Jennifer Ward for Starting Gate Communications

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Jimmy Torano Wins Again at Vermont Summer Festival

East Dorset, VT — July 29, 2005 – Jimmy Torano extended his winning streak to four major victories in three weeks of competition at the Vermont Summer Festival running July 13 to August 14 in East Dorset, VT.

Torano, who won the first two $30,000 Grand Prix events of the Vermont Summer Festival as well as last Friday’s $10,000 Mini Prix, added the $10,000 Mini Prix to his ever-growing list of accomplishments. His horse, Aguila, was the only thing new about his trip to the winner’s circle, as his other three victories were all accomplished with other horses.

A total of 29 entries attempted the track set by course designer Pierre Jolicoeur, with nine going clear to advance to the jump-off. Torano and Aguila secured the coveted final spot in the jump-off, knowing exactly what they had to do. Torano went for the win, slicing through corners and even slipping during the tight turn to the final fence. The pair’s experience and talent came through, with every jump staying in its place and the clock showing a winning time of 37.511 seconds, edging Kent Farrington whose time of 38.079 had looked unbeatable.

“I knew Kent had gone fast, and there was an inside turn after the double that he had done and he was winning, so I thought I had to do it too if I wanted to win,” said Torano who hails from Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Torano credited a strong partnership with Aguila, a 13-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Sir Ruly Inc., with his ability to earn the victory.

“I have had Aguila for five years so I know him very well, and he’s won a lot of Grand Prix events for me,” explained Torano, who won the Grand Prix at Lake Placid Horse Show with Aguila just prior to coming to the Vermont Summer Festival.

While the pair has formed a winning partnership, their relationship is not necessarily an easy one.

“Aguila is a little grumpy and can be quirky,” admitted Torano. “I know him well so I just ignore him and deal with him. You can’t get in a fight with him or you will never win, so I just try to let him go the way he wants to go, or at least try to meet him half-way.”

While Farrington settled for second with Neo, Christine Tribble took third place riding Laddidor. Fourth place went to Juliana Starbuck riding her cute chestnut, Contino, while Tracy Magness also enjoyed double clear rounds to place fifth aboard Lebora.

Torano will be hoping to ride his winning streak into Sunday’s $30,000 Mt. Equinox Grand Prix, the feature event of the ‘Valley Classic Horse Show’, as the third week of competition is known. The Manchester-based Equinox Resort & Spa, one of the premier properties in the Rock Resort portfolio, is the presenting sponsor of the $30,000 Mt. Equinox Grand Prix, and will also be the location of the Final Exhibitor Party on Wednesday, August 10. Established in 1769, the Equinox Resort & Spa features 183 rooms and suites, as well as three restaurants and a wide variety of creature comforts. For the past 14 years, it has been a recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award. For more information, please visit www.equinox.rockresorts.com.

The 2005 Vermont Summer Festival features five weeks of exciting equestrian competition running July 13 to August 14 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT. New England’s largest ‘AA’ rated hunter-jumper horse show and newly sanctioned by Equine Canada, the Vermont Summer Festival kicked off with the Manchester Summer Festival held July 13-17 and continued with the Manchester Classic Horse Show from July 20-24. The Valley Classic Horse Show runs from July 27-July 31, followed by the Manchester and the Mountains Horse Show from August 3-7, and concluding with the Vermont Summer Celebration from August 10-14.

As is the tradition at the Vermont Summer Festival, each of the first four weeks of competition features a $30,000 Grand Prix and a $10,000 Mini Prix. New for 2005 is the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix to conclude the five-week Vermont Summer Festival on Sunday, August 14.

For more information on the Vermont Summer Festival, please call (802) 496-9667 or (802) 362-9023 or email.

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