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Tamie Smith leads the Open of Eventing, but Coleman and Martin can catch her (2)

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June 27, 2026

By Staff Writers

Tamie Smith leads the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Eventing by 20 points with all six counting slots filled.

Tamie Smith, Will Coleman and Boyd MartinOnly two more qualifiers are expected to pay the big points but Smith is unlikely to be at either.

So can anyone catch her?

Smith has 235 points with 13 of 20 qualifiers complete.

Seven remain, and only two of them are likely to pay the big points.

Smith may not be at either, so the lead is more catchable than the gap suggests.

Smith leads with 235 points, and the gap is 20.

William Coleman is closest, but only two large fields remain.

There are seven qualifiers left, four East Coast, three West Coast, before the Morven Park Final.

This how the scoring works.

Each rider counts their six best qualifier placings.

The top five riders in the standings have all six slots filled, so to gain a single point now, they cannot just add a result, they have to beat one they already own.

1  TAMRA SMITH 235 pts

2  William Coleman 215 pts

3  Boyd Martin 190 pts

4  Caroline Pamukcu 185 pts

5  Lucienne Bellissimo 175 pts

The Fork at Tryon on Sept. 10 and Plantation Field International on Sept. 17 are the two competitions left where riders could earn the most points to catch Smith.

So, can anyone catch her? 

Yes, but it is a narrow path and it runs through Tryon and Plantation Field.

Coleman is the live threat, 20 back and needing a single big result if Smith stalls.

Martin and Pamukcu have the horses to take a large field, or two. 

Watch the final few events to see who wins the big prize.

JJ Torano, McLain Ward and Lilly Ward win at Lake Placid (2)

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June 28, 2026

By Staff Writers

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.--JJ Torano on Lyon 50 won the $32,000 FEI 3* Speed Class on Saturday, June 27 during week one of the Lake Placid Horse Shows.

JJ Torano on Lyon 50 (Photo by KindMedia)Torano, amassing an amazing resume at just 16 years old, beat a field of 31, seven of which were clean in the Speed class.

Philip McGuane of Ireland on Donvier took an early lead in the class, finishing clean in 67.20 seconds over the one round course designed by Nick Granat.

The lead held for most of the class before Torano blazed over the course, finishing clean in 63.53 seconds, more than three-and-a-half seconds faster than McGuane.

None of the others could catch Torano’s time, giving the 16-year-old rider the win.

“I didn’t see Philip go, so I didn’t know what I had to do,” Torano said, “so I just went with the horse’s pace, which is very fast. He’s a real trier, he wants to win every class, so I just went with his pace. He’s very quick and competitive, and I can’t thank him enough.”

McGuane’s time held up for second place, with Jordan Coyle of Ireland third on Dexterity Z with a clean round in 69.09 seconds.

SIX TIME U.S. Olympic veteran McLain Ward on Supersox Ter Leydonck won the $25,000 1.45m Jumper Classic.

McLain Ward on Supersox Ter Leydonck (Photo by KindMedia)From a starting field of 33, seven went clean to make the jump-off.

Ward finished clean in 35.726 seconds to win over Molly Ashe Cawley on La Russo Lad, clean in 36.513 seconds, and Alex Matz on Million One was third, clean in 37.272.

While McLain was a winner,  he was surpassed by his daughter Lilly, who won two championships and a reserve. 

Lilly was Small Pony Champion on Celebration, and she was also Medium Pony Champion on The King of Hearts.

And now at 11 years old, Lilly has graduated to also riding in Children's Hunter, Under 14, where she won the reserve championship on Golden Ticket.

Lilly has been winning championships on Celebration for a couple of years now, but The King of Hearts and Golden Ticket are newer rides.

"We just got King of Hearts during the Winter Equestrian Festival," said Lilly's mother Lauren. "Lilly was just getting to know him towards the end of the circuit."

