Minikus was one of 11 entries from the starting field of 40 to reach the tiebreaking jump-off with a fault-free ride over the 16-jump, first-round course at the North Elba Showgrounds. Fifth to return for the seven-jump tiebreaker, he was the first to go clean, finishing in 34.410 seconds on Pavarotti, the horse on whom he won the Mirror Lake Inn Grand Prix of Lake Placid and a Pan American Games team Bronze Medal in 2007.
The final six entries failed to match Minikus’s score with 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist Norman Dello Joio of Wellington, FL coming closest. He finished second with a clean ride in 37.108 seconds on Notre Star de la Nutria. Third place went to Darragh Kenny of Ireland with a clean ride in 38.811 seconds on Wannahave.
Other classes on Thursday saw an impressive double win by Laura Chapot in the 1.35m and 1.40m speed classes. Chapot won the 1.35m Cape Air Open Speed Class on Zealous and the 1.40m J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Faults Converted Speed Stake on Bradberry. Other winners included Charlotte Jacobs on Robin in the High Junior Jumper Class and Saree Gordon on Nemo in the Deeridge Farms Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Class.
The 34th annual Intercat, Inc. I Love New York Horse Show runs through Sunday and is highlighted by the $75,000 Woodlea Farms Grand Prix, presented by Intercat Inc., on Saturday. The start of the Grand Prix has been moved to 3:00 pm. Following the Grand Prix, the Richard and Diana Feldman Perpetual Challenge Trophy for Excellence is awarded to the rider who has won the most combined prize money in Lake Placid’s two Grand Prix.
Saturday also features the horse show’s 19th Annual Doggie Costume Contest, sponsored by the Foster Family, the Brown Dog Café and Wine Bar, and A Placid Life/Jake Placid Doghouse. All people with a leashed dog in costume will be admitted to the horse show free of charge. Entry in the contest is also free and there are prizes for all entries. The contest begins at 12:00 noon and registration is at 11:30 am.
Guided walking tours of the horse show’s North Elba Showgrounds are available through Friday for just $1.00 per person. The tours leave at 11:00 am from the Lake Placid Horse Show merchandise booth.
Upcoming highlights of the I Love New York Horse Show include:
Friday, July 8 –1.45m Hollow Brook Associates Jumper Class; 1.40m ROOST Jumper Class; Deeridge Farms Amateur-Owner Jumper Class; 1.35m Jamaica Tent Open Jumper Class; The Hooker Family Children’s Jumper Class
Saturday, July 9 - Kathy Scholl Equitation Championship; Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort High Junior Jumper Classic; Devoucoux, Inc. Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic; Woodlea Farms Parade of Champions; 19th Annual Doggie Costume Contest, sponsored by The Foster Family, the Brown Dog Café and Wine Bar, A Placid Life and Jake Placid Doghouse; $75,000 Woodlea Farms Grand Prix, presented by Intercat, Inc.; 1.30m Saratoga Eagle Jumper Class; Deeridge Farms Amateur-Owner Jumper Class; Clifton Park Rental Center Pony Hunter Classic
Sunday, July 10 –$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Eastern Hay and Purina Mills; Y 106.3 Low Amateur Owner Jumper Classic; The Levy Family Low Junior Jumper Classic; EquiFit WIHS Adult Jumper Classics; Paradysz Farm WIHS Children’s Jumper Classics
The 2011 Intercat, Inc. Lake Placid Horse Show and I Love New York Horse Show sponsors include: A Placid Life, Adirondack Flying Service, Adirondack Life, Adirondack Store, Alessandro Albanese, Animal Planet, Anonymous, Arbor Hill Farm (The Boggio Family), Bainbridge Companies, LLC, Beacon Hill Horse Transportation, Inc., Cape Air, Carr-Hughes Productions, Casella Waste Management, Jane Forbes Clark, Clifton Park Rental Center, C.M. Hadfield's Saddlery, Inc., Community Bank, N.A., Crowne Plaza Resort & Golf Club, David R. Fowler Custom Tack Trunks, Deeridge Farms, Der Dau Custom Made Boots, Devoucoux, Inc, Eastern Hay, Equifit, Inc., FarmVet, Inc., Fox Run, Ltd., Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, James Harpel, Hollow Brook Associates LLC, High Peaks Resort, Horseshoe Trail Farm, LLC, Horse Show Services, Horse Watch, Intercat, Inc., J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Jamaica Tent Company, Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC, Juliam Farm, Kistler Buildings, Lake Placid Lodge, Lake Placid Summit Resort Hotel & Suites, Meadow Grove Farm, Mirror Lake Inn, Mountain Horse, Bobby & Melissa Murphy, On A Fence Designs, ORDA - Whiteface Mountain, P. F. Farm, Parlanti USA, Pepsi Beverages Company, Price Chopper, Purina Mills, Quiet Hill Farm, ROOST - LP-Essex County Visitors Bureau, Ruthie's Run, Sam Edelman Shoes, Sand Castle Farm, Saratoga Eagle, Lora & Michael Schultz, Sidelines, SmartPak, Storm Ridge Capital, LLC, Stretton Enterprises, Inc., The Brown Dog Deli & Wine Bar, The Cottage Café, The Hooker Family, The Levy Family, The Spa @ The Mirror Lake Inn, The Tack Shelter, The Whiteface Lodge, Time Warner Cable, Town of North Elba Park District, USA Animo, Woodlea Farms, WPTZ News Channel 5 and Y-106.3.
Admission to the Intercat, Inc. I Love New York Horse Show is just $2.00 on weekdays and $5.00 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.
For more information, please call the Lake Placid Horse Show Association at (518) 523-9625 or visit www.lakeplacidhorseshow.com.