Wayne, Ill. – Aug. 11, 2019 –The finale event of the 2019 Chicago Festival of the Horse took place in the Grand Prix Arena at the Lamplight Equestrian Center Sunday, August 11, in the form of the $10,000 Hollowbrook Wealth Management SJHOF 1.40m Classic, presented by Big Ass Fans. Spectators and exhibitors gathered in the stands, rallying together one last time to cheer on riders and their horses and celebrate the successful conclusion of Equifest 2019. Rising to the final occasion was Elizabeth Lang and Zephyr, who galloped to victory at lightning speed to claim the Classic title.
Setting the final course of the afternoon, Paul Jewell put forth a 13-obstacle first round track. Lynsey Whitacre and Barillo W were the first horse and rider combination to complete a faultless round in order to advance to the jump off. As the jump-off pathfinders, Whitacre and the 16-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding completed the shortened track with just one rail down in 45.745 seconds. The pair’s lead was quickly taken over by Iasabella Bleu Baxter aboard Jahil, a 16-year-old Warmblood gelding, after they she forth a new leading time with a total of 4 faults in 41.033 seconds.
The final pair to tackle Jewell’s course and contest for top honors was Lang and Zephyr. Earlier in the class, Lang rode to an 8-fault first round in a time of 78.312 seconds with her own Show Show. Entering the ring with a familiar feel of the course, Lang took to the Grand Prix Arena with the Zephyr, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, determined to take the win.
Lang recently started riding Zephyr in March, and has been competing with the gelding in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers since April. Looking ahead, Lang hopes to qualify for either the Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper National Championships (Prix des States), the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), or the National Horse Show (NHS) to finish out the 2019 show season.
Lang and Zephyr completed a fault-free first round and headed into the jump-off with the hope of taking over the lead. The pair was quick off the ground and tight in their turns, and though they had a rail on course, their time was quick enough to nab the win, finishing less than one-tenth of a second faster than the leading time in 40.939 seconds. Bleu Baxter and Jahil would ultimately receive second place, with Whitacre and Barillo W rounding out the top three.
The Lamplight Equestrian Center will next see horses and riders on the show grounds for the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships and the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals. For more information about the Equifest show series or the Lamplight Equestrian Center, visit www.lamplightequestriancenter.com
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Elizabeth Lang – $10,000 Hollow Brook Wealth Management SHJF Jr/AO/AM Jumper Classic, Presented by Big Ass Fans, winner
On Zephyr:
“I’ve been leasing him since March and I just moved up to Highs with him in April. He’s pretty new to me, but he’s really careful, really nice and big strided but adjustable, and he’s a dog on the ground! I love him, he’s amazing.”
On the course:
“I was in the Grand Prix last night and this course was very similar, so I knew where I needed to be careful. The eight-stride line gets steady on him because he does have a big stride, and I have to ride him well over the liverpools because sometimes he takes a peek.”
On the jump-off:
“In the jump-off I knew that [Isabella Bleu Baxter] sitting in first place was a fast 4-faulter. So I just kind of went for it! I liked it. It was fun because there were some nice turns, but there were also parts that you could gallop and let them go a bit.”
On future plans with Zephyr:
“I’m hoping I will qualify for Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper National Championships (Prix des States), the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), or the National Horse Show, or all three, that would be amazing! After that my lease ends and I will miss him, but he’s such an amazing horse and I am lucky to ride him.”
On competing at Lamplight:
“I come to Lamplight every year and I love it here. It’s really pretty here with the trees, greenery and the flowers. Everyone here is so nice and helpful, it’s just a nice place. This is probably one of my favorite shows!”
RESULTS
$10,000 Hollow Brook Wealth Management SHJF Jr/AO/AM Jumper Classic, Presented by Big Ass Fans:
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults / Time / R2 Faults / Time
1. Zephyr / Elizabeth Lang / Wyndmont / 0 / 78.799 / 4 / 40.939
2. Jahil / Isabella Bleu Baxter / Isabella Bleu Baxter / 0 / 78.796 / 4 / 41.033
3. Barillo W / Lynsey Whitacre / Lynsey Whitacre / 0 / 80.071 / 4 / 45.745
4. Show Show / Elizabeth Lang / Alex Jayne / 8 / 78.312
5. Adico / Ashley Shaw / Ashley Shaw / 8 / 79.633
6. Diamond D / Natalie Jayne / Natalie Jayne / 26 / 94.145