"Golden Ticket came home with us after Devon," said Lauren."We leased hm after Devon from Addison McQuaker. She got Golden Ticket as a 4-year-old and produced him."

"He's incredibly trustworthy," said Lauren. "Lilly's so excited to be jumping the bigger fences. Golden Ticket is 16-hands, but he's a perfect gentleman."

"Lilly will be riding all three again next week here in Lake Placid," said Lauren.

Charlotte Jacobs wins over Kent Farrington in Traverse City Grand Prix (2)

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June 28, 2026

By Staff Writers

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--Charlotte Jacobs on Korbach van de Ranger won the $181,200 Traverse City CSI4* Grand Prix on Saturday, June 27, just one week after she won the CSI3* Grand Prix.

Charlotte Jacobs on Korbach van de Renger (Photto by Natalie Suto)Jacobs defeated world number one Kent Farrington on Greya in an eight horse jump-off.

Jacobs,, last to go in the jump-off, finished clean in 35.50 to beat Farrington, who finished in 35.81, by three-tenths of a second.

Shane Sweetnam on Pegina VD Bisschop was third in 36.14, and Ashley Vogel on Otis Blue, the only other clean in the jump-off, was fourth in 37.03.

“I’m over the moon,” Jacobs said. “I have an incredible group of horses. This is his second grand prix win in three grand prixs. He’s really impressed us lately. He’s hitting new strengths and getting faster so I’m really happy with him today.”

Lorback van de Ranger had previously won the Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon earlier this year.

“You just do the best you can do,” Jacobs said about coming in for the jump-off after Farrington and Greya, Rolex Grand Prix winners and a pair that hardly anyone can beat on their best day.

“WHEN KENT'S winning and Shane is in second and I finish third, so be it," she said. "Today just happened to be my day. I tried to leave out as many strides as I could and ride as fast as I could. Everything just came up for me and my horse was right with me.”

“Kent is my trainer so he gave me some amazing tips and actually told me where I could beat him,” she said. “He did 10 strides from fences one to two and I did nine, and I did nine to the last and he did 10. Greya is preparing for some bigger grand prixs so I think this was a little big of a warmup for him, but we’ll take it.”

“Show jumping is a huge game of confidence,” she said. “Once you get on a roll, it tends to continue.”

Jacobs is hoping to carry her success across to Europe, where she will represent her nation in the Falsterbo CSI5* Nations Cup in two weeks.

But first, she has one more week to compete in Traverse City and hope for more top results.

“So far so good,” she said of her summer season in Michigan. “My horses have jumped amazing. I love coming to Traverse City.”

Jordan Coyle won over McLain Ward in the Grand Prix of Lake Placid (2)

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June 29, 2026

By Staff Writers

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.--Jordan Coyle of Ireland on Ariso won the $100,000 FEI 3* Grand Prix of Lake Placid to conclude week 1 of the Lake Placid Horse Shows.

Jordan Coyle on Ariso (Photo by KindMedia)Coyle won over a starting field of 35 horses, nine of which made the jump-off over the course set by Nick Granat.

Six-time U.S. Olympic veteran McLain Ward on First  Lady was the second to go in the jump-off, and he set the time to beat with a clean round in 41.80 seconds.

Ward’s lead held until Coyle returned on Ariso,who used the advantage of going late in the jump-off to shave six-tenths of a second off Ward's time, finishing clean in 41.23 for the win, 

PIETER DE BRABANDERE of Belgium on Dothraki Warlord, clean in 42.15 seconds,, was third with Alex Matz on Viva Pleasure PS fourth in 42.46, and Ward on Le Louvre S, the only other clean in the jump-off, fifth in 43.52.

JJ Torano on Mr. Worldwide (Photo by KindMedia)“You never know in this sport, everything has such fine margins that you never actually know till it’s over what’s going to happen,” Coyle said. “If you can beat McLain, then that’s always a good gauge that you were pretty fast."

