The Sanctuary was full of excitement tonight, hosting both the $10,000 Futures Prix 1.30 m sponsored by Voltaire Design and the $5,000 Ride and Drive sponsored by EquiJet. First in the ring was the Futures Prix, with a record 35 entries set to jump a flowing course designed by Steve Stephens. Ireland’s Willie Tynan rode 3 mounts, two of which jumped a clear first round. KEC City Limits, owned by Red Barn Farm, LLC, was the first of Tynan’s rides to go clear, with a first round time of 65.813 seconds. Tynan then piloted KEC Kris Kringle, also owned by Red Barn Farm, LLC, through a clear first round in a time of 66.176 seconds. Irish rider Kevin McCarthy also had a stellar first round going clear aboard his own Catch A Star, crossing the timer at 67.519 seconds.
Of the 35 entries in the $5,000 Futures Prix sponsored by Voltaire Design, 10 combinations jumped a clear first round and continued on to the short course. In the end, just over one second would set the top three placings apart. McCarthy and Catch A Star set the pace with a clear jump off in a time of just 30.782 seconds. Tynan and KEC City Limits were quick to attempt, and successfully beat McCarthy’s time, crossing the timer at 29.772 seconds. Tynan was last to jump off with KEC Kris Kringle. Knowing the time he needed to beat, Tynan carved inside turns with KEC Kris Kringle, and galloped to the final fence for a dramatic ending that would stop the clock at 29.264 seconds. Tynan was extremely complimentary of both of his mounts, specifically thanking owner Kevin Walker of Red Barn Farm, LLC and his sponsor Voltaire Design. Along with his share of the prize money, Tynan also received a custom Voltaire Design saddle for his win in the Futures Prix.
There was plenty of after hours fun in the Sanctuary tonight with the $5,000 Ride and Drive Exhibition sponsored by EquiJet, where a horse and rider jumped a short course with a time allowed of 55 seconds, and the driver of the team drove a golf cart through two cones set up next to the same jumps the rider jumped, also with a time allowed of 55 seconds, for the “jump off” course. The cones had tennis balls set on top of them, and each tennis ball knocked off of a cone counted for four faults.
There were 26 teams who contested the $5,000 Ride and Drive Exhibition sponsored by EquiJet. Many of the teams dressed in Halloween costumes, and everyone, audience included, participated in cheering the teams on. The audience was in great spirit, shouting “more leg” and “gallop” at the golf cart drivers. Maybe it was the luck of the Irish tonight, or maybe it was just pure skill, but it was Ireland’s Colm McGuckian aboard his own Hebe Van’t Palmenhof and fellow Irishman and golf cart jockey Tom Foley who took the win. McGuckian and Hebe Van’t Palmenhof jumped a clear round in a quick time of 44.610 seconds, and Foley drove a “clear round” in a time of 47.537 seconds.
$10,000 Futures Prix 1.30 m sponsored by Voltaire Design
1. Kec Kris Kringle & Willie Tynan (29.264)
2. Kec City Limits & Willie Tynan (29.755)
3. Catch A Star & Kevin McCarthy (30.782)
4. Chameur 155 & Tiffany Hammack (30.916)
5. Jordan & Jill Gaffney (32.028)
6. Banco Du Moulin & Sean Jobin (35.911)
7. Cleared for Takeoff & David Beisel (29.058)
8. Classic Mai Tai & Brooke Kemper (29.576)
$5000 Ride and Drive Exhibition sponsored by EquiJet
1. Hebe Van’t Palmenhof & Team Colm McGuckian
2. Lacey K & Team Christina M. Williams
3. Miniottie de W&S & Team Keely A. O’Hara
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.