Third Annual NYC Event Draws A Crowd
The Rolex Central Park Horse Show hosted five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport in the heart of New York City from Sept. 21 through Sept. 25, with top competition and many remarkable moments.
Held in Central Park’s Wollman Rink, the third annual event featured four unique disciplines of U.S. Open equestrian competition, including Arabians, hunters, jumpers and dressage, as well as many popular exhibitions.
The week kicked off with the second annual Arabian U.S. Open, presented by Aljassimya Farm, on Wednesday evening and showcased the beauty, athleticism and diversity of the Arabian breed in both mounted and halter classes.
Thursday evening featured the $40,000 U.S. Open Canadian Pacific FEI Speed Class with a win for McLain Ward aboard HH Carlos Z, as well as the $50,000 Engel & Völkers Puissance, where Ward and Andrew Kocher tied for victory after they both cleared six feet, three inches but could not keep the jump up at six feet, nine inches.
Wellington’s own Jimmy Torano jumped to an exciting victory in the $216,000 U.S. Open FEI Grand Prix CSI 3*, presented by Rolex, on Friday night. Other jumper competition included Thursday’s $25,000 U.S. Open Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 FEI Grand Prix with a win for Daniel Coyle aboard Fortis Fortuna. Friday’s $5,000 Junior/Amateur 1.20m Jumper Speed Class saw a win for Alexandra Crown and Basic.
Irish Olympians Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K dominated dressage at the 2016 Rolex Central Park Horse Show, winning both Friday’s U.S. Open FEI Dressage Grand Prix CDI 4* and Saturday night’s $75,000 U.S. Open FEI Dressage Freestyle CDI 4*, each presented by Axel Johnson.
Hunter competition was also featured, with a win for Kelley Farmer aboard Nina Moore’s Kodachrome in the feature $50,000 Duchossois Cup, presented by the Gochman family. The $2,500 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic saw a win for Mindy Coretz riding Eighteen Acres Farm’s Happy Hour, and the $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic was won by Zola Thompson riding Robin Greenwood’s Elegance.
Other festivities included a special freestyle demonstration from three-time British Olympic gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, appearances by Frederik the Great, known as “the World’s Most Handsome Horse,” and a ceremony honoring the U.S. Dressage Team Olympic bronze medalists, U.S. Show Jumping Team Olympic silver medalists and Phillip Dutton, Olympic individual bronze medalist. The show concluded with a free general admission family day with activities such as pony rides, face painting and a show hunter presentation.
Following the theme of promoting horses in New York City, International Equestrian Group made donations to six local charities in honor of the Rolex Central Park Horse Show. Charities included the Central Park Conservancy, the City Parks Foundation, GallopNYC, Mini Horse Heroes, the NYC Parks Enforcement Patrol Mounted Auxiliary Unit and the Police Athletic League.
The 2016 Rolex Central Park Horse Show was something that many equestrian fans, supporters and athletes will remember for years to come.
Visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com to learn more.