“This is for sure the form of his life at the moment,” Coyle said. “He won some big classes for me in his younger days, but then he had a few years of not much pressure and not much being asked of him. In the past year, he’s come back to being probably better and more consistent than he ever has been. It’s really quite exciting.”

Coyle was the Lake Palcid Leading FEI Jumper Rider.

Sunday morning featured two classes in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series.

In the first, JJ Torano rode Mr. Worldwide to win the $10,000, 1.35m SJHOF Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, and then Jole Kosloske rode Crystal Claire to win over Torano on Vitus K in the $15,000, 1.45m SJHOF Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic.

Charlotte Bettendorf won over Kent Farrington in Traverse City (2)

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June 29, 2026

By Staff Writers

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--Charlotte Bettendorf of Luxembourg .on Million Pleasure won the $15,000 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic on Sunday, June 28 in the Traverse City Spring Series.

Charlotte Bettendorf on Million Pleasure (Photo by Natalie Suto)Bettendorf was clean in 41.381 seconds to beat Kent Farrington on Dolores PS, second in 42.569, with Alexandra Smith on Chagolando PS, as the only other clean in the seven horse jump-off, third in 44.106

“I started showing him in March in Ohio for the first time,” Bettendorf said of the 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “He started doing the 1.30m there and now he's doing the 1.45m so easily. I think he can do much more. I really like him. He's always ears forward doing his best. I think it's a competitive horse.”

BETTENDORF had the advantage of going last over Bernardo Costa Cabral’s short course, so she had seen what the other seven competitors had put out there, including two rides for Farrington, one for Shane Sweetnam, and one for Beezie Madden.

“I saw Kent with the first one and he was really quick, then Shane was very quick as well,” she said. “We only had one clear, then I saw Kent go in front of me and I thought if I try I can probably make the time. The plan worked out very well and I'm very happy.”

“I really like this horse,” she said of Million Pleasure. “He is small in size but has a very big heart. He's like a little kid, biting and annoying you, but you go in the ring and he's perfect. Everyone likes him.”

After two international victories during Traverse City Spring, Bettendorf now heads home before returning to Northern Michigan in August for the FEI North American Youth Championships, where she will coach one of her students.

Aaron Vale won the $250,000 Grand Prix at WEC (2)

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June 30, 2026

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.--Aaron Vale on Helios du Moulin won the $250,000 Grand Prix CSI4* on Saturday evening, June 27 at the World Equestrian Center.

Aaron Vale on Helios du Moulin (Photo by Andrew Ryback)From a field of 20, eight were clean to make the jump-off over the course set by Alan Wade of Ireland. 

Third to go in the jump-off, Vale, who had won the $150,000 CSI3* Grand Prix the previous week, was the first to go clean, finishing in 41.74.

"I knew there were some fast ones behind me because the qualifying was inverted and some of the best ones went last," Vale said. "But I walked the plan. I was nine strides from one to two. There were two places I thought I could have gotten one less. Luis Sabino Goncalves was ultimately the only one that figured out the track to get it, and then he had the last jump down, so it worked out for us."

"You know, he's a small horse, but he is a fighter, said Vale. "And he just keeps doing it. It wasn't the biggest track tonight for a four-star. We wanted to have a jump-off. But still, somehow this horse just sneaks around these courses and you come out and say, 'Wow, that wasn't that hard,’ He’s a great little horse and has a great group of people that own him with me. He is just so fun.”

A VALE exited the ring, a crowd of young fans gathered at the top of the ramp waiting to celebrate with the winning rider.

"It's great, the crowd, the energy and support that the horses and riders get, because they’re all horse people," Vale said. "We're horse people, and the kids are horse people starting at the bottom coming up. And I think that's what the whole facility is about."

Austria's Peter Petschenig placed second on Ennebel van het Posthuijs, clean in 43.91 seconds.

Petschenig has been riding the mare for three years.

"She's improved all the way through it," Petschenig said. "She doesn't look like it, but every time you ask a question, she answers. She jumped all over the world and she's always game."

