After 30 of 33 events on the 2005 tour, it all comes down to one class in this year’s race for the titles of American Grand Prix Association (AGA) Rider, Horse and Rookie of the Year.

Entering its 27th year, the AGA Grand Prix Series of Show Jumping is the world’s richest and longest running series of equestrian show jumping events. The AGA offers over $3 million in prize money on a tour that encompasses 30 events and 20 different equestrian market locations across the United States.

There are just three events remaining on this year’s schedule; two in the West and one in the East. The $65,000 Budweiser Grand Prix De Penn National, CSI-W on Saturday, October 22, 2005, in Harrisburg, PA, is the final AGA event on East Coast. Two Los Angeles events, the $35,000 L.A. International, CSI-W on Saturday September 24, and the $40,000 LA National, CSI-W on Saturday Nov. 19, will wrap up the AGA West Coast action for 2005.

The $75,000 Budweiser AGA Championship, CSI***, presented by Chesapeake Petroleum, will be held at this year’s National Horse Show and Family Festival at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL, on Friday night, December 2, 2005.

Before the Florida year end final, a showdown looms in the $65,000 Budweiser Grand Prix De Penn National, CSI-W at Harrisburg, PA. That class will determine who takes this year’s top honors.

Margie Engle, of Wellington, FL, is steamrolling towards an unprecedented ninth AGA Rider of the Year title. She has added eleven points to her leading total in September, with a third place finish in the $75,000 Lincoln American Gold Cup on September 18 and a tenth place finish at the Fidelity Jumper Classic on September 10. Engle’s totals are 114 points and 13 clear rounds. She now leads Laura Kraut, of Oconomowoc, WI, by twenty-one points.

Kraut, a key member of seven of the eight Samsung Super League teams, has spent the majority of the summer season in Europe. Kraut has 93 points along with nine clear rides. Sitting third is Kent Farrington of Greenwich, CT, with 90 points and seven clear rounds. Rounding out the top five are Aaron Vale (81/11) and Beezie Madden (75/6). Ramiro Quintana (74/5) sits sixth, followed by Jeffery Welles (70/5), Jimmy Torano (67/4), McLain Ward (63/5) and Anne Kursinski (56/6).

Alexa Weeks’ Madison sits atop the AGA Horse of the Year leaderboard with $81,750. $17,500 behind in second place is Armani, owned by Kimmel-Yeager Equine, with $64,250. Abigail Wexner’s Authentic is third with $63,656. Hidden Creek’s Wapino, owned by Hidden Creek Farm ($59,500) and Hurricane from Turnabout Farm ($56,000) complete the top five.

Great Britain’s Ellen Whitaker, who took over the top spot at the beginning of the season, remains the leader in the race for the AGA Rookie of the Year title with $29,500. With two events remaining out west, rider Jaime Guerra Piedra, with $22,800 in the bank, could still catch Whitaker. Cayce Harrison ($20,750) and Amy Momrow ($18,326), sitting third and fourth respectively, are still in the hunt as well.

The year end awards for the 2005 American Grand Prix Association season will be presented at a special banquet during the 122nd Annual National Horse Show and Family Festival.


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