THERMAL, CA (March 3, 2026) Rachel Yorke had lady luck on her side in Friday’s $30,000 Ariat Grand Prix at HITS Thermal. Aboard Karl du Chateau, she hit the top rail on the triple bar. The rail bounced at least a foot in the air and landed in place, as she secured the only clear round to win the class.
“When I heard the crowd cheer I knew it had stayed up,” said Yorke. “That just motivated me to make it all the way home clean.”
For Yorke, that’s not only the beginning of her luck. Yorke is lucky to be alive.
Two years ago, Yorke came off of her horse and when her mount landed, the horse’s stud went into her scull. Twenty-two fractures, five surgeries, 12 screws and five plates later she is all better, and the winner of the biggest Grand Prix of her life.
“It just made me want it more,” said Yorke. “Winning a major class like this makes it all worth while.”
Her horse is a nine-year-old French bred from Holland. She acquired the horse two years ago. And according to Yorke, Karl du Chateau is fortunate to be competing, too. “He had colic surgery two times in three days,” she said. “It is only his second Grand Prix and it’s just surreal that we won today.”
“Nobody deserves it more than she deserves it,” said Grand Prix rider Leslie Steele. “She works so hard and I give her so much credit for getting back on her horse. I’m not too sure how many people would have come back from that injury.”
“She was the barn favorite,” said Janet Fall, who runs the Grand Prix in-gate. “Every trainer, every rider and every groom wanted her to win.”
“She did it better than everyone else,” said course designer Danny Foster. “She was fantastic and a very deserving winner.”
Out of 66 starters, Yorke was the only clean round. Two riders had one time fault, including Chris Pratt and Live Fire. Pratt had the ride for Richard Spooner and C & S Partnership.
Show Jumping at HITS Thermal continues all weekend and culminates Sunday with the $75,000 Footing Authority Grand Prix, on March 4.
For the past 15 years, HITS has produced a six-week winter horse show circuit in Indio, California. The 2007 HITS Desert Circuit is being held just five miles from its previous home at the new, state-of-the-art HITS Desert Horse Park equestrian facility on Airport Boulevard in Thermal, California.
The new horse park is the largest Hunter/Jumper horse show venue in the United States and lays claim to more than $10,000,000 in improvements, including stabling for more than 3,000 horses and 12 competition rings. HITS Thermal also features the new state-of-the-art footing provided by Footing Authority .
In January 2006, HITS entered into a private equity arrangement with Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. in Los Angeles. As a result, HITS, Inc. is able to develop and execute exciting operational and strategic initiatives that both solidify its well-established position as the leader in horse show management and allow for new growth opportunities including the construction of HITS Desert Horse Park.HITS generates significant economic impact in each of its five venues in California, Arizona, Florida, Virginia and New York.
Results
1 Karl Du Chateau Rachel Yorke Cathy and Alex Mendez $9,000 0
2 Live Fire Chris Pratt C & S Partnership $6,600 1
3 V De Pomme Jenni Martin-Mcallister Jean Van Gysel/Alex Glassock/Jenni Ma $3,900 1
4 Apache Richard Spooner Richard Spooner $2,400 4
5 Flexible Rich Fellers Harry and Mollie Chapman $1,800 4
6 Ezrah Richard Spooner S & B LLC Corp $1,500 4
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