Following Los Angeles Victory, Hap Hansen Is All Alone At The Top Of The American Grand Prix Association All Time Wins List

Hap Hansen wins the $40,000 Los Angeles Grand Prix.
Photo by AC Customphoto.com

WELLINGTON, FL - November 22 - A sold-out crowd at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday, November 20, 2004, saw veteran rider Hap Hansen post his 95th career Grand Prix win.

The 52-year-old Hansen of Encinitas, California, also regained the lead on the all-time win list of the American Grandprix Association with his 42nd career AGA win.

The AGA Grand Prix Series of Show Jumping is the world's richest and longest running series of show jumping events. The AGA offers more than three-million dollars in prize money on a tour that encompasses 30 events and 20 different equestrian market locations across the United States.

Hap Hansen, who joined the AGA Grand Prix Series of Show Jumping tour at its inception in 1978, has been battling Margie Engle of Wellington, Florida, for the spot at the top of the charts since September when Engle pulled ahead with her 41st career AGA win at the Fidelity Classic in Massachusetts. Hansen then won at San Juan Capistrano, California, and regained a tie later in September. Saturday's win puts him back on top.

Hap Hansen's two American Grandprix Association wins this season mark an end to a five-year stretch without an AGA win. "It's great to be back, especially after a bit of a drought, and having two good up-and-coming horses. I'm very excited. I couldn't be happier with where I'm at right now." said Hansen, and added with a laugh, "Of course I wouldn't mind adding another grand prix horse to the string."

Hansen, who posted his 10th career win at the facility at Griffith Park, was excited about winning in front of the big crowd in Los Angeles. "It was really a great crowd," Hansen said. "It didn't look like there was an empty seat in the house. They were really into it and when the last horse has to come in and go fast and go clean, that makes it even more exciting for everyone."

Hansen said that his winning mount, Linda Smith's ABC Lanzelot, has a bright future. "I got him just after this horse show last year. I started him at Indio last year doing the futures classes and Friday Grand Prix classes," said Hansen. "He's been steadily moving up. He likes Griffith Park - he went quite well here in September at the LA International and now we're moving up to the World Cup classes."

Although this win moves him closer to the top of the standings on the West Coast World Cup Qualifying list, Hansen isn't sure that the 2005 World Cup in Las Vegas is in the cards. "I'm not sure that either of my horses is quite ready for Las Vegas yet," Hansen explained. "For me, I've been there. I really don't care about going to the World Cup just to say I went to the World Cup. If I go, I'm going to win and I'm not sure my horses are ready for that."

Hansen, the 1990 AGA Rider of the Year, said that returning to the top of the AGA win list was meaningful. "That's cool! I'm excited to be back on top," he said. "The riders that are on the AGA all-time winners list are the very best riders in the USA and to be at the top with the most wins is something special."

The 121st National Horse Show & Family Festival, to be held at The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Florida, November 30th through December 5th, 2004, will once again host the season ending $100,000 Budweiser AGA Championship, CSI, presented by Chesapeake Petroleum.

Place Rider Horse Owner R1 / R2/Time

1 Hap Hansen ABC Lanzelot Linda Smith 0/0 37.215

2 Misti Cassar Pasadena Sopranos Farm 0/0 38.014

3 Molly Talla Camaron Hills Shanroe Camaron Hills Farm 0/0 38.552

4 Nicole Simpson El Campeon's So Long El Campeon Farms 0/0 38.938

5 Mandy Goosen Contendor Signature Farms 0/4 38.680

6 Mandy Porter Summer Barbara Ellison 0/4 39.222

7 John French Riva 49 Leone Equestrian 0/4 42.366

AGA ALL TIME WINS

1 Hansen, Hap 42

2 Goldstein-Engle, Margie 41

3 Matz, Michael (retired) 38

4 Burr-Howard, Leslie 28

5 Monahan-Prudent, Katie 21

6 Ward, McLain 20

7 Kappler, Chris 18

8 Madden, Beezie 17

8 Spooner, Richard 17

10 Smith-Taylor, Melanie (retired) 16

11 Fargis, Joe 15

11 Jenkins, Rodney (retired) 15

11 Traurig, Bernie 15

For more information on the American Grandprix Association, visit the AGA website at: http://www.stadiumjumping.com/aga/index.cfm