Wellington, Florida - February 15, 1999
McLain Ward, 23, of Brewster, NY, became the youngest rider to top one million dollars in grand prix winnings when he rode his 14-year-old Selle Fancais gelding, Twist Du Valon, to victory in the $50,000 Kilkenny-Redland Internationale Cup. The competition was held February 14 at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club during the third week of the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival.

The 1998 Budweiser/AGA Rider of the Year bested a field of 64 entries with two penalty-free rounds and a jump-off time of 50.05 seconds. The last of three to go in the tie-breaking jump-off, Ward easily beat the 52.51 seconds turned in by Lynne Little of Frederick, MD, on the 8-year-old Westphalian mare, Pialotta. Kate Levy, 18, of New Haven, CT, finished third aboard Lagretto 5 with a time of 57.74 seconds.

"A horse needed to be very careful out there and all three that made it to the jump-off were of the highest quality," Ward said. "The jump-off was very long and you really have to take your hat off to these three horses for the job they did today."

Ward also ran away with the prize during the $25,000 Kilkenny Redland WEF Challenge Cup. The grand prix victory was the first of the year for the 1998 AGA Horse of the Year, Twist Du Valon. The horse is owned by Ward and Harry Gill. Besting a field of 71 starters, Ward edged out USET veteran Alison Firestone of Upperville, VA, and her mount, Major, by less than one second. Earlier in the week, Ward piloted the Dutchbred gelding, Global *8, to victory in the $5,000 Americhoice Speed Stake.

Atlanta Olympic team Silver Medalist Leslie Howard of Westport, CT, was in the winner's circle aboard the Thoroughbred gelding, Glen Echo, in the $10,000 Coca-Cola Welcome Stake. Howard rode a clear jump-off track against six qualifiers in 39.38 seconds, edging Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, aboard Imaginario. Madden clocked a penalty-free time of 39.7, followed by Harold Chopping of Rougemont, NC, and Sektor 11 with 41.52 seconds.

Robin Sweely of Madison, VA, won the $5,000 Kilkenny Open Speed Challenge aboard the 11 year-old gelding, Graf Bobby. Turning in one of only four clean rides in 70.54 seconds, Sweely pushed Darren Graziano of Warren, NJ, back to second place with a time of 77.34 aboard El Paso.

The Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival will travel to the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center in Tampa for its final three weeks and culminate with the $150,000 Budweiser American Invitational at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, on Saturday evening, April 10.