DARIEN, CT – June 13, 2002 – McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, rode Peter, owned by Ward and Harry Gill, to win the $1500 Brooks Community Newspaper Preliminary Jumper Class at the 73rd annual Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show in Darien, CT. Ward beat out 20 other entries to win the class.

Ward also placed 4th on Flier, owned by Ward and Gill and 6th on his mount Acapulco. Ward won the 2001 Ox Ridge Grand Prix and will defend his title on Sunday.

The highlight of the Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show is the $35,000 Ox Ridge Grand Prix which will be held on Sunday, June 16 at 1:00 pm. The Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show is one of the nation’s most prestigious competitions, drawing approximately 1300 horses this year.

Several Olympians are at the Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show this year including Nona Garson of Lebanon, NJ who rode on the 2000 Sydney Olympic team and Peter Leone of Greenwich, CT, who rode in the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 and helped the U.S. win the team Silver Medal.

Sponsors of the 2002 Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show include Beval LTD, Brooks Community Newspapers, C. L. Adams, Der Dau, Great Horse Designs, House of Needlepoint, Indo-Chic Imports, KOOL 96.7 FM, Lucky Lawn, Inc., Pharmacia Animal Health, Reuters, Scudder Private Investment Counsel and Watson Wyatt Worldwide.

Admission from June 12-15 is $5.00 per car. Admission on Grand Prix Sunday, June 16, is $8.00 per adult and $5.00 for Senior Citizens and children over 5 years old. For additional information, please call the Horse Show press office at (203) 655-3472.