Epperson Scores One-Two Finish in the $15,000 Shoo-fly USHJA National Open Hunter Derby at Winter Classic 15

20 MAR 26 Wilmington, OH

Equestrian rider in a black helmet and jacket jumps a brown horse over an obstacle during an indoor horse jumping competition.

Wilmington, Ohio – The $15,000 Shoo-fly USHJA National Open Hunter Derby was the main event Friday evening at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) Winter Classic 15. Kelsey Epperson dominated the class in her typical winning fashion, claiming a one-two finish with Apache 286 and All Rise, respectively.

A rider in equestrian gear jumps a brown horse over a green and white obstacle in an indoor arena.
Kelsey Epperson & Apache 286. Photo by Winslow Photography.

Epperson led the field heading into the handy round with Naytraders LLC’s nine-year-old Warmblood gelding, Apache 286, after earning an impressive first-round score of 91.

“I thought the first course was nice and flowing with some options of strides,” Epperson noted about Michael Pegg’s track. “I liked that nothing was concrete and you could do what was best for your horse. I loved the handy as well. The turns all rode very smoothly.”

A group of six people, including one person on horseback, pose indoors with a large prize check and a ribbon in front of a green hedge and advertisement signs.
Kelsey Epperson & Apache 286 in the winner’s circle presented by Shoo-fly. Photo by Winslow Photography.

The pair returned to lay down another exceptional effort, earning a 93 in the handy and a winning two-round total of 184. The victory marked their third derby win together during the 2026 Winter in the Midwest Series.

Additionally, Epperson spoke on her experience spending her winter series at WEC – Wilmington developing horses and partnerships: “I love coming to Wilmington because it is such a nice atmosphere for the horses and it breaks up our winter at home in Michigan. It allows us to bring along green horses and let’s us develop partnerships with new ones! It is great to set them up for the rest of the year.”

A rider in equestrian attire jumps a brown horse over a red and black fence in an indoor arena during a competition.
Kelsey Epperson & Apache 286. Photo by Winslow Photography.

Also piloting Danielle Leach’s nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, All Rise, for the first time this week, Epperson sat in fourth place after the first round with a score of 84.

A rider on a brown horse jumps over an obstacle during an indoor equestrian event, with a scoreboard visible in the background.
Kelsey Epperson & All Rise. Photo by Winslow Photography.

A polished and confident handy round effort earned a 92, propelling the pair into second place overall with a combined score of 176.

Brooke Gregory & Calisinni Top the $12,500 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby

Twenty-two junior and amateur athletes came forward at Winter Classic 15 to contest the $12,500 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby, but it was Brooke Gregory who rose to the top, securing her first Wilmington derby victory aboard her own Calisinni (Clinton I x Urania VII).

A person riding a white horse jumps over an obstacle during an indoor equestrian event.
Brooke Gregory & Calisinni. Photo by Winslow Photography.

Over a thoughtfully designed track by Michael Pegg, Gregory delivered two standout performances, showcasing both style and precision to ultimately take the win by a seven-point margin.

A rider in equestrian attire leans forward to hug a white horse in an indoor arena.
Brooke Gregory & Calisinni. Photo by Winslow Photography.

After earning an impressive first-round score of 88, the pair returned for the handy round in second place.

A rider on a gray horse jumps over a red and brown fence in an indoor equestrian arena.
Brooke Gregory & Calisinni. Photo by Winslow Photography.

The 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding proved his consistency, earning an 87 in the handy to solidify their lead.

A woman on horseback poses with two others, one holding a large check and the other a gift bag, in an indoor equestrian arena with decorative fences in the background.
Brooke Gregory & Calisinni. Photo by Winslow Photography.

With a combined total of 175, Gregory and Calisinni ultimately claimed top honors in a competitive field.

Hunter Derby Friday Results

Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. 

Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV

Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes!