East Dorset, Vermont — The ‘Manchester Summer Special’, the second of six weeks of equestrian competition at the Vermont Summer Festival, began Wednesday, July 18, with action in five all-weather rings. Despite the inclement weather, classes went smoothly especially in the grand prix ring where Jimmy Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, finished first and second in both the Level 6 Jumper competition and the Open Jumper class.
Excelling over a course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY, Torano won the Open Jumper class with Caldam Or, a nine-year-old warmblood stallion owned by SCNC Investments Inc. Torano was also second with Ormsby Hill, a 10-year-old warmblood gelding sired by Heartbreaker. Torano was double clear with both horses.
“This is a new horse for me,” said Torano of Caldam Or. “It’s a horse I have very high hopes for. I think he’s very talented and has everything. If he stays along the path he’s on, hopefully he’ll jump all of the big classes next year.”
Torano plans on competing Caldam Or in the $10,000 Escada Open Jumper Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Friday afternoon and the $30,000 Battenkill Grand Prix, presented by Hand Motors, on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
Torano won the Level 6 Jumpers on his long-time partner Aguila, owned by Sir Ruly, Inc. and has had enjoyed great success at the grand prix level, including several victories at the Vermont Summer Festival. The 15-year-old warmblood gelding has returned to the show ring after some time off, and Torano is hoping to show him in the grand prix in the later weeks of the Vermont Summer Festival.
“I geared him towards this Vermont circuit,” he explained. “He’s generally good here, and he usually wins one of the grand prix events. It’s a nice place for him to jump.”
For the first time, the Vermont Summer Festival is pleased to offer live video streaming of all five competition rings for those who cannot attend the horse show in person. Visit www.livebroadcast.tv or www.vt-summerfestival.com for more information.
The Vermont Summer Festival, a six-week hunter/jumper competition that runs until August 19, features the world’s top equestrian athletes competing amid the picturesque Green Mountains at Harold Beebe Farm. New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show, the Vermont Summer Festival offers over $750,000 in prize money, making it the richest sporting event in the state of Vermont. For more information on the 2007 Vermont Summer Festival including complete results, please visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.
