Palm Beach Masters CSI3*-W Returns To Wellington Feb. 2-5
By Taylor Renner
In 2016, the picturesque Deeridge Farms, owned by Jeremy and Margaret Jacobs, opened its gates to a new, prestigious equestrian event in the Wellington community. Bringing together top athletes from around the world to compete at the highest level of show jumping, the event was a great success for the equestrian community.
The Palm Beach Masters, formerly known as the Wellington Masters, will return to the winter equestrian capital of the world Feb. 2-5, 2017. This year, show organizers are looking forward to putting on an even bigger and better event as it continues to grow in popularity and bring together the best of the best.
The Palm Beach Masters is once again designated a CSI3*-W event by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and will play host to the 12th Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League qualifying event — one of 14 within the league — leading up to one of the year’s most highly anticipated competitions in show jumping, the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in Omaha, Neb., in March.
Wellington has historically held a World Cup qualifying event at the Winter Equestrian Festival, but in 2015, a conflict hindered the show’s ability to further host a leg of the competition. With no host venue, it looked as though Wellington might lose the event in 2016. However, the Jacobs family, longtime Wellington residents, stepped up and offered their 300-acre estate to stage the event in order to keep the qualifier in Wellington.
“I think it’s wonderful being able to keep the event in Wellington,” Louis Jacobs said. “It actually improves the equestrian community in Wellington because you get those extra competitors who may be competing somewhere else during the season to come to Wellington for the week to get World Cup points. From what I understand, the entries even went up at the Winter Equestrian Festival during last year’s event, just because there was increased interest and concentration in the market.”
Louis is proud that his family has been able to help. “It means the world to us to have a World Cup qualifier in Wellington,” he said. “That’s why we stepped up and raised our hand to host it and, as the old saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats, and we like that.”
Wellington is world-renowned for top-tier equestrian sport, and the Palm Beach Masters will build on the success of the inaugural 2016 event to become established as a premier, stand-alone international show jumping competition in the United States.
“This event is special to me for a lot of reasons,” Charlie Jacobs said. “One, first and foremost, it’s my family’s farm, so there’s a bit of nostalgia there, having been on that property for more than 30 years — since 1980. Seeing it all come together as it did last year for the first time was incredible. We received a great deal of positive feedback from the exhibitors and spectators, but this year, we’re working to improve the venue and event on all levels.”
A number of changes were made at Deeridge Farms for this year’s event.
“We completely re-did our grass field and the drainage system with the idea being that if we were to get another 4 inches of rain, like we did last year the night before the competition, we would still be able to use the grass ring,” Charlie said. “We also expanded the all-weather footing arena so it’s almost double the size of what it was last year. We also had a two-story, 60-meter VIP tent last year, and we were overwhelmed, frankly, with the great feedback regarding not only the seating and the views, but also the hospitality. So this year, we ordered an 80-meter tent, and we expect it will also have a third story to accommodate judges and announcers. We’re looking forward to the event, and we’re very excited for this upcoming season.”
Charlie, who is president of the event with his brother Louis, will also be competing in this year’s event in an effort to collect valuable World Cup ranking points. Charlie traveled to Gothenburg, Sweden, and represented the United States at the 2016 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals and hopes to do the same in 2017.
“I aspire to go to the finals in Omaha,” he said. “I was in Gothenburg last year and, from what I’ve been told, it will be radically different with the venue and size of the ring. I think my horse would be well-suited for it. I’d love to go given the opportunity, and hopefully we earn enough points to make the trip.”
A total of 14 athletes from the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League will qualify for the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in Omaha from March 29 through April 2. The top seven athletes from the East Coast sub league and top three from the West Coast sub league, plus the two best-placed athletes from Canada and Mexico, will qualify for the final, alongside winners from 14 other leagues around the world.
Following last year’s success, the Palm Beach Masters invites riders, owners and equestrian fans to once again return to scenic Deeridge Farms during the first week of February to experience shopping, socializing and equestrian sport at an exclusive, stunning and appropriate setting fit for a world-class show jumping event.
“I would hope that everybody who comes has a wonderful experience,” said Katie Jacobs-Robinson, sister of Charlie and Louis and a successful amateur hunter rider. “We really design the process around the horse and the welfare of the horse as the number-one priority. We do limit the entries because we want to preserve the safety and sanctity of the competition itself, but we also hope the people who come really enjoy themselves and the experience as a whole.”
For more information about the Palm Beach Masters, visit www.palmbeachmasters.com.
