Aaron Vale and Artur Victorious as 2005 American Grand Prix Association (AGA) Tour Opens in Jacksonville

PHOTO CREDIT: Jacksonville Internationale GP winner Aaron Vale riding Artur.
Photo by Flashpoint Photography.

Wellington, FL - January 25 - Aaron Vale of Aiken, SC posted the first victory of the season as the 2005 American Grand Prix Association (AGA) tour got underway in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, January 23, 2005. The nighttime competition took place at the Paul E. Reinhold Agricultural Center Fairgrounds on State Road 16 in Green Cove Springs, FL.

In its twenty seventh year of equestrian excellence, the AGA tour includes thirty two events in twenty two different equestrian markets and offers over $2.5 million dollars in prize money.

Vale's victory, his third career AGA win, came in the Jacksonville Internationale CSI** $50,000 Grand Prix Presented by Sleiman Enterprises.

Aboard Artur, an 11 year-old German Warmblood gelding under the ownership of Millstream, Inc., Vale toured the jump-off course in a time of 38.73 seconds for the win. Second place went to Olympic veteran Mac Cone of King City, Ontario and Melinda, owned by Southern Ways, with a time of 40.82 seconds. Vale and his second mount, Romulus, owned by Hollow Creek Investments, finished third in 41.52 seconds. Finishing up in fourth place was eight-time Canadian Olympic rider Ian Millar of Perth, Ontario. Millar and his mount, In Style, tripped the timers in 41.67.

Dave Ballard of Canada designed the test for the AGA opener. Ballard was the assistant course designer at both the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. Thirteen riders went clear in the first round to advance to the deciding second round.

Florida remains the focus for the next six stops on the American Grand Prix Association tour with the next four events coming on consecutive Sundays at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, beginning with the $50,000 Lincoln Idle Dice Classic, CSI-W, a World Cup Qualifier, on Sunday, February 20, 2005.

The following Sunday, February 27, features the $75,000 Zada Masters LLC Masters Cup, CSI 3*. Then it's the $75,000 Cosequin Florida Open, CSI-W on Sunday, March 6 and the $100,000 US Open Jumper Championship presented by CN CSIO 4* on Sunday, March 13.

Following the Wellington events, the AGA tour moves to Florida's west coast for the $75,000 Grand Prix of Tampa, CSI-W on Sunday, March 27 and the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational, CSI 3* Saturday, April 2, under the lights at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

For more information on the American Grand Prix Association, please visit the website at: www.stadiumjumping.com/aga

Or, write to:

RESULTS

Jacksonville Internationale CSI** $50,000 Grand Prix Presented by Sleiman Enterprises.

1) Aaron Vale -Artur
2) Mac Cone - Melinda
3) Aaron Vale - Romulus
4) Ian Millar - In Style
5) David Jennings - Costa Sur
6) Roberto Teran -Tandil Ex Santa Fe
7) McLain Ward - Galant
8) Tie - Laura Kraut - Joyous
8) Tie - Leslie Howard- Youp
10) Kent Farrington - Madison

AGA GRAND PRIX SERIES OF SHOW JUMPING
2005 AGA Season
Sun, January 23, 2005
$ 35,000 Green Cove Springs Grand Prix CSI*
Jacksonville, FL
Sun., February 13, 2005
$ 50,000 Kilkenny/ICH Internationale Cup, CSI 3*
Wellington, FL
Sun., February 20, 2005
$ 50,000 Lincoln Idle Dice Classic, CSI-W
Wellington, FL
Sun., February 27, 2005
$ 75,000 Zada Masters LLC Masters Cup, CSI 3*
Wellington, FL
Sun., March 6, 2005
$ 75,000 Cosequin Florida Open, CSI-W
Wellington, FL
Sun., March 13, 2005
$100,000 US Open Jumper Championship presented by CN CSIO 4*
Wellington, FL
Sun., March 27,2005
$ 75,000 Grand Prix of Tampa, CSI-W
Tampa, FL
Sat., April 2, 2005 (N)
$200,000 Budweiser American Invitational, CSI 3*
Raymond James Stadium, FL
Sun. April 10, 2005
$150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte, CSI 3*
Charlotte Coliseum, NC
Sun., April 24, 2005
$ 25,000 Grand Prix of Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA
Sat., May 7, 2005 Night
$100,000 HBO Grand Prix of Del Mar
Del Mar, CA
Sat., May 7, 2005
$ 50,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix
Lexington, KY
Mon., May 30, 2005
$ 35,000 Lexus of Glendale Grand Prix
Burbank, CA
Thurs., June 2, 2005
$ 75,000 Budweiser Grand Prix of Devon
Devon, PA
Sun., June 12, 2005
$ 35,000 Oaks Classic
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Sun., June 12, 2005
$100,000 Budweiser Upperville Jumper Classic
Upperville, VA
Sun., July 3, 2005
$ 60,000 Lake Placid Grand Prix, CSI
Lake Placid, NY
Sat., July 9, 2005
$ 75,000 I Love New York Grand Prix, CSI
Lake Placid, NY
Sat., July 16, 2005
$ 40,000 Rocky Mountain Grand Prix
Parker, CO
Sun., July 17, 2005
$ 40,000 Cleveland Grand Prix
Moreland Hills, OH
Sat., July 23, 2005
$ 60,000 Grand Prix of Denver
Parker, CO
Sun., August 7, 2005
$ 50,000 Kentucky Summer Classic
Lexington, KY
Sun., August 14, 2005
$ 25,000 Evergreen Classic Grand Prix
Monroe, WA
Sat., August 13, 2005
$ 50,000 Sussex County Grand Prix
Sussex, NJ
Sun., August 14, 2005
$ 50,000 Budweiser Grand Prix of Indianapolis
Zionsville, IN
Sat., Sept 10, 2005
$ 50,000 Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic
South Hamilton, MA
Sun., Sept 18, 2005
$ 75,000 Budweiser American Gold Cup, CSI-W
Devon, PA
Sun., Sept 16, 2005 (N)
$ 40,000 World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix CSI
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Sat., Sept 24, 2005
$ 35,000 L.A. International, CSI-W
Burbank, CA
Sat., Oct. 22, 2005
$ 65,000 Budweiser Grand Prix De Penn National, CSI-W
Harrisburg, PA
Sat., Nov. 19, 2005 (N)
$ 40,000 LA National, CSI-W
Burbank, CA

2005 AGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Dec. 2005
AGA Championship CSI 3* (Final)
Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, Wellington, FL

(CSI-W) = World Cup Qualifier (CSI) = FEI Sanctioned Event (N) = Night dates - prize money - location subject to change (revised 01/10/05)

Televised Events will be broadcast on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) Eastern Standard Time - check local listing

AMERICAN GRAND PRIX ASSOCIATION

1301 Sixth Ave West, Suite 406, Bradenton, FL 34205 941-744-5465- fax 941-744-0874

www.stadiumjumping.com/aga