Crane, a Preakness Stakes runner, was entered in his first CCI* with Phillip Dutton in the irons this weekend at Hagyard Midsouth. The OTTB has taken to eventing as if he were born for it, and his owners are as enthusiastic about following his new career as the gelding is about running and jumping across the country. [Icabad Crane on the move in the event world]
Clarke Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation won the CIC3* at the event at Takapau to win the New Zealand Eventing National Championships. Johnstone had entered with the intention of only completing the dressage phase but decided to take advantage of the good ground for a run in preparation for Adelaide CCI4* next month. [Clarke Johnstone wins NZ’s National Eventing Champs]
After a tough day of cross country, Katie Ruppel was the only American rider to move on to the final phase and ultimately complete the CCI4* at Le Etoiles de Pau with her 11-year-old OTTB Houdini. In their first overseas appearance, they finished in 33rd place. [Ruppel Completes European Debut]
Best horsey Halloween costume ever?
Posted by Mary Jane Benson on Saturday, October 24, 2015
