HARRISBURG, Pa.--Matthew Brody on Keatingstown Miami won the $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National in a four horse jump-off on Saturday evening, Oct. 18.
Matthew Boddy on Keatingstown Miami (Photo by Andrew Ryback)It was Boddy’s first time attending the Pennsylvania National Horses Show, and he made it memorable, as his wife, Taylor Boddy, and their newborn son, Blake Boddy, watched his win.
“It’s a very prestigious grand prix,” said Boddy. “I’ve never jumped here before, and in my first go in the grand prix I won. My horse was amazing. My team’s amazing; my amazing wife and my newborn son are here at his first show, so it’s a really emotional evening.”
In the jump-off, over a course set by Oscar Soberon, no one went clean.
Boddy, who rides for Great Britain, was the fastest of the four-fault rounds with a time of 34.26 seconds.
Last to go, Laura Chapot on C&C Willow, who won the opening 1.40m class on Wednesday with the mare, looked as though she might win until she had the last fence down, and her time of 34.53 seconds was just a hair slower.
Seth Vallhonrat of Malvern, Pa., om Lordy-P was third in 35.880, and Carly Campbell Cooper on Qornet VD Bisschop was fourth with eight faults in 32.794.
“I WATCHED a few of the first two go and do the six to the skinny, but I thought that my mare would be a little flat at it if I galloped her at it,” Boddy said. “So, I added a stride and did the turning, and actually, what happened, I turned too sharp. Miami couldn’t get out of the front rail of the double, which was a mistake on my part, but I came out a foot on the gas because the other two had had rails, so there’s still prize money to get. I kept my foot down, and she just answered every call, so I can’t complain.”
Taylor Boddy first rode Miami, and Matthew Boddy started riding the Belgian Warmblood mare in 2023.
He brought Miami to Harrisburg, Pa., in the start to what he hopes will be a competitive fall season going into the winter circuits.
He was seventh in the $30,000 1.40m Welcome on Thursday after taking it easy in that jump-off, knowing that he wanted to save the mare for the grand prix.
“She is full of character,” he said of the mare. “It has taken a long time for me to work together with her. I’ve let her down a lot in her career as a rider, and I’ve learned a lot about myself. She’s just a family member, and she’s never going to be sold or anything. She’s just what she is. She’s a bundle of – pleasing excitement is the best way I could describe her, and to win something – she deserves this tonight. It’s not how I wanted to win it, but she deserves her win. She tries so hard.”
Now that he’s attended the Pennsylvania National, Matthew Boddy looks forward to returning to the show and seeing his name alongside all of the great riders who have won the grand prix before him.
“There’s so much history,” he said. “When you walk down the aisles, and you see all the past winners, some of the best riders in the world, it’s amazing. Hopefully next year I’ll be able to come and see my photo on the wall winning one of the most prestigious American grand prix.”
“The show is amazing, especially tonight. It was a great crowd, knowledgeable," said Boddy. "They want to be a part of it. The young people want to be a part of it. I’m definitely coming back!”
Chapot's C&C Willow was the 1.40m Jumper division champion, and Chapot was the 1.40m Leading Jumper Rider as well as the 1.40m Leading Lady Jumper Rider.
