Shawn Casady continues to hold the second place position behind Louise Serio for the $15,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Rider Bonus. (Ashley N. Williams/PMG)

Lexington, KY - It was a nail-biter on Sunday evening as Louise Serio and Shawn Casady vied for the top spot in the $5,000 Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby. It is professional rider Louise Serio who continues to hold the lead after the third part of the 2012 $45,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby came to a conclusion on Sunday, July 29, 2012 during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. The Hallway Feeds Series consists of six national hunter derby events held during the 2012 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final event, cash prizes totaling $15,000 will be awarded to the series' leading riders.

The Kentucky Summer Series is held July 24 - Aug. 26, 2012, and features four of the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derbies. The top riders from across the nation gathered on Sunday to compete over the challenging courses and compete for the winning title and valuable points towards the $15,000 Leading Rider Awards. Shawn Casady and Without Question, owned by Palms and Ponies Show Stables of Boca Raton, FL, and leased by Marigot Bay Farm of Dover, MA, led the victory gallop for the Kentucky Summer Horse Show's $5,000 Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby, with Louise Serio and Corvine, owned by Timothy Wicks of Unionville, PA, riding to the second place finish.

Serio currently leads the standings with 675 points, after taking home the second place ribbon for her efforts during the third $5,000 Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby. Casady continues to hold the second spot in the standings overall, as well as the first place position for the juniors with 600 total points. Should Serio continue to hold the lead, she is eligible for the $10,000 Professional Leading Rider Bonus to be presented at the end of the KHJA Horse Show held from Aug. 22-26, 2012. Mackenzie Maclean continued to lead the top amateur ranks, with her eyes set on the $2,500 Amateur Leading Rider Bonus with 175 points.

The USHJA National Hunter Derby program is in its third year, and is growing in prestige and popularity. Amateurs, Juniors and Professional riders are eligible to compete, giving it a broad base of support and interest. The $15,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Rider Awards will present a $10,000 cash prize to the professional rider accumulating the most points in the six classes that make up the Series. The amateur rider and junior rider accumulating the most points will each receive a $2,500 cash prize. Riders will receive points only on their highest placed horse in each of the classes. The awards will be presented at the conclusion of the Hallway Feeds class at the KHJA show on Aug. 25, 2012.

As the series continues, three more Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derbies will take place during the Kentucky Summer Classic, the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and the KHJA Horse Show. The Series concludes with the winners for the $15,000 Leading Rider Bonuses being announced and presented with the prize by representatives of Hallway Feeds.

Supporting sponsors for the Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series are KER Sport Horse Nutrition, Sweet PDZ Stall Refresher, PNC Bank, Alfagreen Supreme, Biederman Real Estate and Auctioneers, Trouw Nutrition, and Caddel Equine Therapy Center.

KER Sport Horse Nutrition is a new joint venture between Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and Hallway Feeds. This partnership melds the technological and nutritional expertise of KER with the globally recognized horse feed manufacturing reputation of Hallway Feeds.

Hallway Feeds' close proximity to the Kentucky Horse Park provides the opportunity to utilize the freshest feed, manufactured with time-honored commitments to high standards of quality and the latest scientific advances. Combining a premium nutrition package with a professional level of dedication in horsemen and women provides equine athletes with the Formula for Success.

For more information on Hallway Feeds please visit  www.hallwayfeeds.com.

For more information about the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

PLACE TOTAL PROFESSIONAL RIDER KY HORSE SHOW
1 Louise Serio 675
2. Lourdes De Guardiola 250
3. Maria Rasmussen 250
4. Steve Heinecke 200
5. Melissa Murphy 75
6. Sarah Scheiring 25

PLACE TOTAL JUNIOR RIDER KY HORSE SHOW
1. Shawn Casady 600
2. Emma Heise 250
3. Ashley Hotz 225
3. Bella Cramer 200
4. Maryann Osborne 175
5. True Kershenbaum 125
6. Lisa Butzer 75
7. Grace Mitchell 50
8. Haley Zimmerman 25
9. Cassidy Zimmerman 25

PLACE TOTAL AMATEUR-OWNER RIDER KY HORSE SHOW
1. Mackenzie Maclean 175
2. Sarah Sturges 175
3. Kelly Arani 100
3. Bianca Buschor 75
3. Peabody Kohler-Fox 50