Lake Placid, NY—June 30, 2005—Jimmy Torano of Fort Lauderdale, FL rode Aguila to victory in the Whiteface Mountain 1.45m Jump-off Thursday at the 36th annual Lake Placid Horse Show.

Torano was the eighth of 23 entries to try the 14-jump first-round course at the North Elba Showgrounds in Lake Placid. He completed the course fault-free to qualify for the jump-off and then took the class lead by completing the seven-jump jump-off coure without fault in 28.852 seconds. None of the remaining entries could match Torano’s time. The closest was Lauren Bass of Willoughby, OH who finished the jump-off fault-free in 29.680 seconds on Firefly to earn second place. Third place went to two-time U.S. Olympian Lisa Jacquin of Collegeville, PA who finished the jump-off in 31.277 seconds on Kassidy.

The 2005 Lake Placid Horse Show continues through Sunday when it culminates with the $60,000 Budweiser Grandprix of Lake Placid CSI 2* for the Whitney Perpetual Challenge Trophy. It is followed by the I Love New York Horse Show, July 5-10, which is highlighted by the $75,000 Hermès I Love New York Grandprix CSI 2* on Saturday, July 9.

This year’s Lake Placid Horse Show schedule also includes the1.40m Hilton Lake Placid Resort Speed Challenge, the 1.35m Hilton Lake Placid Resort Time First Jump-Off; the 1.40m Lake Placid Resort North American League (NAL) Open Speed Stake and the 1.50m Turtle Lane Farm Open Jumper Welcome Stake on Friday, July 1; the 1.45m Golden Arrow Open Jumper class, the Y106.3 Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, the Whiteface Lodge NAL Adult Amateur Jumper Classic, and Adirondack Life Low Junior Jumper Classic on Saturday, July 2; and finishing the week at the Lake Placid Horse Show are the Shamrock Ventures LLC High Jr. Jumper Classic, Mirror Lake Inn High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, Juliam Farm Lead Line and C.M. Hadfield’s Saddlery Parade of Champions on Sunday, July 3, prior to the $60,000 Budweiser Grandprix of Lake Placid CSI 2*. In addition to these premier events in the Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix Field, on Sunday, July 3, there is also a full day of Hunter Classics in the Hunter Ring, including the Sidelines NAL Adult Amateur Hunter Classic..

The 2005 I Love New York Horse Shows schedule includes the Lake Placid News/Adirondack Daily Enterprise Open Jumper Stake and the 1.35m WPTZ News Channel 5 Jump-Off on Wednesday, July 6; the 1.40m Wild Horse Winery NAL Open Speed Stake and the 1.50m Pin Oak Farm Open Jumper Stake on Thursday, July 7; the 1.40m Price Chopper Speed Challenge and the 1.45m Nicola’s Restaurants Open Jumper class on Friday, July 8; and the Shamrock Ventures LLC High Junior Jumper Classic and the Charlotte Bobcats Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on Saturday, July 9. Both of these events are member events of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame series.

Also held on July 9 are the Woodlea Farms Parade of Champions, the Kathy Scholl Equitation Championship and the highlight of the second week— the $75,000 Hermès I Love New York Grandprix CSI 2*. After the Grand Prix, the Richard and Diana Feldman Perpetual Challenge Trophy for Excellence will be awarded to the rider who has won the most prize money in the two Grand Prix combined. Once again, the Lake Placid Horse Shows will also offer the $25,000 Hidden Creek Challenge, with $25,000 to be awarded to any horse-and-rider combination that wins both the Budweiser Grandprix of Lake Placid CSI 2* and the Hermès I Love New York Grandprix CSI 2*. On Sunday, July 10, the Lake Placid Lodge WIHS Adult Amateur Jumper Classic and the Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau WIHS Children’s Jumper Classic will be held. Both these classes are member events of the WIHS Championship Series and will count as points towards the Championship held at the Washington International Horse Show. The Levy Family Low Junior Jumper Classic and the Pepsi Pony Hunter Classic will be held on Sunday, July 10 as well.

The horse shows’ 13th annual Doggie Costume Contest returns on Saturday, July 9 at noon. All people with leashed dogs in costume will be admitted to the horse show free of charge. Contestants will strut their stuff in a special ring set up near the horse show’s Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix Field. There is no entry fee, and all entrants receive treats. Awards, including the Lulu Perpetual Trophy for the funniest costume, will be presented to this year’s “top dogs.” New award categories for this year include “Best in Show – Group,” “Best in Show – Solo,” “Most Unusual,” “Most Personality,” and the top three “Overall Best.” The 2005 Lake Placid Horse Show and I Love New York Horse Show sponsors include A& M Beverages, Adirondack Life, Adirondack Store, American Grandprix Association, Anonymous, Ariat International, Inc., Barbara & Michael Bitterman, Brandy Parfums, Ltd., The Brown Dog Café and Wine Bar, Budweiser, The Charlotte Bobcats, Jane Forbes Clark, C.M. Hadfield’s Saddlery, Inc., Clothes Line Laundry, The Cottage Café, The Country Saddler, Ltd., David R. Fowler Custom Tack Trunks, Der Dau Custom Boots and Shoes, Fox Run, Ltd., Golden Arrow Hotel, Grill 211, Hermès, Hilton Lake Placid Resort, The Hooker Family, Horse Watch, James Leslie Parker Photography, Juliam Farm, Lake Placid Lodge, Lake Placid Resort Hotel & Golf Club, Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau, The Levy Family, Lonesome Landing Garden Center, McDonald’s, Mirror Lake Inn, Moss Communications, Mountain Horse, Mr. Mike’s Pizza & Pasta, Muirfield Insurance, Inc., Nicola’s On Main, North Elba Park District, On a Fence Designs & Rentals, ORDA/Whiteface Mountain, The Phillips Family, Pin Oak Farm, Price Chopper, Red-Kap Sales, Ruthie’s Run, Sidelines, Shamrock Ventures LLC, SLVR by Aerogear, Turtle Lane Farm, The Tytel Family, Unusual Silver, U.S. Olympic Spirit Store, The Whiteface Lodge, Wild Horse Wines, Woodlea Farms, WPTZ News Channel 5, and Y106.3 – Mountain Communications LLC.

Admission to the Lake Placid and I Love New York Horse Shows is $2.00 on weekdays and $5.00 on weekends. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free. Tickets are available at the gate. For more information, please call the Lake Placid Horse Show Association at (518) 523-9625 or visit www.lakeplacidhorseshow.com.