Captain Brian Cournane on Artic JT Z was third.

Richie Vogel won two, including the Grand Prix, at Spruce Meadows (2)

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June 30, 2026

By Staff Writers

ALBERTA, Canada--Ricjie Vogel on Gangster Montdesir won the 1.60m Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows under a pouring rain on Sunday, June 28.

Earlier file photo of Richie Vogel on Gangster Mondesir (Photo by Sportfot)Despite the rain, 31 competed over the course set by Anderson Lima of Mexico, but only two were able to go clean.

Kat Laurie of New Zealand on Django II was the first to go in the jump-off, and a rail down left the door open for Vogel.

Going conservatively to ensure a clean round, Vogel finished clean in 52.74 for the win.

Vaclav Stane of Czechia on Quintin was third with one time fault.

Despite the pouring rain and a stiff wind that caused the flags to flap noisily, the going remained incredibly good,

Water splashed with every stride, but the turf was hardly disturbed.

That was Vogel's third win of the day and his fourth in the four day show.

SPRUCE Meadow's International Ring is huge and is encircled by grandstands

"The beginning  of the week, Gangster's first time entering the International Ring, he was quite impressed, but I'm happy with how quickly he developed and how good he was today," said Vogel.

On Saturday, Vogel on Phenyo van het Keysersbos won the Friends of the Meadows 1.50m competition.

From a starting field of 46, five were clean.

Vogel finished in 45.53 to beat Lillie Keenan on Emerlon, clean in 46.93, with Robert Whitaker of Great Britain on Strike a Pose third in 55.33

Gold Charm won the $100,000 Stakes at Colonial Downs (2)

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July 2, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

NEW KENT, Va.--Gold Charm, trained by Cyril Murphy, won the G2, $100,000 Theodora A. Randolph Filly and Mare Hurdle Stakes at Colonial Downs on Monday, June 29.

Gold Charm winning the Life's Illusion Stake in 2024 (Photo by Coady Media Maddy Becker)GIt was a day full of excellent steeplechase racing at Colonial Downs with good purse money and exciting races.

It was a day full of excellent steeplechase racing at Colonial Downs with good purse money and exciting races.

Gold Charm, owned by Irv Naylor and ridden by Jamie Bargary, won the 2 1/4 mile Stakes by 2 34 lengths over Timetoshine, trained by Mark Beecher, and Anoint, trained by Keri Brion.

"We've had Gold Charm since 2023," said Murphy. "We bought her as a 4-year-old at a sale in England. She'd been running on the flat in England. She's been a really consistent performer since we've had her."

Gold Charm has won seven times for Murphy and Naylor, six of them stakes.

The mare was held at the back of the field early, began to make a move on the backstretch the last time around, caught the leader, Timetoshine, in the stretch and went on to win under a hand ride.

"It was always our intention to sit behind," said Murphy. "She was the high weight, so we didn't want to press her early. The race set up perfectly for her."

"Timetoshine was the mare we were most worried about," said Murphy. "She had the best form, and she'd beaten us last time out in Nashville. We thought if we beat her that we'd win, Our mare's jumping is her strong point."

"HER NEXT opportunity is another filly and mare stakes July 23 at Colonial, then there's another Sept. 2," said Murphy. "We'll look at the weather. Hopefully we'll make the July 23 race. It's a handicap again, so she'll get the high weight."

"She performs every day we take her out," said Murphy. "She's tough to train, but her races make it worth while."

This was Bargary's third win of the day. having won twice on horses trained by Jack Fisher.

Fisher saddled Northwoods Stable's Camanoe to win the $60,000 Filly and Mare Maiden Hurdle by 9 lengths over Path to Victory, trained by Lillith  Boucher, and Bella Estrella, trained by Brion.

Fisher and Bargary also teamed up to win the $20,000 Maiden Starter Hurdle with Riverdee Stable's Renfro's Reception, who won by 5 lengths over Righthere Rightnow, trained by Barry Foley, and Boffo Kid, trained by Danielle Hodsdon.

