Source:  News Release/PMG Inc.

Happy Z and Wilhelm Genn Happy to Win $30,000 WeatherTech Grand Prix

Everything and Thatcher Try to Catch The Lead

Wayne, IL - Threatening thunder storms missed Wayne making it a great day for a Grand Prix.  Showplace Productions' $30,000 WeatherTech Grand Prix was the first Grand Prix to be held in the newly remodeled Grand Prix ring at Lamplight Equestrian Center in front of a supporting Chicago crowd.

Genn stops for fan to reward Happy Z with a treat.

A field of 30 horse and rider combinations competed in the first round leaving 12 for the jump off.  Out of the 12 first round jumps in the course designed by renowned course designer, Guilherne Jorge of Brazil, no particular jump took its toll on the riders. The jumps varied from a very airy gate and rail to a very solid wall.  In the jump off, the course allowed for a long gallop between fences one and two, which was the solid wall.  The triple became a one stride with another good gallop to fence six with a sharp left turn and gallop to the final sailboat oxer by the ingate.

Lisa Goldman and Centurion B

Setting the time early was Lisa Goldman and Centurion B, with 41.599 but caught a rail for 4 faults.  Maggie Bracco and Manneken Du Cory were almost clean but had a rail at the last sailboat oxer and a time of 42.411

Kelsey Thatcher and Everything

Kelsey Thatcher and Everything were the first clean with a time of 43.110. Right after Thatcher, Wilhelm Genn and Happy Z were the only other clear round and a faster time of 41.723, taking the lead.

Steve Schaefer and Caribe

Steve Schaefer and Caribe blazed around the course in usual fashion for the fastest time of the day, 41.485, but an unfortunate hind rail on the out of the one stride.  The one stride struck again, this time on the "in" for Ryan Genn and Cookie Monster.

Showplace Productions' Pat Boyle presents to Happy Z and Wilhelm Genn, winners of the $30,000 WeatherTech Grand Prix.

Wilhelm Genn of Lebanon, OH, is not a stranger to the Chicago area.  Happy Z, the 14-year-old warmblood mare, is quite a favorite to the fans.  Genn was the first rider in 2005 to hit the million-dollar mark for money won. He currently ranks third in the 2013 rankings with $1,769,070 in the USHJA Rider Lifetime Money Earned program.

Genn has three children, Wilhelm Jr., Ryan and Theo.  Ryan and Theo also had mounts in the Prix and Quite Ruffy 840, a second mount for Wilhelm. It was a good day the Genn family, collecting checks on four of their six horses.

Thatcher is a student at the University of Georgia studying Early Childhood Education but home is Bluffdale, Utah. Her mount, Everything, is owned by Pony Lane Farm.
"Everything was great," said Thatcher. " He got better and better as the week went by. He's incredible in the jump offs because he can make any distance work and wants to win too. He has a fighting personality; he tries his hardest for me over the jumps and is known to bite every once in awhile! He is an incredible athlete, and with that talent, comes his sparky personality!"

Next week riders will have the chance to compete in the $30,000 Barrington Saddlery Grand Prix at Showplace Productions' Spring Spectacular II at Lamplight Equestrian Center.

558. $30,000 WeatherTech Grand Prix  

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