It was a day of big-money champions
at the Alltech National Horse Show hunter events

It was a day of hunter championships Saturday at the Alltech National Horse Show, capped by the $250,000 Grand Prix won by Richard Spooner and Cristallo who beat Great Britain’s Nick Skelton aboard Carlo 273 by just three-tenths of a second.

Cristallo is owned by Show Jumping Syndicate of Agua Dulce, Calif.

Jessica Springsteen and Cincinatti Le Silla placed third. The Netherland’s Harris Smolders and Exquis Oliver Q, owned by Axel Verlooy, were fourth and Margie Engle and Indigo, owned by Griese, Garber, Hidden Creek, and Gladewinds of Wellington, Fl, placed fifth.

Springsteen was also the winner of the Leading Lady Rider Award presented by Martha Jolicoeur, while Skelton earned the Audi Leading Rider Award and a one-year lease of an Audi Q-7 for his efforts during the week.

The $50,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship marked the first time in the history of the series that such a large purse was offered. It went to Lillie Keenan and Vanhattan, owned by Chansonnette Farm LLC of New York.

Robert Lee of Old Saybrook, Conn., and El Grecco were second and Charlotte Jacobs and Promised Land, owned by Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables of East Windsor, Conn., were third.

Christina Kelly and Camirage, owned by Diamond Edge Farm of Nicholasville, caught an unlucky rail on the last single vertical and earned the fourth place award. Lauren Ward and Oskar, owned by McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, took the fifth place award.

“For me this is a really special place,” said Keenan. “ I love the Kentucky Horse Park, and it’s a lot of fun to be here. I also don’t worry about the footing because it is great, especially for this type of class. It holds up well, the horses are not in pain, and they don’t slip very much. What I love about this venue is that they fill up the seats and there’s cheering; it makes it really special.”

The season-long series champions for the Junior and Amateur-Owner jumper riders were also announced. The East Conference Amateur-Owner Championship winner was Charlie Jacobs and Leap of Joy, owned by Deeridge Farm of East Aurora, NY.. Christina Kelly and Camirage were presented with the East Conference Junior Championship after consistently earning top ribbons in competitions throughout the year.

During the afternoon Junior Hunters showcased their talent with Olivia Esse and her mount Illusion garnering the Moyer Family $7500 Small Junior 16-17 Championship award as well as the Junior Hunter Grand Champion award for their placings over the last two days. Esse also earned the reserve championship honors aboard her younger and more recent mount, Clooney.

Vivian Yowan and Whatever, owned by Boggs Hill of Wellington, Fl., rode to the top honors during the $7,500 Small Junior 15 and Under Hunter . Ailish Cunnife and Good Times, owned by Whipstick Farm of South Salem, NY, took the reserve championship tricolor after earning three second place ribbons.

The Gochman Family Large Junior 15 and Under Champion was decided after a hack-off between Lillie Keenan and Victoria Colvin, two of the sport’s foremost Junior Hunter riders. It was Keenan of New York, NY, and C Coast Z who took the championship honors, while Colvin and Touchdown, owned by Becky Gochman of New York, NY, scored the reserve championship prize.

Meg O’Mara and Walk The Line, owned by O’Mara and Don Stewart of Ocala, Fl., posted the highest stake score of the afternoon, during the Greentree South $7,500 Large Junior 16-17 Stake. Their top score combined with their second and third place ribbons from Thursday earned them the championship honors. Perfectionist, owned by Richard Prant of Flemington, NJ, and ridden by Heather Hooker, took the reserve championship honors for their efforts throughout the division.

“This move to the Kentucky Horse Park for the Alltech National Horse Show is what I have been begging for,” Stewart continued. “It is finally in a place that is horse friendly and somewhere where everyone can enjoy it. We are loving it! They have really gone overboard for hospitality and bending over backwards to make this a special show.”

On the final day of the show, Sunday, 200 junior riders will compete during the Maclay National Championship for the ASCPA Maclay Horsemanship Classes.

Photo by Kendall Bierer