May 21, 2017 – North Salem, NY – Andrew Ramsay (USA) led the victory gallop in the $130,000 Empire State Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by The Kincade Group, riding Cocq a Doodle to conclude the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows on Sunday, May 21, at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY.
Andrew Ramsay and Cocq a Doodle won the $130,000 Empire State Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by The Kincade Group, on Sunday, May 21, to conclude the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Photo by The Book
After a second-place finish in the feature grand prix during the first week of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, Ramsay and Cocq a Doodle, owned by The Doodle Group, moved up for a victory in the $130,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, in a three-horse jump-off. The only double-clear effort of the day belonged to Ramsay, who stopped the clock at 45.50 seconds over a jump-off track built by 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Final course designer Alan Wade (IRL).
Katie Dinan (USA) had the speed to beat Ramsay, but pulled a single rail in the final trip of the jump-off to settle for second place in 45.17 seconds riding Dougie Douglas, owned by Grant Road Partners, LLC. Third went to Lauren Tisbo (USA) who was the first rider to jump clean in the opening round, and stood as the lone clear until the final two riders joined her for a jump-off. She and Brindis Bogibo, owned by Tequestrian Farms, LLC, finished on four faults in 49.68 seconds.
Christine McCrea (USA) was clear over the first-round track, but had one time fault to finish fourth riding Nektarina B, owned by Candy Tribble. The fastest four-fault round belonged to McLain Ward (USA) and HH Carlos Z to round out the top five.
“It has been awhile, probably two or three years, since I’ve won a grand prix,” said Ramsay, who hails from San Francisco, CA, but is now based in Wellington, FL. “It is a great feeling to do it again. It has been fantastic to have Doodle here on the field and be good enough today to get it done. It’s been a very good weekend.”
Stephen Kincade, founder of The Kincade Group, and his daughter Gretchen presented Andrew Ramsay and Cocq a Doodle as winners of the $130,000 Empire State Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by The Kincade Group, at the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Photo by The Book
Ramsay also won the $35,000 Old Salem Farm Jumper Classic CSI3*, presented by Wells Fargo, The Private Bank, on Saturday riding Stranger 30 during his first time competing at Old Salem Farm.
“The field has a really special feeling to it,” said Ramsay of the Old Salem Farm Grand Prix Field. “It is a nice grass field; there’s pitch to it, but it’s not rough ground. It’s nice, good-quality, even ground. The field and the setting, the stone, the barn above, people picnicking on the side, it has a special feeling.”
Ramsay’s winning mount, Cocq a Doodle, is a ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Tolan R x Niagara) that joined his string from fellow U.S. grand prix rider, Molly Ashe.
“She really thrives on these bigger fields where I can let her gallop some,” said Ramsay. “She’s really a fighter, a trier, and she really wants to do it. That’s what really counts. Today, I’d say it was about 90% her and 10% me. I just pointed her at the fence, made some bobbles, and she took care of the rest.”
Second-place rider and New York local, Dinan, joined the victory gallop in front of a hometown crowd with Dougie Douglas, a 12-year-old Irish Sport horse gelding (VDL Douglas x High Roller). Dinan has missed out on participating in this week’s competition at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows in the past while studying at Harvard University, but now a recent graduate, she is happy to be competing at Old Salem Farm again. She said, “I think because of the prize money, the venue, and the crowd, this horse show has always stood higher in importance relative to its actual FEI ranking.”
Katie Dinan and Dougie Douglas were second in the $130,000 Empire State Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by The Kincade Group, on Sunday, May 21, to conclude the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Photo by The Book
“People always bring good horses here and try to win the grand prix,” continued Dinan, whose family owns a farm in North Salem, NY. “I think a grand prix of this level, you should be rewarded with FEI points. That’s great for the competitors, but I think it also means something to the spectators to know that this is an international competition. The same crowd comes every year. They actually get to know the horses and the riders. It’s a real local following in North Salem, and for this community, Old Salem and the Gold Cup are real highlights. People make a priority of coming here. As a competitor, I think that makes it really special.”
