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US Rider Schuyler Riley Makes Jump-off of World's Richest Show Jumping Event

Written by: Kenneth Kraus
Client: PhelpsSports.com http://phelpssports.com/
Release Date: 2006-01-13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ken Braddick for PhelpsSports.com

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PHOTO CREDIT: Schuyler Riley riding Opus Sept in the Dubai $760,000 Grand Prix show jumping event. Photo: Ken Braddick-HorseSport USA

US Rider Schuyler Riley Makes Jump-off of World's Richest Show Jumping Event

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Jan. 13, 2006 - U.S. team veteran Schuyler Riley rode her horse, Opus Sept, to a clean first round Friday in the world's richest show jumping event, the Al Maktoum Memorial Challenge. In the jump-off to decide the top money winners in the $760,000 grand prix, Riley knocked down two fences to finish in 13th place.

Riley of New Hope, Penn. and Wellington, Fla. brought only one horse, the 16-year-old gelding, to the event in the Persian Gulf nation. She rode the South Beach Stables-owned horse in classes on all three days.

Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, N.Y., a Team Gold Medalist in the 2004 Athens Olympics, finished in 19th place aboard Desilvio, owned by Abigail Wexner. Earlier Friday, Madden competed her second mount, the Allan-Shore-owned Play On, in the Six-Bar event in which the fences are raised after each round to determine the winner. The pair finished 10th.

The Grand Prix was won by Ireland's Jessica Kûrten on Quibell. Kurten, who will compete in Florida's Winter Equestrian Festival next month, took home a check for $250,000 for her victory, the second win in two days at this inaugural challenge.

The event was organized by the ruling Al Maktoum family and brought 29 of the world's top show jumpers to compete for a total of $1,250,000 in prize money. It became a memorial to Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum when he died unexpectedly of a stroke nine days ago. The late ruler was one of the world's most prominent supporters of horse sports, maintaining large stables of Thoroughbreds in Europe and the United States as well as extensive involvement in the internationally recognized discipline of endurance riding. Although Dubai is in an official state of mourning and virtually all other public events were canceled, the ruling family decided to proceed with this inaugural Challenge as a memorial.

The final night's performance was attended by about 5,000 spectators, many of whom were dressed in traditional white robes and head scarves and others in black tie and tails.

Riley said that in the first round, Opus Sept went really well despite being under floodlights, but for the third day spooked at a jump built like a dhow, a traditional Arab sailing craft. The pair went clean and was one of 13 out of a starting field of 29 that returned for a jumpoff.

In the second round, Riley said that she tried to go fast, but Opus Sept balked at an early jump. Her safety helmet fell over her eyes and she became "discombobulated," and he knocked down a second fence.

"Maybe I shouldn't have tried to go so fast," Riley said, "but this was a big money class and it was important to give it a shot. It deserved us giving it our best."

Madden said that Desilvio, who she competed with in the selection trials for the 2004 Athens Olympics, jumped well, but at this event "we were a little out of the groove."

She said she learned of the event less than two months ago after a long competition year in 2005. Both she and Riley competed for the United States on the championship Samsung Super League teams.

"I'd like to come back," she said, "but I'd probably prepare in the future by competing in Europe before this event."

Riley described the event as "great for show jumping."

The organizers did a "fabulous, amazing job," bringing together not just the top show jumpers from around the world, but also top riders in other equestrian disciplines. British Olympic dressage rider Richard Davison, former world and Olympic three-day event rider Mark Todd of New Zealand, Australian Boyd Excell with four-in-hand driving and the British champion reiner, all made center stage appearances.

Despite the 12-hour flight from New York to Dubai, Riley said she was surprised at how much energy and stamina the U.S. horses displayed. The recovery time once they return to the United States should probably be only days, she said.

This news story is brought to you by PhelpSports.com. Set to debut this August at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, PhelpsSports.com will be your most important stop on the Internet, for the most important equestrian news.

PHOTO CREDIT: Schuyler Riley riding Opus Sept in the Dubai $760,000 Grand Prix show jumping event. Photo: Ken Braddick-HorseSport USA