Spring has come to Southern California and no better way to kick it off than to spend a week near the beach in Del Mar, California showing horses in a very special venue. Del Mar race track show arena is among the best in the country when it comes to showing jumpers. A classy show ring, banks of exceptional lights, beautiful jumps, a world class course designer and great footing. Put that together with top West Coast riders and the week becomes more of a working vacation.
The partnership of the winning team for the $50,000 Antares Saddlery Grand Prix is a diverse and delightful threesome. Molly Talla won the class on Cameron Hills Shanroe owned by Tim Callandra of Temecula, California. Temecula is a city on the back side of the hills just northeast of Del Mar. For many years it was the home of thousands of Thoroughbred race horses and the best farms in the west. Miles of white fences, pastures full of mares and foals, farm managers foaling throughout the spring nights, owners trying to breed the best and fastest race horses in the country and horses as far as one could see are only memories there now. The town has expanded and now takes up the entire valley and spills over the hills into Escondido on suburbia’s way to Del mar and the coast. Another California “metro” city runs amuck with overflowing population.
Tim and his family have been there for years, long before the resident explosion began. They live on the southwest side of the town, up on the side of the hills in a rambling home built years ago. Tim and his daughter Jenny have been riding for the past several years with Liz Hutchison. They have jumpers and Tim has recently been running consistently in the ribbons in the Amateur jumpers. His dream has always been to have a shot at being an owner in the “big” ring.
His quest introduced him to Molly Talla, then Warmington, and Ginny Bryant of San Juan Capistrano. Following meetings with both ladies, Tim took the plunge and Ginny found horses for Tim in Ireland…Shanroe was one of them. The threesome has diligently pursued Tim’s dream day after day for the past many months. The payoff began in Indio this year when Shanroe won a Grand Prix of the Desert.
When I met with the three of them on Saturday night after the class, I had one question……”If I can quote you, just one quote, what would it be?” Tim just laughed and laughed and then in a humble, quiet voice he said “It sure feels good to win after all this time!!” Molly smiled and said “It’s because I have such a wonderful horse to ride that 2006 has started off so well,” and Ginny said “It’s their hard work.”
Then the threesome started pointing at each other and saying “It’s because of Tim’s commitment,”…”NO NO, it’s because Ginny plans it all,”…”NO NO, it’s because of Molly’s consistency”…and so on until we were all laughing and feeling like we were a Saturday Night Live skit. It’s refreshing to be around an owner who is winning the first Grand Prix’s of their horses career, a young rider feeling the adrenaline of a $50,000 victory gallop and a trainer who feels the reward of their work toward the big ring for the first time.
Here are the stats as I figure them for the Saturday night class:
Clear……..4
4 faults…..8
5 faults…..1
8 faults…..5
12 faults….4
12+time…..1
28…………1
Withdraw…1
So just at half the class goes with 4 faults or less. The last jump was a tricky one. After a long, big course the horses were at the other end of the ring to jump a big plank and then gallop on all the way up the side to a wide square oxer set at an angle off the rail toward the middle of the ring. All four of the final riders had almost the same ride…the horses sort of quieted down like they were done with the course and all four riders had to make a forward aggressive move at the oxer and for all four it came down. Richard Spooner on Quinino, Eddie Macken on Tedechine Sept, Guy Thomas on Oberon 48 and finally Mandy Porter on Summer all ended up with the rail on the ground.
Guy Thomas came out of the ring laughing and kicking himself for the luck of the draw. So close to clean but not quite there. His father, Butch is one of the nicest trainers on the circuit and the two of them have such a good, pleasant attitude about the rail. Just not Guy’s day.
The Palms Classic horse show is in it’s second year and growing. Numbers were up for most classes, including the hunters. Some interesting horses stand out in the open Divisions. Lakoya was a runaway favorite of the judges in both rings. Ridden by owner Laura Allgire to the Championships in both Children’s Hunters 14-17 and the Low Children’s AA, Lakoya also carried Erin Duffy to the blue ribbons for a clean sweep of the Pre-Green Division and the Championship.
