The week’s final spotlight shown on the children-adult jumpers as 47 horses took center stage with hopes of landing the starring role in Classic Company-sponsored $15,000 Jumper Classic. Carri Carse aboard her mount Letterman had the final call back and left the Georgia Horse Park all smiles.

On Saturday, Derek Petersen of Archer, FL, captured his second Outback Steakhouse-Horses Helping Horses Grand Prix aboard Jordan Coyne’s Larazo, delivering an exciting conclusion to a weekend of giving at week II of the Atlanta Summer Classic.

After a passing rain shower chased away the high temps, 26 teams gathered at the Georgia International Horse Park’s former Olympic stadium to take on the course designed by Allen Rhenheimer. Petersen lead off the class with his own Heaven Bound, who finished with four faults. But he earned a spot in the jump off with two other mounts: Krystal Roe’s Vondergraaf and eventual winner Lazaro.

“He’s still very young,” said Petersen of the 8-year-old gelding. “This is only his fourth Grand Prix.”

Rounding out the Grand Prix results were Megan Edrick and Kandel in third place, fourth and fifth went to Kyle King aboard Tibor and the Cimarron Farm-owned Paola, respectively, and sixth was Monkey du Parc with owner Dianna Rodolpho in the irons.

Meanwhile, the 4th Annual Horses Helping Horses charity weekend officially kicked off Friday evening at the Charles Walker covered arena with the Outback Steakhouse-sponsored dinner and silent auction, an evening of giving that raises funds for Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility based in Georgetown, KY.

The event was highlighted by a special presentation: the Hunter-ring debut of “Old Friends”, aka Ollie, a 9-year-old retired racehorse owned by Robbi and Greg Meisel of Flashpoint Photography and Flashpoint Media Services (co-founders of the charity event with Bob Bell and the Classic Company). A former resident at the Old Friends facility, he is now being re-trained for a show career by Daniel Geitner of the Aiken, SC-based DFG Stable.

“We’re so proud of his debut and the way he’s coming along,” said Robbi. “We hope he can go on to a great show career and be an ambassador for Old Friends. Off the track Thoroughbreds all deserve a second chance,” she added, “and we hope Ollie can prove to the hunter-jumper community that there is a great untapped resource of potential show horses out there.”

While guests took pleasure in the sumptuous Outback barbeque and got busy bidding on the generously donated auction items, they also enjoyed the always-amusing $2,500 Trainer’s Equitation Medal class, which was won by Megan Edrick aboard Sag Harbor’s Lucky Star, owned by Paige Dekko. Edrick proved, among other things, that she could drop her stirrups on command and ride with one hand atop her helmet.

“Old Friends has been a wonderful charity to work with,” said Bell. “This year’s Outback dinner served 500, and, coupled with the silent auction, it was just a great success.”

The Classic Company will return for a second set of Atlanta Summer Shows on July 16. For information, reservations, and prize lists call the office at (843) 768-5503

Old Friends is home to more than 30 former racehorses. Located in Georgetown, the facility is open to tourists daily by appointment. For additional information call (502) 863-1775 or visit their website, www.oldfriendsequine.org.