For Immediate Release

Contact: Marty Bauman, (508) 698-6810, classic.pr@verizon.net
             Courtney Boova, (802) 362-9023

Smith Wins Her Second $10,000 Mini Prix at Vermont Summer Festival

East Dorset, VT—July 18, 2003— For the second straight week, Kristi Smith of Rockport, MA aboard Jennieta, owned by Knights Fork Inc., took home top honors in the $10,ooo Open Mini Prix at the Vermont Summer Festival, July 9-August 10 at the Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

Under rain soaked conditions, Smith was one of only six horse-and-rider combinations out of the starting field of 33 to ride clear in the first round to qualify to ride over the shortened jump-off course. Smith and Jennieta, who were the second pair to turn in a clear performance in the first round, stopped the timers in 32.413 seconds in the jump-off. Smith’s time held as the fastest for the remainder of the class to give her her second Mini Prix win at the 2003 Vermont Summer Festival.
Stella Manship piloted Elan Coriana, owned by Elan Farm, to a second place finish. Manship turned in a clear round with a time of 33.657 seconds in the jump-off. The first rider to produce a clear ride in the first round, Shacine Belle, took third place aboard Onyx 66, owned by McLain Ward & JT Farm. Belle posted a time in 36.055 seconds in the jump-off.

Megan Young of Jacksonville, FL turned in several of the day’s top performances in the equitation classes. Young bested a field of 37 horse-and-rider combinations to win the ASPCA Maclay. Jackie DuPont of Severna Park, MD earned second place.

Young also earned the blue ribbon in the jumper phase of the WIHS Equitation Class topping the field of 38 riders who competed under rainy conditions. Blythe Marano of Denville, NJ took second place. Marano’s second place finish combined with her fifth place finish on July 17 in the hunter phase of WIHS Equitation Class earned her the overall win in the class.

Later in the day, Megan Young went on to earn Championship honors in the Small Junior Hunter Division for riders 16-17 years of age. Young rode Grace, owned by Manhattan Mortgage, to win the tri-color ribbon. Kindred Spirit, owned and ridden by Alesandra Perna, earned Championship honors in the Small Junior Hunter Division for riders under the age of 15. Kelsi Robinson rode Sleigh Ride, owned by Kavar Kerr, to the Championship for Large Junior Hunter Division for riders 16-17 years of age. Sarah Tait rode her Keep Me Posted to Championship honors in the Large Junior Hunter Division for riders under the age of 15.

The Vermont Summer Festival is New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show. This year’s event includes five USET-recognized $35,000 Grand Prix to be held on the last day of each show and five $10,000 Mini Prix to be held on the Friday of each show. Each of the five weeks also features a $10,000 Show Jumping Hall Of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class, part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series which determines which junior and amateur/owner riders will qualify to ride at the 2003 National Horse Show.

**Photos Available Upon Request**

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