Lexington, Ky. – May 17, 2019 – Friday morning at the Kentucky Spring Classic opened with the $5,000 1.45m Open Jumpers to kick off jumper competition in the Rolex Stadium, which saw 32 horse-and-rider combinations test over Kelvin Bywater’s (GBR) 13-effort track. Seven pairs produced clear rounds to ride to an immediate 6-obstacle jump-off where Andy Kocher and Eye Candy Jumpers’ Darius De W captured the fastest time of 31.915 seconds to earn the first win of the morning. Following in second was Ryan Genn, with Hardin Towell finishing in third.
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Alma Björklund Rides to Repeat High Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Victory
Immediately following the $5,000 1.45m Open Jumpers, 32 horse-and-rider combinations entered the stadium for the High Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper speed-style format. Friday’s class yielded ten clear rounds with Alma Björklund once again besting the competition, this time aboard her own Loro Piana Ballyleck Royale. Björklund repeated her victory from last year’s Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper class at the 2018 Kentucky Spring Classic, which she captured with her own Flecu. Björklund and Loro Piana Ballyleck Royale, a 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, flew to an unbeatable time of 66.830 seconds to capture the victory by nearly two seconds.
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Vivian Yowan and Condor Capture Adult Medal Equitation Victories
Photo: Shawn McMillen Photography
Starting the day in the Claiborne Ring was the Ariat National Adult Medal, immediately followed by the the THIS/NHS Adult Medal. Both classes highlight the adult equitation hosted on day three of the Kentucky Spring Classic. Dominating both divisions was Vivian Yowan and Condor, after claiming the highest scores out of the combined 22 entries throughout Friday morning’s competition.
Condor, a 13-year-old Brandenburg gelding owned by Rebecca Morris, helped carry Yowan to near perfect rounds in both classes. Starting with the Ariat Adult Medal, the pair completed a first round course followed by a test where the top four returned to demonstrate a number of tasks over a shortened course over fences. In the THIS/NHS Adult Medal, the pair returned ready to dominate once again. With a first round course consisting of 10 efforts, Yowan and her mount were asked to return for a flat phase of competition where they performed once again in perfect form.
The Ariat Adult Medal will culminate with a final championship at the Capital Challenge Horse Show held September 27 – October 6, 2019, which also plays host to the Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Children’s Medal Final. Similarly, the THIS NHS Adult Equitation Championship will invite qualified riders to the Kentucky Horse Park for its year-end finals at the 2019 National Horse Show, October 25 – November 3.
Brian Moggre Maintains Lead in 2019 Hagyard Challenge Series
Brian Moggre maintains his lead in the 2019 Hagyard Challenge series standings with a total of 320 points after his win in the $36,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI3* at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show and his sixth-place finish in Thursday’s $36,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI3*. Athletes next have the opportunity to gain series points Thursday, July 25, at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show with the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic as they look to top the overall standings and earn the $50,000 Leading Rider Award presented during the Kentucky National Horse Show in September.