Winning all classes in the Regular Divisions was Fenwick ridden by Archie Cox for owner Amy Brubaker, and Roxana in the 1st Year Green Division ridden by Tasha Visokay for Jennifer Stillman. Another nice set of ribbons went to Chocolat ridden by Missy Froley for Bay Rose LLC. 1st place twice and 2nd twice, Chocolat was Champion in the Low Hunters.
Alex Maida and Nicole Husky pretty much owned the 15-17 Equitation and most of the big Medals. Alex, trained by Dick Carvin/Francie Steinwedell, won two 15-17 over fences as well as the flat Eq. Also winning the hunter phase of the Washington Medal she finished up winning both the ASPCA Maclay and the USEF Medals. Nicole, trained by Jeni Brown, won the remaining 15-17 over fences, the jumper phase of the Washington Medal and was the receiver of the blue for the CPHA class. Alex ended up 1st overall for the Washington combined Medal class with Nicole a very close 2nd. Both young ladies ride fluid and controlled and confidently, a special statement for their trainers.
A new comer to the west coast is Kara Cherry, private trainer for Rebecca Lewis in Costa Mesa, California. When Rebecca was looking for someone to bring on board her Lewis Circle of Horses show horse business, John French recommended Kara and the working relationship resulted. Rebecca owns almost an even dozen horses and rides several herself in the Amateur jumper classes while Kara is in charge of bringing along the remaining stock, always keeping her eye on the big ring for the future. Both of these people are friendly, outgoing and exuberant about future plans.
The Equisales International sale was again held this year at this show. 29 horses went to the gavel on Saturday and approximately 50% sold, some for substantial money. Tyger J was the high sale horse at $78,000 !! Woodgrove Farm brought the mare from Northern California and it was well worth the trip. The 6 year old mare has a mixed background of some outstanding show jumpers. Opan, Pilot, Nancara, Indoctro to mention a few. Congratulations to the new owners.
Several of the horses, especially the young ones did not sell. When the announcer asked how many people got to watch the jump chute work, almost no one raised their hand. For the young, barely broke horses that is about the only way to see them in order to be excited about bidding. We bought a cute 4 year old gangly filly that we were lucky enough to see free jump. Light bay with tons of white, we were just strolling around the rings and happened on the chute while a couple of them were jumping, the mare being one of them.
Each time this group has an auction they learn something and I can assure you that each sale will get better and better as the kinks get worked out. There is a need here in this country for GOOD auctions and Equisales commitment will help us to eventually get there. Any support from the showing community will assure the continuation of this endeavor. I’ll let you know how our young one progresses.
I must say that for those out here on the West Coast, the Palms Classic is a refreshing change when we are just coming off Indio. We come from the desert with the sand and dust storms to the beach and cool, moist nights. The busy hustle and bustle of Indio is behind us and we can breathe a little and stroll between rings, always taking advantage of a few minutes to stop and chit chat about business, our families or the weather. Gives professionals time to speak to each other about horses needed or for sale and time to get some business done.
Dale Harvey is a perpetual motion machine, always checking this and checking that to make sure the show runs smooth and hopefully trouble free. He spends plenty of money on wonderful trophy’s and BIG ribbons. A REFRESHING and most welcome difference is the pinning of the classes. While we don’t bring the horses back for the ribbons in every class, the management plays upbeat, bouncy music on the jumbo speakers each time ribbons are given IN THE RING. The music starts, the announcer announces that they are going to pin a class, spectators, parents, riders, trainers and visitors turn to the ring and watch the awards being given out. The Championship plates are a much sought after award. Makes it worth winning just to cart that home. The ribbons are large and quality and a big deal is made about handing them out.
As we got ready for the classics to pin today we ran into Kenneth Vinter, Cory Cheney and Jorge Ludwig in a large group of trainers and friends standing at the back gate. I caught them on film just walking and talking and having a nice time. Sort of sums up the show…we had a great time, see you in May!!
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