Fisher's two wins increased his lead in Trainer, Money Won to $743,300, almost double that of second place Brion with $378,260.

Fisher leads in Trainer, Races Won with 12 wins, while Kathy Neilson Leslie Young and Neil Morris have eight each. 

Morris also saddled two winners, Mark Cassidy's Doctor Davis and Ballybristol Farm's Love Foreverafter, both ridden by Graham Watters.

Doctor Davis won the $30,000 Maiden Starter/Maiden Claiming Hurdle by 12 1/4 lengths over Roundtop, trained by Brion, and Coaches Meeting, trained by Kathy Neilson, and Love Foreverafter won by 2 1/2 lengths over Darcy's Friend, trained by Arch Kingsley, and Bright Eyed Eagle, trained by Neilson.

Kingsley saddled Richard Colton's Feeling Festive (Ire), ridden by Freddie Procter, to win the $65,000 Allowance Hurdle by 1 length over Aspenite, trained by Morris, and Scorpius, trained by Fisher.

Neilson saddled Armata Stable's Better Bet, ridden by Jack Power, to win the $60,000 Maiden Hurdle by 2 1/2 lengths over Flash Frozen, trained by Tom Garner and Onrush, trained by Fisher.

Julie Gomena saddled Riverdee Stable's Fulmineo, ridden  by Procter, to win the $60,000 Maiden Hurdle by 3/4 length over My Kinda Ghaiy (Ire), trained by Foley, and Loose Wire, trained by Brion.

Ricky Hendriks saddled Del Rio Racing's Rotterdam, ridden by Conor Tierney,, to win the $20,000 Flat Race for Jumpers by 1/2 length over Philip My Dear trained by Neilson, and Give It a Whirl, trained by Beecher.

Giavanna Rinaldi and Brianne Goutal-Marteau won in Lake Placid (2)

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July 3, 2026

By Staff Writers

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.--Giavanna Rinaldi on Big Beauty Z ironically won the $45,000 Brianne Goutal LLC FEI 3* Jump-off class on Thursday, July 3,  the day after Goutal-Marteau on S&L Marlon VD Heffinck won the $5,000 FEI 3* Two-Phase class at the I Love New York Horse Show, the second week of the Lake Placid Horse Shows.

Giavanna Rinaldi on Big Beauty Z (Photo by KindMedia)Rinaldi rode two of the eight horses that reached the jump-off over the course designed by Alan Wade, course designer for the 2028 Olympic Games.

She was second to go in the jump-off on Caldaro Van De Oude Heihoef and had what turned out to be the fastest time, 37.19 seconds, but a rail down at the last fence cost her four faults, giving her an ultimate fourth place finish.

Molly Ashe Cawley on Lorena was the first clean in the  jump-off ride, taking the lead in 38.90 seconds.

Rinaldi on Big Beauty Z followed her on course and turned in what proved to be the winning ride, finishing clean in 38.55 seconds.

“My first horse is an 8-year-old, and he’s very green,” Rinaldi said. “I thought I would try to get him to learn something. He was doing everything that I asked and he has a really big stride, so I went for the leave-out at the last and ended up pushing him just a bit through it. A little bit of a green mistake, but he’ll learn from it and come back next time.

“FOR MY second horse, I learned from my mistake. I tried to be a bit quicker everywhere else so I wouldn’t have to make it up at the last line. I ended up doing the same number as the first horse, and she’s naturally fast, as well, so it worked out.”

Ashe Cawley finished second, and Christian Coyle of Ireland on Chicago CM was third with the only other clean jump-off ride and a time of 39.95 seconds.

On Wednesday, Goutal-Marteau on S&L Marlon VD Heffinck won the Two-Phase class 

Going 16th, Goutal-Marteau was clean in 32.56 seconds to  win over Lucas Mejia Fanjul of Colombia on Camillo Du Perchet, clean in 34.35 seconds, and David O’Brien of Ireland on Coleccini was third in 34.91.

