Saratoga Springs, NY. June 27, 2013- At the Saratoga Race Course, a historic equestrian setting celebrating its one hundred fiftieth anniversary, some of the country’s top professionals, amateurs, and juniors competed in the Skidmore College Saratoga Classic Horse Show (SCHS) between June 11 and 23. The premiere classes included the $25,000 Landgero Cup Grand Prix, $15,000 Gochman Family USHJA International Hunter Derby, $12,000 TAKE 2 Thoroughbred Hunter & Jumper divisions, and the $10,000 Yaddo Jumper Classic.
The highlight of week II of SCHS was the $25,000 Landgero Cup Grand Prix. Todd Minikus clinched both first and second place aboard Quality Girl and Udonnay Z respectively. Out of the nine horses in the jump off, Todd and Quality Girl were the first to go and set the pace with a time of 35.234, followed by his time of 37.040 on Udonnay Z. Sloane Coles placed third on Chantilly. Minikus also received fifth place on Catch Me and ninth on Donnafee.
Todd Minikus and Quality Girl
Photo Credit : Shawn McMillen Photography
“The course was great to ride. It was straightforward but technical,” said Minikus. “Skidmore provides the ideal competition to bring along horses that need to be challenged but not overwhelmed. It is a perfect place where junior, amateur, and professional riders can compete in the same arena.”
Bobby Braswell’s Terrapin Hill Farm junior riders commanded the equitation classes. Lauren Fabiano brought home the blue in the Skidmore President’s Cup, while Gabriella Collins grabbed the honor of the new Terrapin Hill Excellence in Equitation Award, given to the rider with the most points in the big eq. classes during the two weeks.
Molly Braswell, aboard Jean Bickley’s Felton, took the championship ribbons both weeks in the TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter Division. It was Molly’s first time competing on a Thoroughbred. Additionally, Molly was champion in the High Performance Hunter 3’3″ both weeks riding Frontier.
Laugh Out Loud and Weebiscuit, piloted by Sophie Gochman, were awarded tri-color ribbons in Pony Hunters. Laugh Out Loud was champion in the Medium Pony Hunter Division, and Weebiscuit was reserve in the Small Pony Hunters.
Kristy McCormack-Herrera won the $15,000 Gochman Family USHJA International Hunter Derby in the first week of competition and had a repeat performance in week II, winning the USHJA National Hunter Derby riding Fifty Shades.
“I am thankful and grateful for the many world-class riders who competed these past two weeks and made the 16th annual Skidmore College Saratoga Classic Horse Show a huge success,” said Adele Einhorn, Executive Director of SCHS.
Molly Braswell
Photo Credit: Shawn McMillen
Skidmore College Saratoga Classic Horse Show: The shows, inaugurated in 1927 and brought back to life in 1998, are a highlight of the early summer season in Saratoga Springs. This top-level historic competition attracts many of the country’s best horses and riders and benefits scholarships to SkidmoreCollege students.
