New York City's Georgina Bloomberg Captures $30,000 CN Jumper Stake at Winter Equestrian Festival

Photo Credit: Georgina Bloomberg of New York City and District winning Thursday's $30,000 CN Jumper Stake at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Photo (C) 2008 Randi Muster

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Kenneth Kraus of Phelps Media Group, Inc.
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Wellington, FL - March 6, 2008 - Georgina Bloomberg of New York City topped a starting field of forty-seven and a jump-off roster of fifteen to capture Thursday afternoon's main event at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Riding District, Bloomberg beat two Olympic Gold Medalists for today's hard fought win in the $30,000 CN Jumper Stake, a qualifying event for this year's Budweiser American Invitational.

Racing across the finish line in an amazing 36.959 seconds, Bloomberg edged out Peter Wylde of the United States and Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil for the win. Wylde, a team gold medalist for the United States at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, finished in 37.029 seconds on Let's Fly. Pessoa, the individual gold medalist at those same games, finished third with Rufus in 37.171 seconds.

"It's been a while since I've won a big class so it felt really nice to get back to the winner's circle," said an elated Bloomberg following today's hard fought win. "My horse felt really super today. This is a great level for him. He's so quick but not super scopey. In the first round he really felt like he was trying to jump clean, so that gave me the confidence to go as fast as I wanted in the jump-off and really take a shot at it today."

With fifteen talented riders competing against her, Bloomberg was satisfied with her jump-off time, but held her breath until the final horse had gone. "You're never completely confident that your time is going to hold up," she said. "There are always such fast riders, especially at this level of competition, coming behind you. But, I'm thrilled it did hold up, and happy to win a nice event like this one."

Of her partner District, Bloomberg said, "We just got him in the fall, and he really had to step up right. We might have moved him up too quickly at first," she admitted. "We did the Capital Challenge Grand Prix right after he arrived. Shortly after that it began to fall apart. So at the start of the circuit here this year, we started him back in the 1.40m. I have been taking my time, getting to know him again, and hopefully we can bring him along, and then move him up to the bigger classes, once I gain more confidence in him," she said.

"We had a great summer in Europe, and I won a number of big classes over there, but it's been quite a dry spell here in the United States," smiled Bloomberg. "The fall tour was tough for me. I was attending school at the same time I was showing and that became a little too much, with not enough horses. It really caught up with me, mentally and physically. So, it was nice to regroup here. I've been chipping away, having a very good circuit so far, and today it was great to finally break the ice."

Today's win puts Bloomberg in great shape for a spot on the roster of the thirty top riders for this year's Budweiser American Invitational, the highlight event of this year's Florida tour. "It was especially nice that this was an American Invitational qualifier because I was just on the edge of the money won list before this class," she explained. "So it's nice to have this money in the bank and not have to worry about getting into that class."

"This was a great way to recharge the batteries, I'm thrilled to get this win today," she concluded.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg will continue in her quest for a spot on this year's short list for the 2008 United States Show Jumping Olympic team. She is currently eleventh in the rankings with two selection trials remaining. With three riders already named to the short list, seven spots remain up for grabs.

Her mount for selection trials, the next of which is scheduled for Friday morning at 8 am, is Curius. "He's been super. He's been a real surprise for us, being the fourth horse in our string. Because of the injury to Cim Christo, he has really had to step up. And he really has, and now, knock on wood, I hope he can keep it up through two more trials. I have very high hopes for him. I think he could be the best of my horses eventually."

CLASS: $30000 Jumper Stake AI Qualifier

1 2893 DISTRICT GEORGINA BLOOMBERG GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES - 0- 0/36.959
2 5251 LET''S FLY PETER WYLDE LES ECURIES DE MEAUTRY - 0-0/37.029
3 261 RUFUS RODRIGO PESSOA DOUBLE H FARM - 0- 0/37.171
4 5833 ESPLANADE 7 PETER WYLDE LOUISBURG FARM -0-0/37.346
5 1533 VIA VENETO CHRIS KAPPLER KAMINE & DAMMERMAN LLC -0-0/37.393
6 3680 UNICA ANGELA LAWRENCE EASTWOOD EQUINE INC 0-0/44.167
7 1525 CYPRIA 6 ANDREW WELLES PETER WELLES -0-4/38.126
8 6316 GOLD DIGGER CONOR SWAIL GLENN LEDDY - 0-4/38.206
9 7982 COCU MOLLY ASHE-CAWLEY JANE CLARK -0-4/39.596
10 1210 NEMO ROBERT KRAUT MEGHAN MORAN - 0-4/40.053
11 5948 H & M OBERON DARRAGH KERINS BLACKLICK BEND FARM - 0-8/37.288
12 974 ROMY TODD MINIKUS DIAMOND GROUP - 0-8/39.221

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