President of Taylor Harris Insurance Services Michael Taylor. (Kenneth Kraus)
The three events included in the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge are the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon, the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix & FEI World Cup™ Qualifier at the Hampton Classic and the $250,000 Alltech National Horse Show Grand Prix.
The $200,000 prize will be awarded to the same horse and rider combination that can win all three of those events in the same show season.
"We're very excited about this new challenge," said Michael Taylor, the President of Taylor Harris Insurance Services. "Taylor Harris Insurance is proud of its 25 year history of recognizing and supporting excellence in equestrian sport. That's why we chose a rider challenge and these three horse shows. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to reward rider excellence and consistency with a huge $200,000 payday if they can pull off this difficult challenge at the three best US horse shows' grand prix events."
"Sure it's going to be hard to meet the challenge," said Taylor Harris Chairman, William Weeks, "but it will be well worth the effort, as I believe the reward for accomplishing the feat is the richest show jumper rider bonus currently offered in the United States."
Weeks went on to note the importance and prestige of the three shows involved in the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge. "The Devon Horse Show, the Hampton Classic and the Alltech National Horse Show are the three top US horse shows as rated by the North American Riders Group (NARG), and over the years have always drawn the nation's best horse and rider combinations. What better three events are there to debut the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge?"
Peter Doubleday, the co-manager of the Devon Horse Show, was thrilled that his show was chosen to kick off The Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge. "This is an incredible offering by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. There are a lot of great things happening at Devon this year and the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge just adds another level of excitement to an already world-class event."
The second leg of the Triple Crown Challenge happens at the famed Hampton Classic Horse Show in Bridgehampton, NY. "The Hampton Classic is so appreciative of Taylor Harris Insurance Services for launching the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge," said Executive Director, Shanette Barth Cohen. "Racing's Triple Crown generates an added air of excitement to each of the three races involved and I am sure that it will be the same in show jumping. This will be great for our sport and we are thrilled to join with Devon and the Alltech National Horse Show as part of it."
The Alltech National Horse Show will host the final leg of the Triple Crown Challenge, and that has President Mason Phelps, Jr. very excited about the possibilities. "Can you imagine the excitement and the tension if someone comes to our show with two wins under their belt?" he asked. "We're very excited that Taylor Harris Insurance Services, already a huge supporter of our show, has honoured us by making the Alltech National Horse Show Grand Prix, the final leg in this tremendous new award."
Taylor, Harris Insurance Services (THIS) was founded in 1987 to provide specialized insurance for all types of equine risk.
Whether the needs are straightforward or complex, for one horse or many, Taylor Harris works with their clients to make sure they are equipped with the insurance coverage that's right for each individual case. THIS places all policies with the highest rated and most secure insurance carriers, which are also selected for their prompt and reliable claims settlement.
Their goal is protection for your horses at all stages of life and peace of mind for you.
The first event in the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge, the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon takes place in Devon, Pennsylvania on Thursday, May 31, 2012. The $250,000 FTI Grand Prix & FEI World Cup™ Qualifier is scheduled for Sunday, September 2, 2012 and the third jewel of the Triple Crown Challenge will be contested at the $250,000 Alltech National Horse Show Grand Prix on Saturday, November 3, 2012.
For more information, please visit the Taylor Harris Insurance Services website at: http://www.taylorharris.com/