Wilmington, Ohio – Saturday of Midwest Indoors II at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington proved to be a historic day for Luke Rinehart (USA) as he marked his first career grand prix win with Captain America 10 (Contendro) in the $30,000 Grand Prix.
The day was not only special because of his win, but he was one second quicker than his father, Richard Rinehart (USA), and aboard a special family owned horse to climb the ranks on.
“It feels amazing. It is something I have dreamt about doing since my pony days. Especially with my dad being second, outrunning him was another dream, so I killed two birds with one stone,” [Luke] Rinehart laughed.
[Luke] Rinehart was particularly happy with ‘Captain’ and their remarkable career together, “Coming off indoors, Captain feels the best he has ever felt. He was so good and has gotten so much better over the years. I started jumping him in the .90m, so to jump him all the way up to my first grand prix win is super cool.”
First to go in the posted order, [Richard] Rinehart immediately set the tone with a clear round aboard his new addition, The Diamant Rose Z (Toulon x Diamant Z), a 13-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by Ashland Farms.
Returning for the short course, [Richard] Rinehart set a quick pace in his typical fashion, leaving little room for error from the rest of the field with a quick time of 37.69 seconds.
[Luke] Rinehart galloped in to best his father, making up time “to the green oxer,” he noted.
“My dad jumped the log jump and rolled back around quickly. His horse is naturally so quick across the ground and he just kind of coasted down there, but I turned the corner and really ran down to the oxer.”
The crowd in the Standlee Sanctuary applauded as [Luke] Rinehart made his way through the timers in 36.517 seconds with his 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding to secure the win.
“We have shown in a few grands prix against each other, but today I knew he [Richard Rinehart] had a pretty decent shot at it with that horse,” Luke commented on the pressure in the jump-off. “It was the first day that we have ever been in the jump-off against each other, so I knew I was going to go for it. I was glad that I got to watch him or I don’t think I would have been able to beat him!”
Sarah Meier (USA) rounded out the podium with her own 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Nightshade SCF (Baldev x Olisina), in 38.454 seconds.
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Captain America 10, Luke Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 0 | 36.517
2 The Diamant Rose Z, Richard Rinehart, Ashland Farms | 0 | 37.69
3 Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 0 | 38.454
4 Reina Van Hellehof, Maria Blankenmeyer, Angela Moore | 0 | 39.465
5 Futuro Certo Hellehof, Emma Callanan, Hart Farm | 4 | 43.235
6 Spicebomb, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 0 | WD
7 Legend, Laura Douglas, Steven Bluman | 4 | 76.273
8 Liber T, Molly Kindness, Molly Kindness | 8 | 75.828
9 Duc De Jentiere, Lani Hutchison, Lani Hutchison | 8 | 75.869
10 Somethin’ Else, Lorraine Allan, Lorraine Allan | 8 | 77.35
Stephen Foran & Colour Your Day Conquer $10,000 Voltaire Futures Prix of Midwest Indoors II
Twenty-two horse-and-athlete combinations took to the Standlee Sanctuary at WEC – Wilmington Saturday afternoon for the $10,000 Voltaire Futures Prix, where Stephen Foran (USA) piloted Freedom Woods’ Colour Your Day to the top of the leaderboard.
Of only six combinations to jump clean, Aiden Udelson (USA) led the way as the first to jump a double clear effort as the fourth to go in the posted order
Udelson maintained the lead with Cleveland Equestrian’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Jackson VDL. for nearly the entirety of the class in a time of 39.161 seconds.
Foran entered searching for the win on the seasoned 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding, making up time around the turns to cross the timers in 37.565 seconds to clinch the win and move Udelson into second.
Last week’s winter, Emma Linton (USA), returned with her top 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Victory Rw Broekkant Z (Vigo D’arsouilles x Evolution), to secure another double clear effort in 41.021 seconds for third place.
$10,000 Voltaire Futures Prix Results:
1 Colour Your Day, Stephen Foran, Freedom Woods | 0 | 37.565
2 Jackson VDL, Aiden Udelson, Cleveland Equestrian | 0 | 39.161
3 Victory RW Broekkant Z, Emma Linton, Shady Lane Ranch | 0 | 41.021
4 Envol D’elle, Graham Morgan, Graham Morgan | 4 | 41.217
5 Gangstar H, Gwen Goodwin, Gwen Goodwin | 4 | 43.863
6 HJ Blind Date, Molly Kindness, Molly Kindness | 13 | 52.321
7 Dario S, Samantha Wertz, Richard Rinehart | 1 | 79.61
8 Limitless, Kate Shurtleff, Kate Shurtleff | 4 | 70.592
9 Sonic Boom, Claire Mullally, Judgement Farms LLC | 4 | 72.495
10 Excel Star Kallista, Corinne Davies, Corinne Davies | 4 | 72.67
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Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.