DEVON, Pa.--McLain Ward, a huge favorite among the enthusiastic Devon spectators, will compete at Devon again this year.

McLain Ward on Lestro VD Valckenborg (Photo by SEL Photography)Devon opens in just a week with Junior Weekend, and jumpers begin Tuesday, May 26.  

Another favorite, Alex Matz, will also return to compete in the jumper division.

Not only will Ward be competing at Devon, where he has won the Grand Prix an amazing 12 times, but his daughters Lauren and Lily will also be competing in Small and Medium Pony division.

One of Ward's mounts at Devon will be Lestro VD Valckenborg, who most recently won the Grand Prix at the Old Salem Spring Horse Shows.

Lestro is a horse we’ve been very excited about for the last six months,” Ward said. “We acquired him late last summer from an Irish rider named Mark Finnerty, who did a beautiful job producing the horse. We’ve slowly developed as a team over the last six months, and in Florida, I was very optimistic about his future. I think he’s rounding into form. He’s a big horse with a lot of range and blood, so that makes him quick while covering the ground at the same time."

 

WARD will also have students competing at Devon.

Baylee McKeever, daughter of Ward's long time manager Lee McKeever, is expected to compete in the jumper division.

McKeever was Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper champion at Old Salem.

Local favorite Alex Matz of Coatesville, Pa., will also compete again.

Last year, Matz placed third in the Grand Prix, and his most emotional win was in in 2023 when he won the Jet Run Welcome Stake, the class named for the horse his father Michael had ridden to so many successes.

This year Matz is bringing Viva Pleasure PS and Clarimo.

Devon has added an exciting new competition this year, Carriage Eventing, to be held Monday evening, May 25.

In Carriage Eventing at Devon, 12 competitors will compete, driving through obstacles in both the Dixon Oval and the Wheeler Ring in an thrilling, timed event.

The $50,000 Arena Eventing, a huge spectator favorite, will be competed Sunday evening.

Devon opens, as usual, with Junior Weekend, featuring junior hunters and jumpers, equitation and pony breeding.

The Carriage Please Drive arrives mid-day at the Dixon Oval for final judging on Sunday, May 24.

Hunters compete Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with the featured International Hunter Derby at 8 a.m. Thursday, May 28.

Open jumpers begin with the $32,000 Jet Run Welcome Stake on Tuesday, May 26, followed by the $32,000 Main Line Challenge Speed Stake Wednesday, the $210,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon Thursday, the $32,000 Devon Speed Derby Friday and the $182,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake Saturday,

All the jumper classes are in the evening, most beginning around 7 p.m.

Amateur owner hunter and jumpers compete Friday and Saturday and the final Sunday, May 31, features hunter breeding.

Devon will be live streamed on ClipMyHorse.