Ward wins $20,000 Gambler's Choice Open Jumper
McLain Ward of Bedford, N.Y., won the $20,000 Gambler's Choice Open Jumper class Friday at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
McLain Ward of Bedford, N.Y., won the $20,000 Gambler's Choice Open Jumper class Friday at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
In the Gambler's Choice, each fence carries a point value, and riders make up their own courses, trying to accumulate the most points.
Ward accumulated 1,170 points on Dana, a new mount that he has only shown once before, beating his student, Katie Dinan, on Sandron, who had 1,120 points.
"Katie wasn't happy," Ward said. "After she went, I changed the course we'd planned on, because I realized that with that change I could jump a different fence with more points."
"Dana is a good jumper, but she's very green," Ward said. "This was a nice class for her to win."
Danielle Cooper of Syosset, N.Y., won both Amateur Owner Jumper classes, but she won them on different horses.
Cooper won the first class of the day on the 8-year-old Calantus, posting one of only three clean rounds in the jump-off, to finish in 37.949 seconds, a full second faster than second-place Janice Syphers on Cover Girl.
She won the afternoon speed class on Kosta, finishing in 42.256 over Kaitlin Campbell on rocky W, who finished in 42.803.
"It's a huge deal, winning in the Dixon Oval," said Cooper. "I've been coming here for five years, but this is my first time in the jumper division."
"Kosta is perfect," said Cooper. "He'll do anything. My mother's ridden him a bunch, trail riding."
Calantus, whose barn name is Charlie, is apparently quite different.
"Charlie's like a pinball machine," said Cooper's trainer, Mike Zuckerman. "He's all over the place. Charlie has youthful exuberance."
Devon Horse Show
When:Through Sunday
Where: Lancaster Pike and Dorset Road, Devon.
Scheduled exhibitions:
Saturday: Carriage racing, singles and pairs racing through hazards and cones, 7:45 p.m.
Tickets: advance sales, 610-688-2554; country fair office, 610-525-2533. General admission is $8 for adults, and $5 for children 12 and under and seniors 65 and over. Reserved grandstand tickets are available ranging from $12 to $50, depending on the performance.
Website: www.thedevonhorse
show.net.
Saturday's schedule:
Dixon Oval
Starting at 8 a.m.
A/O Hunter 18-35-Handy
A/O Hunter Stake 18-35
A/O Hunter 18-35 Championship
A/O Hunter Over 35-Handy
A/O Hunter Stake Over 35
A/O Hunter Over 35 Championship
Devon Grand A/O Hunter Ch.
Devon Leading A/O Hunter Rider
Working Fox Hunter
Park Horse Stake
Hunter Country Pleasure Ch.
H/H Pony Pleasure Driving Ch.
Five Gaited Pleasure Championship
Three Gaited Stake - Junior Exhibitor
Roadster Pony Ch. - Amateur
Country Pleasure Driving Ch.
Hackney Horse Championship
A/O Jumper SJHOF Classic-II, 2(a)
4 - A/O Jumper Championship
5 - A/O Jumper Leading Rider
Gold Ring
Starting at 8:30 a.m.
Local Hunter Stake
Local Hunter U/S
Local Hunter Championship
Local Hunter Sportsmanship Award
A/O Hunter 3'3"-Handy
A/O Hunter 3'3" Stake
A/O Hunter 3'3" Championship
Dixon Oval
Starting at 7 p.m.
Three Gaited Stake - Amateur
Hackney Pony Championship
Country Pleasure Championship
Fine Harness Ch. - Amateur
Three Gaited Pleasure Championship
Roadster Horse Championship
Hackney/Harness Pony Ch.
Five Gaited Stake - Amateur
Open Jumper Stake - II, 2(a)
Open Jumper Championship
Leading Open Jumper Rider
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