Pennsylvania National Horse Show: Leslie Burr-Howard Wins By A Whisker In $40,000 Pennsylvania "Big Jump"

Source: News Release/Classic Communications

Leslie Burr-Howard Wins By A Whisker In $40,000 Pennsylvania "Big Jump" At Pennsylvania National Horse Show
Hunter Holloway Victorious in the Under 25 Welcome Stake

Harrisburg, PA - Less than a blink of an eye separated the top two in the $40,000 Pennsylvania "Big Jump", sponsored by Wilmington Trust - A Division of M & T Bank. Leslie Burr-Howard of Darien, CT, and Quadam, owned by Laure Sudreau, triumphed over Irish rider Daniel Coyle and Ridley, owned by Susan Grange, by 1/100th of a second in the first of three FEI events to be featured at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, presented by The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund.

"It doesn't get any closer than that, it was very exciting!" said Burr-Howard. "The horse is lovely. He's won a couple of grand prix classes now this year and I have only been riding him for six months. I'm thrilled."

The number 100 held more than one special meaning to Burr-Howard on Thursday evening; it was also the 100th birthday of her mother, Billie Burr. "My mom is 100 years old today and she is watching, so this will be a good birthday present for her," said Burr-Howard. "It's very special. We will have a big party on Sunday when I get home."

Leslie Burr-Howard and Quadam © Al Cook - alcookphoto.com

Although 11 entries went clear in the first round, only ten elected to come back a second time for the jump-off, local rider Callan Solem chose not to take VDL Wizard back into the ring. Andrew Kocher had the first double clear on Le Conte with a time of 37.81 seconds. Beezie Madden and Coach had the next double clear three seconds faster in 34.77. Burr-Howard and Quadam shaved off a bit more to finish in 33.09 seconds with half the field left to go on the Bernardo Cabral-designed course. Irish Olympic veteran Kevin Babington had 12 faults on his first mount, Mark Q, but fared better with Shorapur going double clear in 34.63 seconds for third place.

It was not Daniel Coyle's day. He qualified two for the jump-off, but his first mount, Fortis Fortuna, lost a shoe so he jumped Ridley first. Going seventh in the order, they were the first pair to take a short cut from the fourth fence to the combination, but still finished slower than Burr-Howard stopping the clock in 33.10 seconds. Coyle went last in the jump-off with his other mount and chose the same short path, this time much faster. He and Fortis Fortuna were on track to win the class finishing in 31.54 seconds, but they knocked down the last rail.

"I am devastated," said Coyle. "I knew exactly what I had to do and the mare jumped brilliantly, but we were just unlucky to have the last jump. Another day."

Daniel Coyle and Ridley © Al Cook - alcookphoto.com

Burr-Howard almost took the same track as Coyle, but stuck to her original plan. "I just carried a nice round tempo the whole way," said Burr-Howard. "The last horse did that inside turn, which I did look at but then I didn't think I had to do that to win because I didn't think he was going to try it to win and then he did try it, but had the rail down. He got unlucky and I got lucky."

Burr-Howard hopes to continue her winning ways in the marquee event, the $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National, on Saturday. She is the defending champion and will be riding Gentille Van Spieveld, owned by GJ Stable, the same horse that she won with in 2015.

Leslie Burr-Howard and Quadam Win the $40,000 Pennsylvania "Big Jump",

Sponsored by Wilmington Trust - A Division of M & T Bank

In the afternoon session, Hunter Holloway of Topeka, KS, won the $3,000 Under 25 Welcome Stake on VDL Bravo S, owned by the Hayes Investment Corp. Lucy Deslauriers, New York, NY, and Hamlet, owned by Lisa Deslauriers, were second and Canada's Cassandra Kahle was third on Pyrenes de Louzes, owned by Redfield Farm.

"It's actually really special to win because it's the first time the Under 25 division was ever held at this show, so to win is pretty cool," said Holloway. "For a person like me in my last junior year, this division is a great stepping stone to get into the bigger classes."

The field of 15 yielded seven for the jump-off with six out of the seven going double clear. Holloway qualified two and set the pace with Cassevel, owned by Hays Investment Corp., going clear in a time of 31.29 seconds. Katie Cox of Conroe, TX, and Hocus Pocus VH Hof Ter Heide, owned by KLC Investment Group, LLC, went clear in 29.33. Callie Smith and Attention Et Z, owned by Smithfield Farms, LLC, had a rail down for four faults and Kahle and Pyrenes de Louzes, then took the lead with a time of 29.15. With two more to go, Holloway managed to go even faster with VDL Bravo S to finish in a time of 28.28. Holloway believed that having two entries gave her an edge.

"It's always nice to have two chances," said Holloway. "In the jump-off I was first with my first horse, so I just went for a nice clean round to get in the ribbons. Then I saw that they were going fast, so with my second horse I said, 'OK, I am going to really go for it,' and it turned out to work really well and I was really happy with it."

Mattias Tromp of North Salem, NY, riding Whatever RV, owned by Beyaert Farm, went clear in 29.27 seconds and Deslauriers tried hard to beat the leader on Hamlet, but fell short going in a time of 28.90.

More About the PNHS

The Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1999 that assists in funding therapeutic riding and equine rescue programs. The proceeds from the PNHS are divided between the PNHS Foundation and The Harrisburg Kiwanis Youth Foundation. The PNHS Foundation gives to equine programs while the Kiwanis Foundation donates to youth programs. The PNHS has donated $1.68 million dollars to the Kiwanis Youth Foundation since its inception in 1947 and has donated $350,000 to local therapy and equine groups since 1999. Applications for grants are accepted throughout the year with action upon requests awarded in September.

Now in its 71st year, the PNHS is one of the most historic horse shows in the U.S., featuring the best in the sport of hunters and jumpers and is the launching ground for many future Olympians. 15,000 spectators, and 1,000,000 live feed viewers will enjoy ten days of national top competition as 1,400 top Junior and Adult competitors vie for eight national championships - including the prestigious Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Final and the Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Individual and Team Championships. The top jumping riders and horses are expected to compete in the $100,000 Prix de Penn National Grand Prix Presented by The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund, which will be held on the final day of the show on October 22.

Immediately following the $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National presented by The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund will be The Ben Gallaher Country Music Finale, a live concert that will be held in the main competition arena. Ben Gallaher is a Sony Nashville recording artist, singer, songwriter and a Central Pennsylvania native. Gallaher's special performance is presented by L.B. Smith Ford Lincoln and will begin at approximately 10 p.m.

Tickets for the Grand Prix and Ben Gallaher Country Music Finale are available NOW at www.PANational.org and ONE ticket allows guests to enjoy BOTH the Grand Prix and the Ben Gallaher Country Music Finale. Ticket proceeds assist in funding the PNHS Foundation's therapeutic riding and equine rescue programs along with the Kiwanis Youth Foundation programs. Reserved Tier Seating ranges from $40-$50 and Family 4-pack packages range from $75-$175. General Admission for students and senior citizens is $25.Children aged 10 and under are admitted FREE and parking is FREE. Tickets are also available for ALL sessions of this year's Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

The show also features special theme days, Family Fun Day, and great shopping, with over 70 vendors featuring clothing, antiques, art work, jewelry and equestrian products. For more information, updates, promotions, and more, visit www.PANational.org or call (717)770-0222. For those who cannot make it to PNHS in person, the World Equestrian Center Live Feed can be viewed throughout the 10 days of the show and can be accessed through a link on the PNHS website at www.PANational.org or through www.EqSports.net.