Kate Levy of Katonah, NY, won the Whiteface Mountain 1.45m Jump-off to kick off the 41st Annual Lake Placid Horse Show. Levy was the third of 20 entries to try the 12-jump, first-round course at the North Elba Showgrounds. She rode her mount, Vent Du Nord, to one of what would be eight fault-free rides. She then turned in another fault-free ride in 37.350 seconds to take an early lead that would hold for the remainder of the class.
Placing second was Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, who had two clean rides and a jump-off time of 41.194 seconds on Udento VDL, with third place going to U.S. Olympic veteran and six-time Lake Placid Grand Prix champion Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, who had two clean rides and a jump-off time of 41.774 seconds on Hidden Creek's Lonesome B.
Other winners on Wednesday included Darragh Kenny on I Va To Du Rouet in the 1.35m Lake Placid Summit Resort Hotel & Suites Jumper Class; Charlie Jacobs on Quidditch II in the Deeridge Farms High Amateur-Owner Jumper Class; Charlotte Jacobs on Kartouche VD in the High Junior Jumper class; and Kevin Babington on Correlli in the 1.30m WPTZ News Channel 5 Jumper Class
The Lake Placid Horse Show continues through Sunday when it culminates with the $75,000 Hermès Grand Prix CSI** for the Whitney Perpetual Challenge Trophy. It is followed by the 33rd Annual I Love New York Horse Show, July 6-11, at the same site. The I Love New York Horse Show is highlighted by the $75,000 Le Grand Prix Hermès CSI** on Saturday, July 10. Following the $75,000 Le Grand Prix Hermès CSI**, the Richard and Diana Feldman Perpetual Challenge Trophy for Excellence will be awarded to the rider who has won the most combined prize money in Lake Placid's two grand prix.
Upcoming highlights for the 41st Lake Placid Horse Show include:
Thursday, July 1 - Deeridge Farms Amateur-Owner Jumper Class; 1.45m The Fulchino Family Jumper Class; 1.30m Lake Placid Lodge Jumper Class; The Hooker Family Children's Jumper Classes; Storm Ridge Capital, LLC Pony Jumpers
Friday, July 2 - Intercat, Inc. Open Jumper Classic CSI**; Deeridge Farms Amateur-Owner Jumper Class; 1.40m High Peaks Resort Open Speed Challenge; FarmVet Adult Amateur Hunters
Saturday, July 3 - Crowne Plaza Resort North American League (NAL) Adult Amateur Jumper Classics; Adirondack Life Low Junior Jumper Classic; Sidelines Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic; 1.40m J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Class; The Hooker Family Children's Jumper Classes; Storm Ridge Capital, LLC Pony Jumpers; FarmVet Adult Amateur Hunters
Sunday, July 4 - $75,000 Hermès Grand Prix CSI** for the Whitney Perpetual Challenge Trophy; Pepsi Bottling Group High Junior Jumper Classic; Mirror Lake Inn High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic; Juliam Farm Lead Line Class; C.M. Hadfield's Saddlery Parade of Champions; Storm Ridge Capital LLC NAL Pony Jumper Class, Price Chopper NAL Children's Jumper Classics; FarmVet Adult Amateur Hunters Sand Castle Farm Short Stirrup Classes
The schedule for the 2010 Lake Placid and I Love New York Horse Shows is full of exciting equestrian action and great family activities. Horse show action runs from 8:00 a.m. until about 5:00 p.m. each day. Whether you stop by for one day or every day, you won't want to miss the exciting equestrian competition and fun family activities happening at the North Elba Showgrounds on Route 73, right across from the ski jumps.
Guided walking tours of the show grounds are offered for just $1 every weekday morning at 11:30. Some people bring a picnic lunch and some sample the horse show's delicious food as they watch the horses in action.
Everyone can ride the trolley to the horse show free of charge. Admission to the Lake Placid and I Love New York Horse Shows is just $2 on weekdays and $5 on weekends. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free and discounts are offered to groups of 20 or more. Tickets are available at the gate. Show your Price Chopper AdvantEdge Card, and your admission fee is 50% off.
The 2010 Lake Placid Horse Show and I Love New York Horse Show sponsors include: A&M Beverages, A Placid Life,Adirondack Life, Adirondack Store, Alessandro Albanese, Animal Planet,Anonymous, Brandy Parfums, Ltd., Brook Ledge, Inc. Horse Transportation, TheBrown Dog Café and Wine Bar, Carr-Hughes Productions, Chair 6, Champlain ValleyEquipment, Chevy, Jane Forbes Clark, C.M. Hadfield's Saddlery, Inc., CliftonPark Rental Center, Community Bank, NA, The Cottage Café, Crossroad's Caterers,Crowne Plaza Resort&Golf Club, David R. Fowler Custom Tack Trunks,Deeridge Farms, Der Dau Custom Boots and Shoes, Eastern Hay, EquiFit , FarmVet,Fox Run, Ltd., The Fulchino Family, Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, Graymont,Grill 211, Mr. James Harpel, Hermès, High Peaks Resort, The Hooker Family, HorseWatch, Intercat, Inc., J. Lohr Vineyards&Wines, Jake Placid Doghouse, Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC, Juliam Farm,Lake Placid Lodge, Lake Summit Resort Hotel&Suites, The Levy Family, Dan&Cynthia Lufkin, Meadow Grove Farm, Mirror Lake Inn, Mountain Horse, Bobby&Melissa Murphy, Nicola's On Main, On a Fence Designs&Rentals,ORDA/Whiteface Mountain, Paradysz Farm, The Pepsi Bottling Group, Price Chopper,Purina Mills, Quiet Hill Farm, ROOST - Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau,Ruthie's Run, Sand Castle Farm, Michael&Lora Schultz, Sidelines, SmartPak,Storm Ridge Capital LLC, Stretton Enterprises, Time Warner Cable, Town of NorthElba Park District, Woodlea Farms, WPTZ News Channel 5, and Y106.3 - MountainCommunications LLC.
For more information on the 2010 Lake Placid and I Love New York Horse Shows, please contact the Lake Placid Horse Show Association at (518) 523-9625 or visit www.lakeplacidhorseshow.com.