Laura Kraut and Panic won the $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte on April 9, rounding out Kraut’s second place win in the 2004 Charlotte Jumper Classic and her third place win last year. Kraut, the winner of five Nation Cups and seven World Cups, delivered two clear rounds on her mount, Panic, to take the trophy.

“I think the crowd really helped today,” said Kraut. This is a great venue for spectators, which makes it more fun for us. My mom’s family is from Charlotte, and I lived in Camden, SC, for a long time, so this win is especially sweet.”

Kraut’s horse, Panic, is a relatively inexperienced horse, but Kraut thought the time was right. “My horse was fantastic today,” she said. “Right before the round I told him he would get a long rest after this one last run.”

Kraut beat out Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward and the number three ranked rider in the World Rodrigo Pessoa to take the class. She was the only rider to deliver two clean rounds in the finale.

Top Results of the Grand Prix of Charlotte, CSI
Qualifier for the 2007 FEI European Senior Jumping Championship; Member Event of the AGA Grand Prix Series of Show Jumping

Laura Kraut – Panic – 0/34.02
McLain Ward – Goldicka – 4/31.06
Rodrigo Pessoa – Baloubet du Rouet – 4/32.58
Norman Dello Joio – Glasglow – 4/32.93
Margie Engle – Hidden Creek’s Perin – 4/35.23
Michael Morrissey – Crelido - 4/35.81

The Charlotte Jumper Classic is a charitable event for the Charlotte Bobcats Charitable Foundation. Net proceeds from the 2006 Charlotte Jumper Classic benefit the Presbyterian Hemby Children's Hospital. The Charlotte Jumper Classic is an annual event and an important stop on the million-dollar AGA Grand Prix circuit. The Fourth Annual Charlotte Jumper Classic will take place April 13-15, 2007, at Charlotte Bobcats Arena for a purse of $400,000.


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