The two CC1* divisions also performed their dressage tests today. Barbara Crabo leads the classic-format CCI1*, scoring 50.3 penalties on Over Easy, and Sara Mittleider leads the short-format CCI1*, scoring 46.6 penalties on Harry Houdini.
McManamy and Levine actually received the same scores from the two judges, but in a different order. Angela Tucker of Great Britain, at C, awarded Project Runway 65.93 percent, the same score Cara Whitham of Canada, at E, gave Oz Poof of Purchase. Whitham awarded Project Runway 70.37 percent, the same score that Tucker gave Oz Poof Of Purchase.
“He was fantastic today,” said McManamy, Templeton, Calif., of Project Runway, a pinto Trakehner. “We’ve been working really hard on getting him more energetic and expressive, and he was energetic and not lazy.”
Levine, Santa Rosa, Calif., was similarly pleased with the performance of Oz Poof Of Purchase, a black Thoroughbred-Arabian cross. “I was really happy with him—he was relaxed but energetic. I just wish he would hold still in the halt. He wiggles!” she said.
McManamy has been training and competing Project Runway, 7, since buying him as a 3-year-old. But Levine has only been riding Oz Poof Of Purchase, 16, for two months. This is their third competition together.
General admission for the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event is $8 per day in advance, $10 at the gate. Patron’s tickets—which include seating in the ringside tent on Friday and Sunday, with lunch and a full selection of beverages—are also available for $55 per day in advance. Four-day Patron’s Tickets, at $150, include the competitors’ party on Saturday night. For advance reservations, go to www.galwaydowns.com.
Crabo, of Scottsdale, Ariz., has known Over Easy, 5, since the Swedish Warmblood mare was born. Crabo’s father-in-law, Bo Crabo, bred her. Consequently, she was thrilled with today’s performance. “She’s very young and extremely talented but still doesn’t know what to do with herself,” said Crabo. “She tried really hard, and the only mistake she made was that she spooked a little at the guy holding the gate open at the start of the test—she tucked her butt and scooted for a second.”
The remaining horses in the CCI2* and short-format CCI1* will perform tomorrow (Friday) from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Then the featured CCI3* will move to center stage, performing from 10:40 to 11:45 and then resuming from 12:45 to 4:35. The training three-day will compete from 10:40 until 5:30.
The total prize money for this year’s Galway Downs International Three-Day Event is $33,000, with a $21,000 purse in the CCI3*.
Land Rover, the Professional Riders Organization, Del Mar Eventing and Professional’s Choice are the presenting sponsors of the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event.
Other generous sponsors of the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event include: Advanced Protection Formula by Auburn Laboratories Inc., Big Horse Feed, California Horse Trader, Charles Owen, CWD Saddlery, Doug Hannum Equine Therapy, Embassy Suites Hotel, Equine Comfort Products, Equine Insurance of California, Finish Line Products, MDBarnmaster, Ride On Video, Riding’s Publications Inc., Smartpak Equine, Sunsprite Warmbloods and Voltaire Design.
A portion of the general admission and patron's ticket revenue at Galway Downs will benefit Operation Homefront, the official charitable partner of the Professional Riders Organization Tour and of Galway Downs.
For more information on the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event, visit www.galwaydowns.com or call 951-303-0405. To learn more about eventing, visit the U.S. Eventing Association’s website (www.useventing.com).