Jenny Karazissis, Richard Spooner and Chris Pratt Take Home the Blues in Special Weekend Classes

The historic Del Mar National Horse Show, May 3-8, 2016, held numerous special classes and events throughout the week of competition. A few of the classes and divisions held throughout the week include: World Champion Hunter Rider, North American Junior Young Rider Championship Selection Trial, the $5,000 Del Mar National Equitation Championship, the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, the $25,000 Surfside Grand Prix Presented by iJump Sports, the $5,000 Ride & Drive Classic Presented by The Competitive Equestrian Magazine, and the famous $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar.

"We would like to sincerely thank everyone for joining us at the 71st Annual Del Mar National Horse Show," said Amy Billburg, Equestrian Manager at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. "It was a wonderful week of showing and we cannot wait to make the 72nd Annual Del Mar National Horse Show even better next year!"

The weekend kicked off Thursday afternoon with the USHJA National Hunter Derby. The class of 28 entries contained well known riders such as Jenny Karazissis, John French, Jamie Sailor, Peter Lombardo, among many others. In the end, it was Jenny Karazissis and Briana Sukert's Felix who topped the class to win the blue. Katie Gardner and Luisant took second place with Jordyn Hechter and Taboo rounding out the top three.

Top 12 results for the USHJA National Hunter Derby:
Place Number Horse Owner Rider
1 811 Felix Briana Sukert Jenny Karazissis
2 565 Luisant Q Of E Farms, LLC Katie Gardner
3 718 Taboo Jordyn Hechter Jordyn Hechter
4 617 Matador Taylor Cusumano Jamie Sailor
5 736 Nicely Ilana Halpern Ilana Halpern
6 709 Zanzibar Kaitlyn Lovingfoss Kaitlyn Lovingfoss
7 831 Quinley Natalie Medlock Natalie Medlock
8 649 Weekend Romance Ashley Weiman Peter Lombardo
9 560 Canthano Abigail Friedman Katie Gardner
10 688 Cambridge Nola Dyal Brenna Bollig
11 198 Small Adventure Iwasaki & Reilly Augusta Iwasaki
12 201 World Affair Huckleberry Farm John French

Karazissis had a winning week here at Del Mar National, also taking home the blue in the coveted $5,000 Del Mar National Equitation Championship with Nina Vogel's Jamestown! Zazou Hoffman took second in the Championship with Mickie Sage taking home third.

Congratulations to Karazissis on her successful week! This was Karazissis' third time winning the Championship, which has also been taken by impressive riders such as John French, Michael Endicott, and Archie Cox. This class was introduced to the Del Mar National Horse Show in 1998 and was designed as the ultimate test of horse and rider and their communication. It is open to all riders and provides an opportunity for riders to compete at a higher level of classic horsemanship through challenging tests.

Throughout the week, some of the top Juniors and Young Riders competed in multiple classes for the North American Junior Young Rider Championship Selection Trail. In the Mary's Tack and Feed High Jr/Am Jumper NAJYRC, it was Sophia Mossman on her own Carre who took the win. In Sunday's California Jr/Am Owner Grand Prix NAYRC, it was Chandler Meadows on her own Carletto who concluded their week with a blue ribbon! Congratulations on your win, Sophia and Chandler!

Friday, we saw 51 starters in the Surfside Grand Prix Presented by iJump Sports over a beautiful speed course created by renowned course designer, Heiko Wahlers. Nine horse and rider combinations successfully completed the course with no jumping faults and within the time allowed! In the end, it was Richard Spooner aboard his Chivas Z who topped the field of competition with a time of 66.82. Second place went to another West Coast favorite Rich Fellers on Harry and Mollie Chapman's Flexible, close behind Spooner with a time of 67.73. Rounding out the top three was Enrique Gonzalez with a time of 71.65 on his own Chacna.

Top 12 placings of the Surfside Grand Prix Presented by iJump Sports:
Place Number Horse Owner Rider Faults Time
1 816 Chivas Z Richard Spooner Richard Spooner 0 66.82
2 299 Flexible Harry & Mollie Chapman Richard Fellers 0 67.73
3 436 Chacna Enrique Gonzalez Enrique Gonzalez 0 71.65
4 815 Cristallo Show Jumping Syndications, Int'l Richard Spooner 0 71.68
5 739 Amadeus Ace Equestrian Devon Bridges 0 71.83
6 512 Luftikus S Jennifer Gates Llc Jennifer Gates 0 72.69
7 537 Atlantis T Grafton Farm Brian Morton 0 73.5
8 513 Pepperpot Jennifer Gates Llc Sayre Happy 0 73.68
9 733 Chantico Karen Ball John Pearce 0 73.7
10 399 W Zermie 13 Woodacres Stables Llc Saree Kayne 1 74.86
11 1007 Samson Ii Dogwood Hill Llc Zazou Hoffman 2 75.45
12 530 Ayma De La Demi Lune Potcreek Partners Llc Candida Anthony 2 75.56

The top 30 finishers from Friday's Grand Prix were allowed to compete in Saturday's $100,000 Grand Prix of Del mar. Heiko Wahler's trying course allowed four riders of the 29 starters into the jump off: EnriqueGonzalez, Chris Pratt, Jack Hardin Towell, and Guy Thomas, unfortunately leaving Richard Spooner and both Chivas Z and Cristallo out of the jump-off, but in the top 12. The jump off flowed around the whole Del Mar Arena, allowing the riders the opportunity to gallop and let their horses loose. Chris Pratt and Concorde were able to out-jump their competition in the jump off, with a clear round and a time of 45.349. Behind him in second was Jack Hardin Towell and Flip with a clear round and a time of 46.565 and rounding out the top three was Enrique Gonzalez and his own Chacna, with four faults in a time of 49.463! Congratulations to Chris Pratt and Concorde on their victory!

Top 12 Placings of the $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar:
PLACE NUMBER HORSE RIDER ROUND 1 FAULTS ROUND 1 TIME JUMP OFF FAULTS JUMP OFF TIME
1 585 Concorde Chris Pratt 0 82.543 0 45.349
2 795 FLIP Jack Hardin Towell 0 86.013 0 46.565
3 436 Chacna Enrique Gonzalez 0 86.426 0 49.463
4 216 Jonkheer Z Guy Thomas 0 82.543 8 51.529
5 768 Darius de la Ferme Rose Michelle Rodal 2 90.148   
6 815 Cristallo Richard Spooner 4 80.488   
7 119 Tembla Karl Cook 4 83.179   
8 299 Flexible Richard Fellers 4 83.46   
9 816 Chivas Z Richard Spooner 4 83.49   
10 739 Amadeus Devon Bridges 4 84.835   
11 118 Catypso Eric Navet 4 84.979   
12 657 Balu U Lane Clarke 4 85.955   

"It was a wonderful, busy week here at the 71st Annual Del Mar National Horse Show," said Adrienne Karazissis of West Palms Events. "We hope everyone had a great time and we can't wait to see you back next year!"

Thank you again for joining us this week! We hope everyone has safe travels home!

Danielle Ballard for West Palms Events at the Del Mar National Horse Show