Juliana Starbuck Storms Back from Serious Illness to Win Friday's $10,000 Mini-Prix At The Vermont Summer Festival Horse Shows

East Dorset, VT - July 16, 2004 - Juliana Starbuck and RCG Farm's Pamina blazed to victory today in the $10,000 Open Mini Prix at The Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. Pamina, an 11 year-old German Warmblood, and Starbuck won the deciding jump-off by over three seconds in a time of 66.109 seconds.

Danielle Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Cavalieri took second place with a clear jump off round in 69.641 seconds. Third place went to Hilary Orr of Houston, TX with her horse Jolly Jumper.

"The first round was very straightforward," Starbuck explained, "but the jump-off was a very technical course. I truly trust this horse and she went incredibly well today. On the ground, Pamina is a very mellow, quiet horse. Once you are mounted on her, she is very serious and knows she has a job to do."

The duo has been on fire this season, also having taken the blue ribbon here yesterday in the open speed class, and last month in the Oxridge Mini Prix in Darien, CT. Starbuck, of Ridgefield, CT, is no stranger to the winner's circle in Vermont. Last year, teamed with Unique, she captured the Regular Conformation Hunter Championship at the Manchester Summer Festival.

Starbuck's greatest victory came this past Spring when she triumphed over a life-threatening case of malaria. As a volunteer with the nonprofit missionary group Engage Now, she traveled to Ethiopia in January to provide humanitarian assistance in small villages. By April, she was so ill with malaria that the doctors had little hope for her recovery. After eight days in intensive care with liver and lung complications, Starbuck slowly regained her strength and began riding, and winning, again.

This is the 11th year the Vermont Summer Festival Horse Shows have taken place at the Beebe Farm, just off Route 7 north of Manchester. Equestrians from across North America are competing in this prestigious event which runs for five weeks, beginning on July 14 and ending August 15. The Vermont Summer Festival is New England's largest "AA" rated hunter/jumper horse show circuit. This year's event includes five $35,000 Grand Prix and five $10,000 Mini Prix. Each of the five weeks will also feature a $10,000 Show Jumping Hall Of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class, part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series.

Exciting show jumping action continues all weekend. The Orvis Company, a local business and the nation's oldest mail order company, is the sponsor for this Sunday's $35,000 show jumping Grand Prix. The Orvis Company headquarters have been in Manchester, Vermont, since the company was founded in 1856. British and English equine style and culture have always influenced Orvis, so the Vermont Summer Festival was a natural fit for the nation's finest distinctive country lifestyle brand. Spectators can visit the Orvis booth in the Festival's trade fair area, along with the other interesting boutiques and gift shops.

Admission to the Vermont Summer Festival is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2 for children. For further information about the Vermont Summer Festival, please call (802) 362-7548 or go to http://www.vt-summerfestival.com/.

Photo credit - ©Flashpoint Photography 2004