Articles: Press Release

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Jennifer Wood of Phelps Media Group, Inc.
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Antioch, IL - August 30, 2009 - The $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby saw big crowds and tremendous competition this afternoon at Annali Farm in Antioch, IL. The class hosted 35 of the nation's top hunters and riders for a "Derby Day" full of festivities. Today's show raised money for Chicago Equestrians for a Cause, which donates to the Children's Memorial Hospital. Jennifer Alfano of Buffalo, NY, rode SBS Farms' Jersey Boy (below left) to victory in the $25,000 Hunter Derby.

Today's courses were designed by Bobby Murphy, who also served as show manager. The 35 entries competed over a rolling course of 12 obstacles in the large jumping field. The top 12 were asked back to do the handy hunter round.

The first position of judges consisted of Louise Serio and Geoff Teall, while George H. Morris and Scott Williamson were in position two. First back for round two was Maggie Jayne on Pony Lane Farm's Francesca. They had a first round total of 179, and in the second round, they had trouble in the one-stride combination. They had a second round score of 85 to finish with a total of 264 for an overall 11th place finish.

Maggie Sarmiento had the ride on Kensington, owned by The Ring LLC, next in the ring. Coming in with a score of 179, they put down a solid second round trip with a total score of 185. Their total of 364 vaulted them into an overall sixth place finish.

Also leaping up the standings in the second round was Rex the Wonder Horse, ridden by Kris Killam for Morel Masuoka. They came in with a score of 181. Thanks to a great gallop to the single rolltop oxer, they raised their score in the second round to 185. Their total was 366, and they finished with a solid fifth place ribbon.

Sugar Boy, owned by Wendy Hofmeister and Tammy Provost and ridden by Provost, was next in the ring. They had a score of 182 in the first round, but were not able to duplicate that in the second round. They posted a 105 to finish with 287 total for 10th place.

Caroline Weeden, riding on her home field, rode Topsider for Redfield Farm. They were in eighth place after the first round with a score of 182, and their second round score improved to 185. Their total of 367 squeaked them into fourth place at the end of the class, one point ahead of Killam and Rex.

Jayne returned in the handy hunter round on her second horse, another Pony Lane Farm entry, Milous de Fontaine. She and the cute bay stallion did not do as well in the handy round with a score of 109. Added to their first round score of 184.5, they finished with 293.5 points for ninth place.

Provost and her second horse, Peridot, are previous hunter derby winners. Owned by Stephen Martines and trained by Lynn Jayne, Peridot had no trouble with the handy course. They scored a 187 in the second round to add to their first round score of 186, and their total of 373 put them third in the class.

Rush Weeden made a jump up the list when he and Balisto, owned by Alec Bozorgi, laid down a great handy trip. They were fifth in the first round with a 186.5, and in the second round they increased to 188 for a total of 374.5 and second place.

Weeden and Balisto (below right), an eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood, have shown in one other hunter derby before today. Balisto usually shows in the equitation and jumpers with Bozorgi, and it was a late decision to compete today. Weeden owns Annali Farm where today's event took place.

"We were going to show him, but I had so much to do in getting the grounds ready and the show organized that we sort of took him off the list. Then on Thursday, I thought we were doing so much work for this that we might as well enjoy it too. I love to do these classes," Weeden said.

On her first horse Kid Rock, owned by Bright Star 158 LLC, Jennifer Alfano was poised to be a top contender. They were fourth in the first round with a score of 191, but an unfortunate rail in the combination lowered their second round score to 103. They finished with a total of 294 points for eighth place.

Kelley Farmer and her first mount Clooney, owned by Top Line Sporthorse International Inc., also had trouble with the combination. Due to refusals, Farmer made the decision to retire on course, and she received no score for that round. She finished on her first round score of 194 for 12th place.

Farmer sat in second place after the first round with her other horse Yes Indeed, owned by Oliva Weaver. They had a second round score of 116 added to a first round score of 195 to finish with 311 points for seventh place.

There was no stopping Jersey Boy and Alfano. They accumulated an amazing score in the first round with a smooth, stylish, consistent trip. In the first round, they scored an amazing 95 from the first position judges and added five points for options plus seven style points. The second position judges gave them a 96 with option points and six style points. Their first round total was 209, which was 14 points ahead of the next competitor.

