Lexington, KY -  Kent Farrington has taken over the lead in the 2013 Hagyard Challenge Series after winning the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic during the Kentucky Spring Classic. The talented rider showed Raylyn Farm's Venus to the victory by overtaking the jump-off with two seconds to spare and a clear effort.

Richie Moloney maintains the second place position in the standings after earning second with Slieveanorra during the first event, and then going on to place seventh, eighth and ninth with Equinimity LLC's Carrabis Z, Call Me Number One, and Slieveanorra.  Venezuela's Pablo Barrios is currently ranked third in the standings after winning the first event aboard Zara Leandra with the fastest double clear effort.

The Hagyard Challenge Series is a summer-long series of seven show jumping events at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The rider who accumulates the most points in the series will receive a $50,000 Leading Rider Award, presented during the Kentucky National Horse Show in September. The second event in the series will be next Thursday during the Kentucky Spring Classic at the Kentucky Horse Park.

"I think any kind of rider incentive iss great for the sport, especially at the professional level," commented Farrington. "There is so much money in the junior and amateur divisions at the shows. We have to keep the true professional sport and people have to be able to win money. I think having rider incentives for the people that are consistently successful is a great thing. I am huge supporter of any kind of incentive or bonus like that for riders that are consistently successful."

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and well-being of the horse for more than 130 years.

The facility at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers 13 Digital Radiology systems, 1.5 Tesla Siemens MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy, a high speed treadmill, an on-site laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, full surgical services, 24-hour emergency services, and Hyperbaric Medicine. The institute has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 133 years and is currently composed of over 60 experienced veterinarians, with 12 board certifications in specialty areas of Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, and Theriogenology.

Several generous sponsors have helped make this exciting series event happen. These gracious supporters include: title sponsor MWI Veterinary Supply, and presenting sponsor Zoetis, as well as Audi of Lexington, Dean Dorton Allen Ford, Hagyard Flex-tra HA, Johnson Horse Transport, Hallway Feeds, Kirk Horse Insurance LLC, Pike and Preston, and Stoll Keenon Ogden.

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows please visit http://www.kentuckyhorseshows.com/.

To learn more about the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, please go to www.hagyard.com.

2013 HAGYARD CHALLENGE SERIES STANDINGS
PLACE TOTAL RIDER
1    350    KENT FARRINGTON
2    320    RICHIE MOLONEY
3    250    PABLO BARRIOS
4    170    ANDREW BOURNS
5    150    MARGIE ENGLE
6    120    RAMIRO QUINTANA
      120    REED KESSLER
8    100    ANGEL KAROLYI
9    80    QUENTIN JUDGE
      80    SCHUYLER RILEY


Photo Credit: Kent Farrington won Thursday's $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic with Venus at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, and currently leads the 2013 Hagyard Challenge Series. Photo: Rebecca Walton/PMG.