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Articles: Press Release
Richard Spooner Shines in the Grand Prix of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV- April 19, 2003 - Richard Spooner of Glendale, CA riding
Robinson, owned by the Half Moon Investment Group, won the Grand Prix of
Las Vegas at the Budwesier World Cup in an exciting jump-off on Saturday
afternoon. The United States swept the top three in this International
competition at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas with Beezie Madden
of Cazenovia, NY, coming in second on Judgement, owned by Iron Spring
Farm, and Peter Wylde, who currently resides Maastricht, Holland,
finished third riding Mania Jolly owned by Double H. Farm.
Wylde was first in the jump-off and went clear in a time of 30.04,
putting the pressure on the rest of the nine riders the jump-off.
"Going first in the jump-off, I went as fast as I thought I could", said
Wylde. "I have only had this horse since October and we have only been
in six shows together."
The crowd went wild as Spooner made incredibly tight turns to beat the
clock without fault in the fast time of 29.43 seconds. In addition to
the $15,000 prize, Spooner won a lot more horsepower when he was awarded
the use of a 2002 Pontiac Trans Am convertible for one year, courtesy of
Pat Clark Pontiac GMC of Las Vegas. He also received a pair of Der Dau
riding boots.
"I am happy to win at home in front of a hometown crowd," said Spooner.
"My horse, Robinson, has single-handedly changed my life, before him I
only won one Grand Prix."
Some World Cup riders threw on some jeans and donned a cowboy hat to
compete in a Barrel Racing competition on Saturday. Three-time World Cup
Champion, Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil won the class easily defeating the
likes of three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Ludger Beerbaum of Germany,
2001 World Cup Champion Markus Fuchs of Switzerland, and US stars Leslie
Howard, Norman Dello Joio and McLain Ward.
Show jumping action continues through Sunday, culminating with the
feature event, the World Cup Final on Sunday. There will be more
spectacular laser light shows and dazzling performances. For tickets and
other information, please visit the website
www.worldcuplasvegas.com or call
702-260-8605.
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