McLain Ward and Goldika Win $15,000 Chesapeake Petroleum National Horse Show Speed Stake

Wellington, Florida – December 1, 2005 – McLain Ward and his fabulous mare Goldika 559 continued their amazing run of success with yet another Fall tour victory, this time at the 122nd National Horse Show and Family Festival in Wellington, Florida. The show, in its fourth year at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, continues through Sunday.

Today’s featured event was the $15,000 Chesapeake Petroleum National Horse Show Speed Stake. The scoring FEI Art. 238. Table A 2.1. Time First Round. Fifty starters went to the post and competed over a challenging course designed by Jose “Pepe” Gamarra, of La Paz, Bolivia.

Of the fifty starters, thirteen produced clear rounds while another sixteen horse and rider combinations had four faults. There were nine duos with eight faults and eleven had more than eight faults.

Norman Dello Joio and Quriel, owned by the Wembley Farms, set the early pace out of the ninth spot in the jumping order. Dello Joio toured the course fault free and crossed the finish line in 65.88 seconds. His lead only lasted four horses however. Lisa Silverman and her Flubber Cocoy grabbed the lead away from Dello Joio, slicing 1.18 seconds off of his time. Silverman tripped the timers in 64.70 seconds.

Silverman’s lead lasted until McLain Ward, riding in the twenty-fifth spot in the order, entered the ring on the Double H Farm’s Goldika 559. Ward, who has been on fire the entire fall tour with Goldika, showed no signs up letting up today. Cutting the turns at every opportunity, Ward raced home and broke the beams in 63.27 seconds, 1.43 seconds faster than Silverman.

That lead held up through the entire second half of today’s class. “I was actually using this class as a warm up for the World Cup Qualifier tomorrow night,” said Ward following the event. “Goldika is a naturally fast horse. I just tried to make some nice tight turns and the course itself was set big enough for a speed class so it wasn’t crazy fast. It worked out nicely for us,” he said.

Ward wasn’t totally confident that he’d be able to hold the lead through twenty-five more horses. “I thought I could be beat for sure, but it was close to a 1.50m track and normally that doesn’t get too fast,” he revealed.

Ward and Goldika have won more classes on this year’s fall tour than any other horse and rider combination, including Grand Prix wins at Washington and Toronto. “She’s been great. In fact, she probably would have won a few more classes if I hadn’t gotten in her way a few times, like at the Capital Challenge,” admitted Ward. “She’s always been a great indoor horse and we had an incredible indoor tour last year and that carried over to this season. Inside she’s a tough horse to beat. She’s won a class at every horse show she’s been to this year,” he said.

So what about moving outdoors and competing on one of the largest outdoor fields in the country? “I have to be careful that I don’t run too hard out on this big field with the long gallop,” he said. “She’s a very small horse but she’s in good form right now. She’s very confident and she’s very happy with herself. I hope that will carry over to tomorrow night.”

On Friday night Ward will try and defend his title in the $100,000 Lexus National Horse Show Jumper Championship, CSI-W, presented by Chesapeake Petroleum. The class, part of Friday night’s “Jumping Under the Stars,” is scheduled to start around 8pm.

“I have a good horse with a good chance,” said Ward. “I’m confident and I think my horse is confident. I’d be disappointed if we didn’t have a nice result on Friday. That doesn’t always mean you’re going to win but I think if I can get her into the jump-off she’s the one to beat,” he said with a smile.

Official Results - $15,000 Chesapeake Petroleum National Speed Classic – FEI Art. 238 Table A 2.1. Time First Round – National Horse Show- December 1, 2005 – International Arena

• 1 - $4500 Goldika 559-Mclain Ward-Double H Farm- 0/63.27
• 2 - $3000 Flubber Cocoy-Lisa Silverman - Lisa Silverman- 0/64.70
• 3 - $1500 Quriel - Norman Dello Joio-Wembley Farms -0/65.88
• 4 - $1000 Intrepide Du Valon-Alison Firestone-M/M Bertram R. Firestone – 0/67.61
• 5 - $900 Kartouche-Mary Lisa Leffler-Rolling Acres Stables – 0/68.31
• 6 - $800 Carlow Clover-Robin Sweely-Acorn Hill Farm – 0/69.63
• 7 - $750 Obelix R- Lisa Silverman -Lisa Silverman – 0/69.93
• 8 - $600 Crelindo -Michael Morrissey-Eugene R. Mische – 0/71.89
• 9 - $600 Couletto K. James-Kimberly Prince- Overlook Farm – 0/73.01
• 10 - $450 Gerona 92 -Mary Lisa Leffler-Rolling Acres Stables – 0/76.04
• 11 - $450 Roxanne-Eric Flameng -Floriac, LLC – 0/76.10
• 12 - $450 Glasgow- Norman Dello Joio-Wembley Farms – 0/82.87

PHOTO CREDIT: Goldika 559 and McLain Ward win the $15,000 Chesapeake Petroleum Speed Stake at the 122nd National Horse Show. Photo by Randi Muster.