Tisbo earned a third-place ribbon on a mount she started riding this past fall. Brindis Bogibo, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Grand Pilot I x Pacific), came to her from U.S. rider Andrew Welles, and Tisbo has been taking her time getting to know the mount.
Lauren Tisbo and Brindis Bogibo finished third in the $130,000 Empire State Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by The Kincade Group, on Sunday, May 21, to conclude the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Photo by The Book
“All of a sudden, it seems to be clicking and he’s been really consistent since the last week of [the Winter Equestrian Festival],” she said. “He has been clear or had four faults in his last three shows. I am very happy with the progress. I still need to work on jump-offs, but very happy!”
Earlier in the day on the Grand Prix Field, Madison Goetzmann, 17, of Skeanatles, NY, won the $15,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, presented by Beval Saddlery, riding her own Prestigious. They bested the eight horses that advanced to the jump-off with a clear round over the short course in 31.172 seconds.
Madison Goetzmann and Prestigious won the $15,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, presented by Beval Saddlery, on Sunday, May 21, during the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Photo by The Book
Charlise Casas and Rembrandt Blue, owned by Always Faithful Equine, LLC, were second with a time of 31.537 seconds, and Katie Tyler took third riding her won Shet du Thot in 32.842 seconds.
“He’s an incredible horse,” said Goetzmann of her ten-year-old Westphalian gelding (Con Cento x Corofino). “He has amazing scope, but we have been taking our time. Each week, things just keep getting better and better, and we’ve developed a better partnership.
Christina Hearn of Beval Saddlery presented Madison Goetzmann and Prestigious as winners of the $15,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, presented by Beval Saddlery, during the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Photo by The Book
“This week is probably the best he’s felt to me and the best I’ve connected with him,” continued Goetzmann, who trains with John and Beezie Madden, and started riding Prestigious about six months ago. “John and Beezie have really been helping me. Beezie rides him, showing me how to make things better and how to improve your horse. It’s been a real help watching Beezie flat my horse and jump him.”
Final Results: $130,000 Empire State Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by The Kincade Group
1 COCQ A DOODLE: 2007 Dutch Warmblood mare by Tolan R x Niagara
ANDREW RAMSAY (USA), The Doodle Group: 0/0/45.50
2 DOUGIE DOUGLAS: 2005 Irish Sport Horse gelding by VDL Douglas x High Roller
KATHERINE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/4/45.17
3 BRINDIS BOGIBO: 2006 KWPN gelding by Grand Pilot I x Pacific
LAUREN TISBO (USA), Tequestrian Farms LLC: 0/4/49.68
4 NEKTARINA B: 2005 Holsteiner mare by Nekton x Lancer II
CHRISTINA MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble: 1/80.09
5 HH CARLOS Z: 2002 Zangersheide gelding by Chellano Z x Voltaire
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Double H Farm: 4/71.88
6 STRANGER 30: 2006 Hanoverian gelding by Stakkato x Cheenook
ANDREW RAMSAY (USA), The Stranger Group: 4/72.97
7 AVON: 2004 Swedish Warmblood stallion by Quidam de Revel x Cortez 679
MATTIAS TROMP (USA), Beyaert Farm, Inc.: 4/74.03
8 PROF DE LA ROQUE: 2003 Selle Français gelding by Kannan x Damiro B
ANDREW KOCHER (USA), Postage Stamp Farm, LLC: 4/75.43
9 HH CALLAS: 2007 Oldenburg mare by Albatros x Quattro B
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Double H Farm: 4/76.39
10 MANODIE II H: 2005 Oldenburg mare by Carthago x Zeus
GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA), Gotham Enterprises, LLC: 4/76.41
11 CYLANA: 2002 Belgian Warmblood mare by Skippy II x Darco
CLOE HYMOWITZ (USA), Rose Hill Farm: 4/76.58
12 DAY DREAM: 2008 KWPN gelding by Zento x Heartbreaker
JIMMY TORANO (USA), Jimmy and Danielle Torano & Isalou Inc: 4/77.02