Legacy Cup - An Overview by Diana DeRosa

Lexington, Kentucky – The Legacy Cup is truly a different kind of horse show and the seventh edition of this one of a kind hunter competition takes place May 8-17.  This two-week innovative, high paying, exhibitor-friendly event, is hosted by the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows and showcased at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.

It was the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation, Inc. (AHJF) that created the Legacy Cup. The first two years the show was held as a stand alone event.  After listening to the exhibitors, management paired the Legacy Cup with one of the nation's top AA rated hunter horse shows.  This will be the fifth year that the Legacy Cup will be included as part of show manager Hugh Kincannon’s Kentucky series.

When asked what they thought about the Legacy Cup many of last year’s winners echoed their approval. “It is a great idea.  Hunters don't ever get to compete for money and the AHJF does a beautiful job.  I love the Legacy Cup,” noted Tammy Provost.

“The Legacy Cup showcases hunters and the format makes it special the way they do it at night.  It's a lot of fun for everybody,” added Chrystal Knight.  “And the AHJF is a great Foundation.  They do a lot of good for the horse show community.”

“I absolutely love the Legacy Cup,” chimed Kristi Cardalico.  “I wish there were more Legacy Cups for the Hunters.  It makes it special with the presentations and the fact that it’s very simple.  You have one round and then you go into the Finals on a clean slate.  You dress up and compete indoors at night.  It is sort of like a jumper classic which you don't get in the hunters too often.”

THE LEGACY CLUB

While the competition is the nucleus of the event, the social aspects have become something that the exhibitors look forward to.  The event will include the Legacy Club, which overlooks the arena on one side and the rolling hills of the Kentucky Horse Park on the other.  The tented gathering place is a private members-only area for sponsors and table holders.  A buffet lunch is served daily as well as dinner for each of the evening performances.  The AHJF also includes a general exhibitor tent where anyone can pick up cold drinks, snacks and fruit. 

ABOUT THE LEGACY CUP

The two-week Legacy Cup was developed to benefit the show hunter sport with a unique format, unprecedented rewards and a pleasant environment to showcase the hunters.  It is the brainchild of the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation, Inc. (AHJF). 

The format is different than other show hunter events. The divisions include two professional and two non pro divisions; one at 3' and one at 3'6" and the Legacy Cup Pony Hunter division. In addition the format allows for multiple awards within each class and division. Restricted Professional Riders are recognized.  A Restricted Pro rider is a new professional or one who hasn’t shown or won at the upper levels of show hunter competition.  The Go Rounds determine which riders come back for the Finals. 

The professional division also includes the $10,000 Pre Green Incentive (sponsored by Janet Read – this award goes to the top eight pre green horses in the Pro 3' division). In addition, there are Leading Trainer Awards (this award goes to the trainer whose students and horses accumulate the most money; it is awarded each week).  Other awards include the Belcort Farm Perpetual Trophy (for the owner of the horse that produces the highest single round score) and the Walter J. Lee Perpetual Trophy (for the Pro rider who accumulates the most money throughout the 3’ and 3’6” Pro competition). 

In the non pro divisions, overall ribbons and separate ribbons are awarded for both juniors and amateurs in all classes, the Signature Trophy (donated by Susanne and Weatherly Stroh) recognizes the high money winning Non Pro Junior 3’6” Hunter and the Jeanie Geiger Memorial Trophy recognizes the high money winning Non Pro Amateur 3’6” Hunter. There are Non Pro Leading Rider awards (to riders who accumulate the most money in their respective division) and a Legacy Cup Non Pro Team Award (to the barn whose students accumulate the most money in the Non Pro and Pony divisions).  Leading Rider Awards are given to the Overall Non Pro, Overall Non Pro 3'6", Overall Non Pro 3', Junior 3'6", Junior 3', Amateur 3'6", Amateur 3', and Pony Rider. The winner of the Pony Finals receives the Delta Dawn Perpetual Trophy presented by Stacey Lefton Glick. The winner of the Pony Go Round receives the Farnley Eiffel Tower Memorial Trophy, presented by Kimberly Kreider.

Each Go Round offers a guaranteed purse of $1,500. Go Rounds rank the top 25 horses for a clean slate final.  The 2008 Legacy Cup entry fee is $400 of which 50% goes directly to the division purse and 50% to the AHJF for the expenses associated with the event. The Legacy Cup Committee has committed an added purse of $13,000 to the 2008 event. This added money, combined with 50% of the division entry fee, means even more money to the exhibitor and the amount increases with each horse entered.

Photo Credit: Kristi Cardalico and Manolo by Diana DeRosa