WELLINGTON, FL - February 23, 2004 - The fourth week of the 32nd Winter Equestrian Festival entitled Florida Classic/WCHR Spectacular CSI-W/Y CSI-Ch was held February 18 through February 22 at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Florida. Mehves Trak of Germany was the course designer in the Internationale and DeNemethy Arenas.

The Winter Equestrian Festival continues in Wellington through March 21, and then the action moves to Tampa for two weeks at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center, and caps off with the Budweiser American Invitational on April 3 at the Raymond James Stadium. Total prize money for the 2004 WEF is three-million-dollars. Produced by founder Eugene R. Mische and Stadium Jumping, Inc., the Winter Equestrian Festival is the largest and longest consecutively running equestrian sporting event in the world.

Markus Beerbaum And Royal Discovery Win $60,000 Idle Dice Classic

It was standing room only around the Internationale Arena for the finale of the week on Sunday, February 22, when Markus Beerbaum, 33, of Thedirghausan, Germany, rode Royal Discovery owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone to the win in the $60,000 Idle Dice Classic presented by the Palm Beach Post, CSI-W. The class was a qualifying competition for the FEI World Cup Final that will be held April 21-24, 2004, in Milan, Italy. Beerbaum was the fastest of three double-clear performances. Chris Kappler of Pittstown, New Jersey, placed second riding Royal Kaliber. Leopold Van Asten of The Netherlands earned third place aboard VDL Groep Fleche Rouge.

A field of 36 riders took the test over the Round One track that saw four riders retire on course. Four riders went clean and moved on to the Jump-Off. Molly Ashe of Wellington, Florida, led off with Resolute owned by Rosewood Glen Ltd., but had a refusal at the double, and chalked up eight faults in 47.18 seconds. Van Asten was next to go and set the pace with a clear trip in 40.29. Kappler and Royal Kaliber edged them out of the top spot with their time of 38.44. Going last in the tiebreaker, Beerbaum blistered the short course in 35.78 for the win. Beerbaum acknowledged that the jump-off order worked in his favor. "Yes, that's always an advantage. You know what you have to do to beat the winning time. I had a chance to watch Chris at the gate and Alison Firestone was watching for me the whole jump-off. She told me where I could cut corners. Down the first line I did one less [stride than Kappler] and then I was ahead all the way around actually." Beerbaum even managed to pull off a double rub, rocking both elements of the combination, and admitted he was lucky today. "Yes, definitely, but to win you need luck these days."

Highlights Thursday Through Sunday

Scott Stewart And Chopard Win Regular Conformation Hunter Championship

The World Champion Hunter Rider Spectacular Week kicked off on Wednesday, February 18 with the first rounds of competition for the championships. On Thursday, February 19, Championships were awarded in five divisions. Scott Stewart, 39, of Flemington, NJ, and Wellington, FL, riding Chopard for owner Krista Weisman, won the Regular Conformation Hunter Championship after competing in five classes over two days, starting out with two victories in over fences classes. "He was wonderful yesterday out in the field when all the other horses were being a little fresh because of the weather," said Stewart. In Thursday's competition in the first of two over fences classes Chopard placed tenth. "He didn't have a great first round," Stewart admitted, "But then the second round was really good so he ended up second." Stewart and Chopard placed fifth in the Under Saddle class to clinch the Championship. "But it was close," Stewart pointed out. "We were only champion by a point."

Addison Phillips riding her own Tinsel Town earned the Reserve Regular Conformation Hunter.

Jimmy Torano And Rising Sun Win Reg. First Yr. Green Working Hunter Ch, Section A

Also on Thursday, Jimmy Torano, 38, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, rode Rising Sun for owner Kendall Bate to the First Year Green Working Hunter Championship, Section A. Geoff Teall, 43, of Wellington, Florida, trains Rising Sun and also coaches the horse's owner, Kendall, who is a junior rider. "That's one of the nicest horses I've ever had," said Teall. "That's the sweetest, trying-est, kindest horse. Every day he tries to do whatever you want. That's so rare." Rising Sun is a seven-year-old, chestnut, Dutch gelding by Kojak that Teall imported two years ago from Jan Broek in Holland. In two days' of competition, Rising Sun competed in four over fences classes and placed first, second, third and fourth. Teall decided not to contest the hack, figuring they had enough points to secure the championship. "We gambled and won for a change," he grinned.

Morgan Thomas riding MVP for owner Kimberly Wang earned the Reserve First Year Green Working Hunter, Section A.

Sandy Ferrell riding Indian Summer for Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Caristo won the First Year Green Working Hunter Championship, Section B.

Tammy Provost riding Tommy Bahama for owner Laurie B. Stevens was named Reserve First Year Green Working Hunter, Section B.