“He’s a veteran for me, and I really trust that I can take any option that I want,” Goutal-Marteau said. “He’s really started specializing in these speed classes, so when I see these long runs and tight turns, I know I can leave out strides and still turn very neatly on the landing. Still, as always, you need to have a little luck. The plan really worked out the way we hoped it would, and I’m super happy with the result.

“It’s a pleasure being at this show. We have amazing footing, and it’s been great the whole two weeks. We love coming up here.”

Prior to the FEI class, Goutal-Marteau on Imogen D’Aiguilly, won the Two-Phase Jumper Class, clean in 28.592.

Devin Ryan placed second on Nadal ZL with a time of 29.058 seconds, and third went to Campbell Brown, who finished in 30.030 seconds on Mansini LTD.

Kent Farrington won in Traverse City (2)

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July 3, 2026

By Staff Writers

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--Kent Farrington on Diakatisa opened the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival with a win in Thursday’s $31,100 CSI3* Welcome Stake.

Kent Farrington on Diakatisa (Photo by Naralie Suto)Though he had a great week to close the Spring Series with his top mount Greya, Farrington’s focus is back on the youngsters he is developing.

The Olympic silver medalist entered two 9-year-olds in Thursday’s class, and both were clean over Martin Otto’s course.

There were 19 clean, but Diakatisa won by over a second.

“She’s really learning the ropes and learning how to compete,” Farrington said

“She’s getting better and better at her job. It’ll be fun to see where she ends up in the future.”

“It’s hard to find good horses, so I try to pick talent when they’re young,” he said. “Some of them look a little bit wild and unrideable, we try to do the best we can to train them and some of them make it up the ranks into hopefully being stars for the future.”

“EVERY horse I’m riding has to learn to look for the fences and they really only learn to do that by competing in the ring and getting ring mileage,” he said.

He picks naturally fast horses, so the speed is always there, but the track is what he was able to manipulate to his advantage to take the top placing.

Brian Moggre on Johann FS Z was second, and Shane Sweetnam of Ireland was third on Honey Heart.

“We’re lucky we get to ride two horses here,” Farrington said. “It’s a great part of America and bringing up young horses that I can enter multiple horses in a class. It’s more to be able to produce young horses than anything else. Not too many times that I’m in a circumstance to beat myself so it’s a nice bonus.”

Local trainers win from New York to Kentucky (2)

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July 3, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

FAIR HILLS, Md.--A number of trainers based either at the Fair Hills Training Center or locally have been winning consistently during the past month in flat races ranging from New York to New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Kentucky.

Keri Brion (Photo from NYRA)Keri Brion has had six winners, Graham Motion has had five winners, including a stakes win, Liz Merryman has had two winners including a stakes, Michael Matz also has had two wins and Kathy Neilson has had one.

Two of these trainers, Brion and Neilson, are better known as steeplechase trainers.

Brion saddled winners for five different owners, beginning with two wins for Michael Foster, whose Nogradi won a $83,000, 1 mile Starter Allowance at Churchill Downs by 1/2 length on June 8, and then his Planet Clare won a $28,000,1 1/16 mile Starter Optional Claiming race at Delaware Park by 5 3/4 lengths on June 17.

Christmas Jones won a $32,040, 1mile turf Maiden Claiming at Laurel by 6 1/2 lengths on June 8 for Byrdnest Racing, Dark Horse Racing, Victory Circle Racing and Scott Gibson.

KMSN Stable's Fly Now won a $20,000, 1 1/16 mile turf race at Delaware Park by 1 length on June 18, Norma Lewis' Lendalfoot won a $44.590, 1 1/16 mile turf race at Laurel by 2 3/4 lengths on June 21,and Greentree Stables' Free Refills won a $48,000, 1 1/16 mile turf race at Belmont at the Big A by 2 1/2 lengths on June 28.

