Kelley Farmer with Mindful and Dalliance, finished first and second respectively in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by CP. Ed Steinbeck of CP (second from the right) was on hand for the presentations. (ChicagoEquestrian)

Antioch, Ill. – The National Show Hunter Hall of Fame Chicago Hunter Derby, presented by Canadian Pacific, has another year in the books with big winners all the way around. The big winner of the day was Kelley Farmer, taking the top three spots in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Farmer collected five checks total for her six rides in the final handy round, with Mindful the top money earner for the weekend.

Mindful took the International Hunter section by storm, winning the $7,500 International Welcome Stake, both rounds of the International Hunter Derby and the overall.

“I think he speaks for himself. He’s always consistent,” said Farmer about Mindful. “Thank God for Larry and my owners, the horses and the group of people back at the barn, I couldn’t do it without them. It takes a village and fortunately, we have a good one.”

“Can I brag on my horse for a minute?” interrupted Larry Glefke. “He (Mindful) is the first horse in derby history to earn over $100,000 in one year and he was over $100,000 in USEF money won, prior to this derby. He’s the winningest horse in one year.  That’s cool for a horse to do that.”

USEF standings currently have Mindful at over $113,000 in the High Performance Hunters Money Won and USHJA International Derby Money Won is currently $97,880, which is more than Derby Finals winner Brunello has earned this year.

“I love this field,” added Farmer. “It’s a beautiful field but its not easy. It really separates out the good horses. This is my happy place. Bobby Murphy does a great job with the courses so you can just gallop.”

“In a perfect world, this is where the derby finals should be held, in a venue like this,” added Glefke. “This is what it’s supposed to be.”

“Thank you to the sponsors and Carl and Rush (Weeden) for doing such a great job.” said Farmer.

Farmer’s mother, Bibby Hill, was on hand to see Farmer win. Hill had never been to the Chicago Hunter Derby and was eager to see it as well as spend time with her daughter. The experienced horse show mom was insistent on getting a photo of the winning pair, and of course, got a photo of mother/daughter with the champion steed, another win-win for the day.

And the big winning continues, Farmer was second on Dalliance and third on So To Speak.  Caroline Weeden had a double prize money day as well, placing right behind Farmer in fourth with Piper Benjamin’s Corvine and sixth with The Spy, owned by Glory Days Farm.

Weeden and her husband, Rush, with the help of a super team, work endless hours preparing for the Hall of Fame event on their farm each year. They have also hosted the George H. Morris Gladstone Program, the George H. Morris Chicago Clinic in November, Jeff Teal clinics, a 2’6” Chicago Equestrian Hunter Derby and a Young Jumper Farm Club Show.

“I think it was so wonderful to see the horses on the field, especially when you get a horse like Mindful galloping on our field. It’s almost more exciting than showing myself. I think Kelley did a fantastic job so it was really fun to watch.”

The event continued with a wow factor of ten, with one gorgeous horse after another taking their turn in the field. The Lefton Glick Family Foundation, graciously donated special awards for the High Scoring Handy Round, which went to, you guessed it, Mindful and Farmer. Ryan Sassmannshausen also won the Style Award, donated Sapphire Riding Academy and his Best Turned Out Horse earned a halter, donated by Oros Saddlery.

Everyone wins with Canadian Pacific as a sponsor. Ed Steinbeck, Superintendent of Chicago for Canadian Pacific, was on hand for the presentations. Without the sponsorship of Canadian Pacific, this great event would not be possible.

“On behalf of Canadian Pacific, it was a great honor to be a part of this event this Labor Day weekend. We are going to strive to continue to do things like this for the communities we serve, to let them know about the products and services we provide,” said Steinbeck.

The winners were not just on the field today. Because of all those great horses and riders, the judging panel of Chance Arakelian, Rachel Kennedy and John and Kitty Barker, handed out 11 scores of 90 or better, racking up money for the three charities in the Score 90 Challenge. The winning charities are: Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation and the United States Hunter Jumper Association Foundation. This signature event, hosted by Chicago Equestrians for a Cause, has raised over $500,000 in contributions in its six-year history.

There were more winners in the tent, helping to raise funds for those charitable causes. In addition to a fantastic brunch, there was a Calcutta winner - the lucky one who purchased Team 3 with Mindful, Kallisto and Santerno. There were live auction winners bidding on fantastic prizes while benefitting the cause, there were raffle winners and chances to purchase photos from Aullmyn Photography, where the charities win again.

There were little winners in the children’s activity area too. The horseless horse show offered prizes, cotton candy, hot dogs, face painting and a petting zoo, sponsored by the Novy and Vogel families. CP offered rides around the field on the Puffer Belly Express.

Thanks to the support of all the sponsors, the 2015 Chicago Hunter Derby presented by CP, hit a home run, with horses, riders, spectators, sponsors and charities, all going home winners.

For donations or more information, please visit www.chicagoequestriansforacause.com.


$50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

Overall
1          Mindful          Kelley Farmer            Kensel LLC
2          Dalliance        Kelley Farmer            Avatar Real Estate
3          So To Speak   Kelley Farmer            Glefke, Kensel
4          Corvine           Caroline Weeden      Piper Benjamin
5          Santerno        Tammy Prost             Brenda Christenson
6          The Spy          Caroline Weeden      Glory Days Farm
7          Memorable    Maria Rasmussen      Over Fences Farm
8          Valentino Now    Kelley Farmer            MVB Group
9          Kallisto           Tammy Provost         Kim Calamos
10       Taken             Kelley Farmer            Jessica Stitt
11       Quite Chocolate Maria Rasmussen      Over Fences Farm
12       Aarhus            Russell Frey               Lance Williamson

Classic Round
1          Mindful          Kelley Farmer            Kensel LLC
2          Taken             Kelley Farmer            Jessica Stitt
3          Corvine           Caroline Weeden      Piper Benjamin
4          Dalliance        Kelley Farmer            Avatar Real Estate
5          Kallisto           Tammy Provost         Kim Calamos
6          So To Speak   Kelley Farmer            Glefke, Kensel
7          Jersey Boy      Jennifer Alfano          SBS Farms
8          Memorable    Maria Rasmussen      Over Fences Farm
9          Miramar         Jennifer Alfano          Jennifer Alfano
10       Santerno        Tammy Provost         Brenda Christenson
11       Miss Lucy       Jennifer Alfano          Helen Lenahan
12       Valentino Now   Kelley Farmer            MVB Group

The Lefton Glick Family Foundation donated the beautiful trophy and designer bag for the High Score Handy Round, won by Farmer and Mindful. (ChicagoEquestrian)

Handy
1          Mindful          Kelley Farmer            Kensel, LLC
2          Dalliance        Kelley Farmer            Avatar Real Estate
3          So To Speak   Kelley Farmer            Glefke, Kensel
4          Corvine           Caroline Weeden      Piper Benjamin
5          Santerno        Tammy Provost         Brenda Christenson
6          The Spy          Caroline Weeden      Glory Days Farm
7          Valentino Now    Kelley Farmer            MVB Group
8          Petrossian      Ryan Sassmannshausen  Olivia Moore
9          Memorable    Maria Rasmussen      Over Fences Farm
10       Aahrus            Russell Frey               Lance Williamson
11       Quite Chocolate  Maria Rassmussen      Over Fences Farm
12       Calido’s Son   Doug Boyd                 Mimi Rothman