| Porter Allen and Maddox Win $1,000 Amateur-Owner/Junior Hunter Classic at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show |
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| Written by Whitney Campbell |
| Monday, 23 August 2010 14:43 |
 Lexington, KY- August 22, 2010-The final day of the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park ended with the top riders competing for the $1000 Amateur-Owner/ Junior Hunter Classic winning title. Clear skies and warm temperatures made for a tough day of competition but for Classic winner Porter Allen and new mount Maddox, the heat was of no concern. Hayley Barnhill and her infamous mount Red Panda were named Champion after a clean sweep of the Small Junior 16-17 Hunter Division earlier in the day.The $1,000 Amateur/ Owner Junior Hunter Classic was the last event of the day and tested rider over two rounds with courses designed by Danny Moore, Leading the second round with a high first round score of 86 was Lillie Keenan and Valedictorian, and Keenan hoped to maintain her top spot with an 87 for her handy round, totaling 173. Laura Pfeiffer and her mount Elliot were the next pair in contention to claim the lead from Keenan, entering the second round with an 84, but with an 82 in her handy round, Pfeiffer would have to settle with 166 points, good enough for third place. Porter Allen and new mount Maddox entered the ring for their handy round after scoring a solid 85 in the first round. With a score of 89, totaling 174, Allen moved into first place and earned the top prize. “It feels great, this is my first time showing him,” commented Allen, “I was trying to get around nicely and everything worked out.” Allen will take Maddox to Capital Challenge next where they will try and qualify for Indoors and Devon. Allen shared, “I love it here at the Horse Park, I don’t want to leave. The field is great and the show has been so fun.” Earlier in the day, the Junior Hunters competed for the championship and reserve championship honors within their divisions. Beginning the day in the Stonelea Ring was the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunters with Lillie Keenan and Winter Place, owned by Artisan Farms and Caitlin Ziegler, sweeping the over fences to take the championship prize. Accepting the reserve championship award was Shawn Casady and Ramsey Hanson’s Kurious. Lillie Keenan came right back in the Large Junior 15 & Under Hunters to take the championship title with Valedictorian, owned by Chansonette Farm, LLC. Claiming the reserve championship honors was Porter Allen and Lissa Bachner-Braze’s Maddox. “Both the horses that I rode today did really well,” smile Keenan. “I’ve never ridden Winter Place before but he’s a really fun horse. I didn’t know what to expect because I’d never been on him before. He was a really, really special ride.” Kennan has owed Valedictorian for near two years and is thrilled with his versatility. “Valedictorian will do literally any division you ask—jumpers or hunters,” shed explained. “You put him in front of any combination at any show and he does his best.” Showing for the entirety of the Kentucky Horse Show Series, Keenan is a regular at the Horse Park. “I really like it here,” she smiled. “For the first few weeks we were here for Pony Finals, Junior Hunter Finals, and then the past few days for the Derby Finals. We really like it here, and can’t wait to come back. There have been some really hot days, but it’s fun, there are great people here.” Hayley Barnhill was the leader in today’s Older Junior Hunters, sweeping both divisions. Barnhill and Boggs Hill Farm’s Word For Word were awarded the championship honors in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter division, while Emma Kennedy and Pamela Allardice’s And Then Some earned the reserve championship prize. Barnhill and Red Panda, owned by John and Stephanie Ingram, swept every blue ribbon in the Small Junior 16-17 Hunter division to be awarded the championship title. Barnhill made it a one-two finish claiming the reserve championship prize as well with her second entry, Landius. “Word for Word was really good today,” noted Barnhill. “The handy got a little risky but everything went well. We are hoping to go to Capital Challenge from here.” Barnhill and Red Panda have dominated the show circuit at the Kentucky Horse Show Series. “He couldn’t have done better. We will continue onto Capital Challenge and then to Indoors,” Barnhill continued. “It’s been a really good week to finish up the shows here, I’ve enjoyed my time here so much.” Today’s events marked the end of the month-long Kentucky Summer Horse Shows series. Riders will now return home and begin preparing for Indoors, while the Kentucky Horse Park gears up for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo Credit: Porter Allen and Maddox won the $1,000 Amateur Owner/Junior Hunter Classic at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo By: Whitney Campbell/PMG. Photo may only be used in relation to this PMG press release |
