Show jumping legend Margie Goldstein-Engle galloped away with the blue ribbon in the $75,000 Footings Unlimited Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson II. The 2000 Olympic veteran, and eight-time American Grand Prix Association Rider of the Year thrilled the Sunday crowd aboard Hidden Creek's Wapino, a 17.2 hand nine-year-old Westfalian gelding. "I've been riding him at the grand prix level for a little over a year now. We had some wins in Florida, but this is the biggest in terms of money won," she said. Goldstein-Engle's win earned $22,500 for owner Hidden Creek Farm, Inc.
Seventeen horses competed over Anthony D'Ambrosio's first round course, and four advanced to the timed jump-off. Laura Bowery and Indy Star opened the jump-off with a four-fault performance in 48.25 seconds. David Raposa and Audi's Fanny De LaTour blazed through the course, posting a clear round in 45.10 seconds. Goldstein-Engle and Hidden Creek's Wapino were next to enter the ring. With a lightning fast time of 42.88 seconds and all of the rails in place, Goldstein-Engle looked unbeatable. Eric Flameng of Belgium decided to withdraw his horse Roxanne, sealing the victory for Goldstein-Engle.
"It was a very good course, and even though it was a small class, it drew a good group of horses. The course was scopey with some long gallops that really suited my horse. He covers the ground well, turns nice, and being a big horse he can really give some good ground coverage."
The next grand prix show jumping event at HITS-on-the-Hudson will be the $20,000 Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship/Opening Match on June 8. This will be the first of three legs of the $150,000 Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship. The next leg will take place on Friday, June 10.
The Grand Finale will take place on Sunday, June 12. Limited to two-thirds of the top placed competitors at the conclusion of the first and second legs of the competition, the final purse will be $100,000. At the end of the day when all is said and done, the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Champion will be crowned.
Other major award winners at HITS-on-the-Hudson II included:
$25,000 Thursday HITS Grand Prix: Carsten Jaeger, Millbrook, NY, riding Classic H, owned by Winley Farm, LLC
HBO Junior Medal: Jack Hardin Towell
Charles Owen Children's Medal (Pony): Kristen Mohr, Long Valley, NJ
Charles Owen Children's Medal (Horse): Audrey Hanlon, Huntington, NY
Charles Owen Adult Medal: Kimberley Maloomian, Needham, MA (Section A)
Charles Owen Adult Medal: Jeanine Zuckerman, Huntington, NY (Section B)
$2,500 Equestrian Shop Pony Hunter Classic: All Aroan ridden by Kristen Lutz, Purchase, NY
Farnam Adult Hunter Division (18-35): Winter Castle ridden by Jeanine Zuckerman, Huntington, NY
Adequan® Open Hunter Division: Mannheim ridden by Linda Orton, Stanford, VT
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