McLain Ward aboard Vocas owned by Louisburg Farm emerged victorious over a field of 27 competitors at the $25,000 Grand Prix on Saturday, June 26, 2010, the culminating event of the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show held in Westport, CT.

Urged on by spectators and over 350 guests at The EQUUS Foundation Grand Prix Benefit Luncheon, Ward and Vocas claimed victory in an exciting jump-off. Ward also placed fourth aboard Esplanade 7, owned by Louisburg Farm, and 12th aboard Miel D'Amuray, owned by Gabby Slome. George N. Venizelos, representing Wells Fargo Advisors, was on hand to present the well-earned blue ribbon, along with Jonathan Moffly of Moffly Media; Show Co-Chairs Alison Ashman and Catherine Herman; Jenny Belknap Kees, Chairman of the Board of The EQUUS Foundation; and Lynn Coakley, President of The EQUUS Foundation.

The show's generous individual and corporate sponsors, including BMW of Bridgeport, Moffly Media, Fairfield Equine Associates, Margaret Bondy Interiors, The Coca Cola Company, Hi Ho Petroleum, Hospital for Special Surgery, Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., Newmark Knight Frank, Agriventures Agway, Gary Goldberg Financial Services, Vanderbilt Hall, A Mansion Hotel & Private Members Club, Harrigan Insurance, Imposter, Barbara Manion O.D., and Tiffany, were presenting awards all week long to the winners of the 200 separate equestrian competitions, which culminated with the Grand Prix on Saturday.

All horse show class sponsorships directly benefited The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) national charitable foundation whose mission is to secure homes and useful lives for horses and educate the public about the value of horses in our everyday lives.

"We are very grateful to the Fairfield County Hunt Club for selecting The EQUUS Foundation as the show's charity and to the hundreds of individuals and corporations who made donations this year," said Herman. "The Foundation has awarded over $1.3 million in grants to charities that use the horse to benefit the public, promote horse welfare, and advance equestrian sport since its first awards in 2003."

For additional information, contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, or call (203) 259-1550, or email [email protected], or visit the EQUUS website at www.equusfoundation.org.