Ken Smith And Carmen Win Regular Working Hunter Championship

Another champion on Thursday was Ken Smith, 36, of Wellington, Florida, who rode Carmen for owner Millridge LLC, to the Regular Working Hunter Championship. Carmen is a 10-year-old, 15.3-hand, bay Oldenburg mare. The duo competed in four over fences classes and one Under Saddle class over two days. "She had the best round of her life yesterday until the last jump," said Smith. "She just touched the back rail and had the last jump down unfortunately. She jumped so high and so nice, she just made a little bit of an error at the last jump. It was too bad." That error put them out of the ribbons, but Carmen rallied in the Internationale Arena and won her second class. In the Under Saddle, Carmen and Smith placed third. "There was a lot of pressure to have two solid rounds over jumps today," Smith noted. "She went really nice." Carmen scored 89 in the first class and placed second, and then scored a 90 in the second round and won the class. "Luckily today she was really on her game," said Smith. "

Sandy Ferrell riding Fiddlers Bridge for owner Stephanie Riggio earned the Reserve Regular Working Hunter.

Norman Dello Joio And Quriel Win $25,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series - Round IV, CSI***

Highlighting Friday's competition, February 20, Norman Dello Joio of Wellington, Florida, won the $25,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series - Round IV, CSI*** riding Quriel for owner Eleanor Belknap. A field of 32 riders took the 16-element test, a Time First Jump-Off where the fastest clear wins. Chris Kappler aboard Korina owned by Pro Jump led off, setting the pace with his clear round in 70.77, but he finished in second place. Dello Joio went 12th in the order and tripped the timers in 69.77. The rest of the field chased his time but though two more riders posted clean trips - Leslie Howard aboard her Edelf Bauchetiere (72.95) and Roberto Teran riding his Flubber Cocoy (79.47) - Dello Joio could not be caught. "The difficulty was that you had to go fast all the way around over a big course of fences and it was fairly intricate," explained Dello Joio. "There were five or six problems along the way that were major problems. We answered all those questions and kept everything prompt, and it was good enough." Quriel is a nine-year-old, French-bred Belgian that Dello Joio has been riding for two years.

Caroline Moran And Saint Nick Win A-O Working Hunter Over 35 Championship, A

Also on Friday, Caroline Moran and St. Nick earned the Amateur-Owner Working Hunter Over 35, Championship Section A. Over two days of competition, the duo won all four jumping classes and the hack. Moran, 37, of North Salem, NY, and Wellington, FL, has owned the 15-year-old, 16-hand, gray Dutch stallion for five years. Her trainer is Scott Williamson, who has been her coach for 12 years. "The best thing about my horse is he's gotten old and smart," said Moran. "He's gotten much more relaxed. It takes half the work that it did before to get to the ring. He's always been in a groove but now it seems like he's comfortable with it and is very level-headed about everything." The Championship was especially sweet for this division 'rookie'. "This is my first year as an 'Older' - it's tough!" said Moran. "It's not any easier when you move up because there's a lot of good riders and a lot of good horses in this division. This is the first year they've had to split them because there are over 50 in the class. There's a lot of experience in this ring." Regarding her performance, Moran laughed, "It's very weird to have a clean sweep. I'm very excited. I don't think I've ever done that before. I'm ready to retire after that!"

Jackie Schubert riding her Max Q earned the Reserve A-O Working Hunter Over 35, Section A.

Louise Otten And Just Looking Win A-O Working Hunter Over 35 Championship, B

Louise Otten of Wayzata, Minnesota, riding Just Looking for her Alpine Farms won the Amateur-Owner Working Hunter Over 35 Championship, Section B on Friday, February 20. Competing in five classes over two days, they placed first in the hack, and over fences earned first, fourth, and two fifth place ribbons. Overall, Otten was pleased with her horse's performance. "He went really well. He had a couple of really tiny mistakes, except for the round where he was first - he was really good then. He was shaking his head with the earplugs yesterday but other than that he jumped beautifully in all four rounds," she said, and added with a laugh, "But every little teeny thing counts in the hunters." Just Looking, whose barn name is 'Jessie', is a 10-year-old Thoroughbred that Otten has ridden for five years. "This is my first year of showing in this division and definitely my first time of showing him out there," she said, indicating the Internationale Arena. "We're used to riding now in rings although I'm old enough to have ridden in outside courses, and I did." Otten is a grandmother of four. In Florida, Otten trains with Timmy Kees, Chris Cawley, and Leslie Howard. In Minnesota, Otten formerly trained with Debbie Kemp.

Caroline Moran and In Return earned the Reserve A-O Working Hunter Over 35, Section B.