In the second round, they were just as smooth and Alfano was able to open up Jersey Boy's big, fluid stride. They scored a 91 plus nine and 93 plus eight for a total of 201 to win the handy round by 13 points. Their two-round total was 410, and they won by a margin of 35.5 points.

Alfano was thrilled with Jersey Boy and amazed with yet another outstanding performance. This was only the second time that Jersey Boy has shown on grass, and Alfano said it made no difference to the chestnut gelding. The pair took every high option jump available for the maximum bonus points.

"He is so good to gallop on. He's got a big, open stride. Going from one end of the field to the other on him is just so easy. What's great is that you never have to worry about the jumps, because you can be rolling along and he's never going to lose his front end either. He's a really special horse," Alfano said.

Alfano enjoyed the course as well. "There weren't really many lines, just long gallops, which I love. One thing about Jersey Boy is that he pretty much jumps all of them the same. When he's on, they're all the same. That's what makes him so exceptional."

"This event was unbelievable, and they did such a good job," she went on to say. "I love coming out to Chicago. It's always beautiful, and they always do a nice job."

Balisto and Rush Weeden

Rush Weeden and his wife Caroline hosted the Chicago Hunter Derby at their farm, and everyone remarked on the picturesque setting and beautiful grass ring. Weeden noted, "We've been hustling pretty good the last week or so trying to get the place ready to horse show. We had five days of rain before the class, which slowed us down a bit. But at the end, everybody worked late and pulled together to make it go. You've got to give a lot of credit to all of our crew to throw an event like this."

He added, "Overall I think everybody had a great time, and we raised a lot of money for the Children's Memorial Hospital, which is why we're doing it. The weather cooperated finally, and it was a fantastic event."

Caroline Weeden and Lynn Jayne are on the advisory board of Chicago Equestrians for a Cause, while the Board Chairman is Karen Lackinger. The hunter event raised money for Chicago Equestrians for a Cause, and the net proceeds will benefit The Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL.

Children's Memorial Hospital is one of Chicago's most precious civic assets. As Illinois' only freestanding hospital exclusively for children, Children's Memorial currently cares for more than 126,000 young people annually. The hospital is consistently recognized as one of the top pediatric institutions in North America, and many of its physicians and researchers are among the world's top experts in their areas of specialty. In today's challenging health care environment, the hospital relies on philanthropic support to help ensure that all children have access to the highest quality care.

Money raised by Chicago Equestrians for a Cause will support the Founders' Board's five-year, $10 million commitment to the hospital's Department of Family Services. The programs offered by Family Services aim to help patients and families cope with the emotional, developmental and spiritual aspects of a child's illness and hospitalization.

The Chicago Hunter Derby is a series event for the Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals. The Chronicle of the Horse is the title sponsor for the 2009-2010 USHJA International Hunter Derby Series, and it is presented by Dietrich Insurance. Major sponsors for the series include Charles Owen & Co. and Dover Saddlery. Award sponsors for series are Essex Classics and The Clothes Horse.

Please visit the $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby website at www.chicagohunterderby.com.

Final Results: $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby

1. Jersey Boy, SBS Farms, Jennifer Alfano: 209+201= 410
2. Balisto, Alex Bozorgi, Rush Weeden: 186.5+188= 374.5
3. Peridot, Stephen Martines, Tammy Provost: 186+187= 373
4. Topsider, Redfield Farm, Caroline Weeden: 182+185= 367
3. Peridot, Stephen Martines, Tammy Provost: 186+187= 373
3. Peridot, Stephen Martines, Tammy Provost: 186+187= 373
5. Rex the Wonder Horse, Morel Masuoka, Kris Killam: 181+185= 366
6. Kensington, The Ring LLC, Maggie Sarmiento: 179+185= 364
7. Yes Indeed, Oliva Weaver, Kelley Farmer: 195+116= 311
8. Kid Rock, Bright Star 158 LLC, Jennifer Alfano: 191+103= 294
9. Milous de Fontaine, Pony Lane Farm, Maggie Jayne: 184.5+109= 293.5
10. Sugar Boy, Wendy Hofmeister and Tammy Provost, Tammy Provost: 182+105= 287
11. Francesca, Pony Lane Farm, Maggie Jayne: 179+85= 264
12. Clooney, Top Line Sporthorse International Inc., Kelley Farmer: 194+0= 194