Articles: Horse News
Charlie Jacobs and Quidditch II Were Victorious In the Difficult $50,000 CN
Jumping Derby
Charlie Jacobs and Quidditch II winning the $50,000 CN jumping derby at
the PBIEC stadium in Wellington, Florida. Photo © Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com.
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East Aurora, NY and Wellington, FL - February 22, 2010 - On Sunday, Charlie
Jacobs, Principal Owner of the National Hockey League team, The Boston
Bruins, took on 46 competitors in the $50,000 CN Jumping Derby at the Palm
Beach International Equestrian Center Stadium. Jacobs and his 10-year-old
Oldenburg Quidditch II were one of only three competitors to go clean over
the long derby course, designed by Richard Jeffery. Jacobs completed the
course in 138.17 seconds, securing his win over Shane Sweetnam and Little
Emir.
The derby was challenging for many of the horses and rider
combinations. Jacobs explained, "When I think of a derby I think about the
amount of time it will take and how there will be many obstacles to
maneuver. When walking the course Sunday, many of the riders may have
thought about how the jumps didn't seem that large, around a 1.45 m, but
then when they started galloping the course, it became a real test of
endurance on both the horse and the rider. "
Jacobs competed with two young horses in the derby Quidditch II and his
green, eight-year-old, Leap of Joy. Jacobs was very excited about his win
and was also happy with how the course rode. "It was really special to have
this big victory, but it was also unexpected. Regardless of where we
placed, I was so happy with how Quidditch II rode over the course. She is
definitely a horse that has some bigger days ahead of her."
Quidditch II and Jacobs have only been a team for a short time. Buying her
from the United Kingdom in September, and then shipping her directly to
Florida, Jacobs has made a big effort to get to know her. He made the trip
from New York to Florida quite often so he could flat Quidditch II and forge
a relationship with her. Once the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) began,
he started her in the Amateur-Owner Medium before moving up to the High
Amateur's where they earned a second in the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of
Fame class.
Throughout WEF Jacobs has been challenging his young horses, especially
Quidditch II, to build up their stamina and physical body. He started out
this week by winning the $2,500 High Amateur-Owner Jumper with Quidditch
II. Then with a one-day break Jacobs was able to approach the stadium course
eager to compete. "I have the opportunity to ride at our family's lovely
farm, gallop the large fields, and jump fences that simulate the derby
fences," explained Jacobs. "I like to give my horses a 20-30 minute heavy
cardio workout to prepare them for each class. Then when my horse needs
rest I send her to the farm to relax, roll in the grass, and just be a
horse."
After WEF, Jacobs, will be staying in Florida through the winter and spring,
and then will be taking his three top mounts Secret Love, Leap of Joy, and
Quidditch II to Lake Placid, and Vermont.
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