Scott Stewart and Concept are honored as Grand Hunter Champions by Lake Placid Horse Show Chairman Richard Feldman (The Book LLC)

Lake Placid, NY - While rain forced cancellation of the featured jumper classes Friday at the 44th annual Lake Placid Horse Show, Presented by Sea Shore Stables, LLC, many of the hunter classes ran as scheduled. Classes in the Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix Field were called off in order to preserve the field for the weekend's Classics and Grand Prix.

After Thursday's classes, Scott Stewart of Wellington, FL was honored as Grand Hunter Champion for his stellar performances with Concept in the Green Conformation division.  Stewart, a perennial winner at Lake Placid and on the hunter-jumper show circuit, totaled 50 points on Concept to earn the Grand Championship. He also won championships in the First Year Green and High Performance Hunter divisions on Loyalty and in the Performance Hunter division on Declaration.

Stewart says he enjoys showing at the Lake Placid Horse Shows because he believes the management, "Just knows how to put on a good horse show.  They also create such a relaxed and fun atmosphere that is hard to find anywhere else."

Stewart noted that, "Concept is a green horse but has definitely grown up and shown great consistency this week. I am very happy with the way he rode."

Stewart's student Victoria Colvin earned Grand Junior Hunter Championship honors on Ovation.  "Ovation and I have been together for many years," she said.  "He holds a special place in my heart and I always enjoy winning with him."

Colvin hopes to defend her championship in next week's  $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Eastern Hay & Grain and Purina Animal Nutrition.  She plans to ride Inclusive on whom she won the title last year.  The Derby is the culminating class for the hunters in Lake Placid and it gives them a rare chance to compete in the all grass Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix Field.

This week's Lake Placid Horse Show will culminate with the $75,000 Equine Insurance Services/Great American Grand Prix of Lake Placid on Sunday. Next week's I Love New York Horse Show will feature the $100,000 Woodlea Farms Grand Prix on Saturday marking the first time the Lake Placid Horse Shows are offering a $100,000 Grand Prix!