Clementine Goutal And Amethyst Win FEI Children's World Jumping Competition I

Highlighting competition on Saturday, February 21, Clementine Goutal, 13, of New York City, NY, rode two horses in the FEI Children's World Jumping Competition 1 and placed first with Amethyst and second with Lightfeet. Cloverleaf Farm owns both horses. The competition is open to riders age 12 to 14 and is part of the qualifying events for the FEI World Jumping Final, which will be held in California later this year. In the DeNemethy Arena, 21 horses took the first round 12-fence test. Goutal went clear with both of her horses - clocking in at 70.24 with Amethyst and 71.78 with Lightfeet. The next round was a speed course. With time allowed at 57 seconds, Clementine blazed around the 10-effort course in 39.74 with Amethyst to take the win, and 41.88 aboard Lightfeet for second place. "It was really fun. It was exciting," she said. Amethyst is a 10-year-old, 16-hand, dark bay Dutch gelding and Lightfeet is a 12-year-old, 16-hand, bay Hanoverian mare. "Lightfeet is hyper and I'm really hyper," said Clementine. "She looks around a little bit, but she would never stop and she rarely spooks." Of her winning mount, Amethyst, she said, "I don't know if our personalities fit - it's like an opposites thing. He's very concentrated. If he were a person he'd be something like a trapeze artist because he tries really hard and he sets his mind on what he wants to do. If I could have any horses, it would be them." Clementine trains at Beacon Hill in Colts Neck, New Jersey, with Frank and Stacia Madden, Max Amaya, Krista Freundlich, and Kelley Fielder.

Jeffery Welles And Roberto Coins Appassionata Win Young Jumper - 7 Year Olds

In competition in the Internationale Arena prior to the finale Grand Prix event on Sunday, February 22, Jeffery Welles of Pound Ridge, NY, riding Roberto Coins Appassionata won the Young Jumper - 7 Year Olds, besting a field of 44 horses. Over the 12-Fence Round One, 15 horses went clear and qualified for the Jump-Off. Welles was the fastest of seven double-clear performances, clocking in at 31.207 seconds. Debbie Stephens placed second with Melinga owned by ADBF Inc., tripping the timers at 31.863. Kent Farrington aboard Riane for owner Kristen Bates was third with a time of 32.319. "The jumps are suited to the horses' age and go along with the horses' mileage and experience," explained Welles. "It's a nice division for the horses to graduate to and not have to compete in the Meter-30/Meter-35 divisions with the masses. It's nice for the horses and for the people in this country to start to follow the breeding and be more aware of the breeding on these young horses. To see all the seven-year-olds together makes it more interesting." Welles and his Triton Ventures farm own the German-bred gelding by Concerto and Roberto Coin, a jeweler, sponsors him. Welles found Appassionata two years ago with agent Javier Salvadore and foresaw a future Grand Prix mount. "He's just so athletic and has such a good temperament. He's very careful, and has a great technique with jumping. He's really simple to ride. A great animal."

For complete results, visit www.stadiumjumping.com

2004 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL TICKET INFORMATION

Show days for the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival are Wednesday through Sunday. Gates open at 8:00 am. Ticket Prices: Wednesdays are free to everyone; Children 12 and under are admitted free every day; Young Adults 13 to 18 and Seniors are $5 on Thursday through Sunday; Adults are $5 on Thursday and Friday, $10 on Saturday, and $15 on Sunday. The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club is located on Pierson Road off South Shore Boulevard. For additional information, visit www.stadiumjumping.com or call 561-793-5867.

2004 WEF SCHEDULE OF COMPETITIONS
February 25 - 29 PDP Capital Wellington Masters CSI***
March 3 - 7 CN Wellington Open CSI-W
March 10 - 14 CSIO United States Cosequin Finale CSIO***
March 18 - 21 Zada Enterprises WEF Dressage Classic CDI***/Y
(Qualifier for Olympic Selection Trials)
March 24 - 28 Tampa Bay Classic CSI-W (Bob Thomas Equestrian Center)
March 30 - April 3 Tournament of Champions CSI-W (Bob Thomas Equestrian Center)
April 3 Budweiser American Invitational (Raymond James Stadium)

WEF 2004 MILLION DOLLAR GRAND PRIX SERIES
February 29 $75,000 PDP Capital Masters Cup, CSI***
March 7 $75,000 CN Wellington Open presented by Estates of Wellington Green, CDI-W
March 12 $50,000 Samsung Nations' Cup, presented by CN, CSIO****
March 14 $100,000 Cosequin U.S. Open Jumper Championship, CSIO****
March 28 $75,000 Grand Prix of Tampa, presented by Kilkenny/ICH, CSI-W
April 3 $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational, presented by The Tampa Tribune