When The American Grand Prix Association debuted its upstart tour of show jumping in 1978 there were sixteen events on a tour that stopped in eight different states. Many of the individual events offered a total purse of only $25,000.

Now, after twenty six years of continuing show jumping excellence, the AGA Grand Prix Series of Show Jumping is the world's richest and longest running series of events. The AGA offers over $3 million dollars in prize money on a tour that encompasses thirty events and twenty different equestrian market locations across the United States.

The AGA Triple Crown features three of the nation's premier events, The American Gold Cup, The AGA National Championships and the Budweiser American Invitational. By comparison to those early years of the series that offered total purses of $25,000, the first place prize money alone at the American Invitational is $60,000! 2004 Olympic Team Silver and Individual Bronze medallist Chris Kappler and his mount Royal Kaliber became the first to win the AGA Triple Crown in 2003.

The two riders who are currently tied atop the AGA all time win leader board have taken different paths to get there, but share a level of equestrian distinction that exemplifies the American Grand Prix Association standards of excellence.

Hap Hansen, 52, from Encinitas, California joined the AGA Grand Prix Series of Show Jumping at its inception in 1978 while Margie Goldstein Engle, 46, of Wellington, Florida came aboard in 1985.

The two are now tied for the most wins in AGA history with 41 victories apiece.

To put their achievement into perspective, the next closest win total among active riders is 28 wins for Leslie Burr Howard of Connecticut who, like Hansen, began her run when the AGA was formed in 1978. Legendary show jumping rider Michael Matz recorded 38 wins before retiring in 2000. Michael, by the way, made news recently as the trainer of the winner of the Arlington Million horse race in Illinois.

Both Hap Hansen and Margie Goldstein Engle are among the AGA elite record holders in other categories as well.

The amazing Engle, is an eight time AGA Rider of the Year. She is the only rider to ever place six horses in a single AGA Grand Prix event (Detroit, 1994) and she's placed five in one event, a feat she accomplished twice.(Motor City, 94-95).

Hap Hansen, the 1990 AGA Rider of the Year, is the only rider on the tour to place four horses in a single event three times, (1984-90-94). And, while three riders have finished first, second and third in a single AGA event, Hap Hansen is the only rider to do it two times.

Engle was initially a little slow gaining traction. Following her 1985 AGA debut, Margie won only two events in her first five years on the tour. Since the 1991 season though, she's posted thirty eight wins. Her latest victory, at the Fidelity Jumper Classic in Massachusetts on September 12th vaulted her past Hansen, to the lead on the all time win list.

Her lead lasted seven days.

Hap Hansen posted forty career AGA wins from 1982 through 1999 and then lost some momentum. Now, following a five year drought, Hap Hansen has returned to the winners circle with a victory at the Oaks at San Juan Capistrano, CA on September 19th, tying Margie Engle for the all time win lead with forty one.

With Leslie Howard at a distant 28 wins and McLain Ward even further back at 20, it appears that Hansen and Engle, two veterans from opposite coasts, will be battling for the foreseeable future. It should be fun to watch.

For more information go to: http://www.stadiumjumping.com/aga/index.cfm