For Immediate Release

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

Dutch Rider, Albert Voorn, Wins $10,000 Open Mini Prix at Valley Classic

East Dorset, VT—July 25, 2003— Dutch rider, Albert Voorn, aboard Laurenzo’s Kairo won the $10,000 Open Mini Prix at the Valley Classic, July 23-27, the third week of the Vermont Summer Festival, July 9-August 10, at the Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

Voorn and Laurenzo’s Kairo, owned by Sir Ruly Inc., won the High Preliminary Jumper class on July 24 and continued their winning ways to earn the blue ribbon over a field of 25 horse-and-rider combinations in the Mini Prix. “It was amazing,” Jimmy Torano, who is training Voorn while he is in Vermont, said of the ride. “She was amazing. She’s just an amazing horse.”

Torano, who has placed second in both of the Grand Prix at the 2003 Vermont Summer Festival, earned second place aboard another of Sir Ruly Inc.’s horses, Aguila. “At least I got beat by my own horse,” he laughed.

Later in the day, Summer Gay of Ridgefield, CT rode Tyler, owned by RCG Farm, to win the High Junior/Amateur-Owner class. Gay topped a field of 23 horse-and-rider combinations to earn the blue ribbon. Richard Hoffend rode his Lancelot Z to finish second.

After a win in the hunter phase of Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Equitation Classic on July 24, Gabby Slome of Riverdale, NY went on to win the jumper phase of the class on July 25. Winning both phases of the competition, she also earned the overall win in the class. Tania Hack of New York, NY earned second place overall behind Slome.

Slome later went on to best the field of 37 riders to take top honors in the ASPCA Maclay. Jackie Ahwood Dupont of Severna Park, MD earned second place.

In the hunter rings, Kym Smith of Southampton, NY aboard her Enrique earned top honors in the $500 North American League (NAL)/Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Adult Amateur Hunter Classic. So far this year, the pair has swept the Championship honors in the Adult Amateur Hunter Division for riders ages 18-35, earning the tri-color ribbon during the first and second weeks of the Vermont Summer Festival. “He’s like a big puppy dog,” Smith said. “He adores me and I adore him.” Virginia Louis aboard her Behind the Mask earned second place in the classic.

On July 25, the Valley Classic named Champions in the Junior Hunter Divisions. Krista Weisman aboard her Chopard earned Championship honors in the Small Junior Hunter Division for riders 16-17 years of age. Maggie McAlary teamed up with Ramsey, owned by Cathy Grady and Holly Hill Farm, to earn Championship honors in the Small Junior Hunter Division for riders under the age of 15. Lara Gay rode Diamond Way, owned by RCG Farm, to the Championship for Large Junior Hunter Division for riders 16-17 years of age. Nicole Lakin rode Marcel, owned by Ashley Cole, 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.

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