MOTION had three winners on June 13, beginning with the G3, $150,000, 1 1/16 mile Turf Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Graham Motion (Photo by Coady Photography)Newstead Stable's Gimme a Nother won the Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths.

Wertheimer and Frere's Longhi won a $37,300, 1 1/16 mile turf race at Laurel by a neck, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and MHM Stables' Enjoying won a $23,575, 1 mile Maiden Claiming race at Monmouth by 1 1/4 lengths.

Hollywood Racng's isivunguvungu won a $57,000, 5 1/2 furlong turf race at Laurel by 1/2 length on June 19, and Alex G.Campbell's homebred Brat Pack won a $46,000, 1 mile turf race at Delaware Park by 1 length on June 24.

Merryman saddled her homebred Witty, owned by Merryman and Marc Detampel, to win the $100,000, 6 furlong turf Ben's Cat Stakes at Laurel by 1/2 length on June 20.

Merryman also saddled Hastings Farm's Irish Coco to win a $25,000, 1 mile Starter Optional Claiming race by 3 lengths on June 25.

Matz had two winners at Delaware Park on June 25, both for Michael Moran.

Cosie Rosie won a $45,000, 71/2 furlong turf race by 2 lengths, and Moran's homebred Cocoa Mills won a $24.600, 1 mile turf race by a nose.

Neilson saddled Orator, owned by Hard Game and Danielle B. and Charles C. Fenwick, Jr. to win a $40,925, 1 1/16 mile turf Maiden Claiming race at Laurel on June 26.

Samuel Hutton won in Lake Placid while Lillie Keenan won at Spruce Meadows (2)

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July 4, 2026

By Staff Writers

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.--Samuel Hutton of Great Britain on Etincelle D’Ellipse won the $32,000, FEI 3* Speed Class on Friday, July 3 at the I Love New York Horse Show, the second week of the Lake Placid Horse Shows

Samuel Hutton on Etincelle D'Ellipse (Photo by KindMedia)On the same day, Lillie Keenan on For Kicks won the 1.55m Cup, the final qualifying event for the $1 million Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows in Alberta, Canada.

Hutton won over a field of 25 at Lake Placid.

Eight-time Olympic veteran Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil on Ziggy Stardust was the first to go in the speed class over a course course designed by Alan Wade, course designer for the 2028 Olympic Games, and he set a tough time to beat with a clean round in 66.94 seconds.

Pessoa’s lead held for half the class until Hutton finished clean in 66.70 seconds.

None of the remaining 12 entries could match Hutton’s clean time, with the closest being Vasco Flores of Puerto Rico on Stena, who finished clean in 67.79 seconds on Stena to place third, with Pessoa's time holding on to place second..

“I WAS getting on my horse when Rodrigo went so I didn’t see his round, but I had someone watching and she told me he was really fast,” Hutton said. “I had a plan when I walked, and I know my horse really well and I knew what she could do. She’s really fast, and I know where I can take risks. I stuck to the plan and I wasn’t chasing anybody. Luckily, we were a split second faster than Rodrigo.

Earlier in the day, Laura Chapot on Ciego won the $5,000, 1.25m Jumper Classic.

At Spruce Meadows, 64 entries competed in the 1.55 Cup over the course set by Santiago Varela of Spain, and 17 went clean to make the jump-off.

For the first time this season, the American national anthem played across the International Ring as Keenan on Kick On captured the victory .

Keenan was clean in the jump-off, stopping the clock in 40.84 seconds to win.

Mark Bluman of Israel on Landon de Nyze was second, and Arturo Parada Vallejo of Mexico on Laretto was third.

“I always try to come to Spruce Meadows it’s one of my favorite shows.” said Keenan. “I always liked coming here because I feel like my horses left better than when we first arrived. I think jumping on grass is one of the best thing you can do for a horse’s fitness and health. They really grow here".