Mario Deslauriers in the Janney Montgomery Scott 1.35m class
(The Book LLC)
In the two sections of the WPTZ News Channel 5 1.30 meter classes, Michael Hughes of Allendale, NJ swept top honors. The horse show continues through Sunday at the North Elba Showgrounds in Lake Placid.
In the first section of the 1.35 meter class, Chapot, of Neshanic Station, NJ, took the top two places, finishing the jump-off clean in 36.309 seconds on Castellana for the win and in 37.064 seconds on Shooting Star to take second. Deslauriers, the former Canadian Olympian from New York, NY, won the second section with a clean jump-off ride in 36.514 seconds on Scout De La Cense. Chapot placed second with a jump-off time of 36.596 seconds on Zealous.
Hughes turned in the fastest clean ride in both sections of the 1.30 meter class, winning the first section with time of 52.884 seconds on Fortuna and winning the second with a time of 63.115 seconds on Winchester.
The I Love New York Horse Show continues through Sunday, hosting all levels of competition from young children on ponies to grand prix competitors and Olympic medalists, all competing for over $535,000 in prizes. The horse show begins at 8:00 am each day, with competition running in four rings simultaneously.
Highlighting the week is the $100,000 Woodlea Farms Grand Prix Presented by Sea Shore Stables, LLC on Saturday, July 6. This is the first time the horse show is offering a $100,000 Grand Prix!
On Saturday, the horse show also hosts its annual Doggie Costume Contest sponsored by Animal Planet and the Brown Dog Cafe and Wine Bar. All people with a leashed dog in costume are admitted to the horse show free of charge. All entrants in the contest, which begins at 12:00 noon, receive treats.
Another highlighted competition is the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Eastern Hay & Grain and Purina Animal Nutrition. This event, held in the Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix Field on Sunday, July 7, features jumps that resemble natural obstacles seen in the hunt field with a variety of challenges including stone walls, hedges, logs, banks and ditches.