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McLain Ward on Goldika 559 took the $75,000 Fidelity Grand Prix

September 9, 2025

It may have been McLain Ward’s first time at the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic, but it won’t be the last after he came in and took the top prize on Goldika 559 in the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix.

“What better way to end the week then to have the sun shining, the field be in pristine condition despite torrential downpours the night before and an Olympic gold medalist return to the ring on U.S. grounds and win the class, said esteemed course designer Linda Allen all the way from Fillmore, Ca.”

The Jumper Classic was Ward’s first appearance right after winning the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Although Ward’s Olympic mount Sapphire is still in quarantine on her way back from the Olympics, Ward could not have been any more ecstatic to come home to his steady mare the 16 year old Goldika 559.

“Goldika is a super horse that I have had for five years, said Ward. The secret to her is to just stay out of her way and let her do what she does best and trust that she will come through. It is this strategy that has lead her to win classes all around the world. That is what my plan was today and obviously it paid off for me today and that is super, he said with a smile.”

With 23 entries in the class, just seven would jump clear in the first round in order to advance into the jump off. Kevin Babbington, a member of the Irish Olympic team jumped clear on his first horse but was just seconds off the time and then pulled a rail on his second mount. Finally Nick Dello Joio would jump last and felt the pressure to step on the gas and almost fell off his horse in his valiant effort to grab the top spot. He quickly made an amazing recovery after getting up seated to the Animal Planet jump, but pulled the back rail in the process and ended with eight faults which allowed Ward to secure the win.

“Since I was near the top of the order in the jump off, I figured that I would need to put some pressure on the others by establishing a time that would hold up. I actually thought I was a bit wide on my approach to the liverpool and that if someone wanted to catch me that was their window of opportunity. When I compete Goldika 559 she comes out with the desire to win. It was a competitive field today so I am excited that that time stood up and happy to win the class.

“The staff at the Jumper Classic has been amazing and I was really impressed with the venue, said Ward. Considering the amount or rain we had the night before, the field held up much better than I anticipated. Linda Allen did a stellar job designing the course. The triple at the end was a challenge since it was the final element of the course and the horses tend to be tired at that point which also requires an intense amount of focus for the both horse and rider, he added.”

The next stop for Ward will be the indoor shows circuit including Syracuse and Washington with both Goldika 559 and Sapphire. His focus will now shift to preparing for the World Cup Finals.

Linda Allen commented that when she designed the course she is most happy when the faults are spread through out the field. “Many of the four faulter’s pulled their rails on different fences. The triple combination was a bit deceiving, it was not really that big but since it rode uphill the riders had to adjust for it. I think a few bought into the idea that is was bigger than it really was and rode it that way which made some have to adjust while in the combination and a few mistakes because of it that dropped rails.”

In addition, to Ward’s first appearance at The Jumper Classic this was also Allen’s first time as course designer. When asked to comment about her experience she commented “this absolutely qualifies as one of if not the most lovely and best run horse shows I have ever worked at. The management here has been so easy to work with and really runs a top notch event with a European flair. It has been a privilege and a ton on fun to meet all of them.”

The Jumper Classic is the only AGA sanctioned Grand Prix and has become New England’s premier equestrian even and will return to Hampton Falls in 2009 next to celebrate its 20th anniversary. This elite level competition caters exclusively to jumper riders and offers a chance to compete for over $200,000 prize money, which includes the $15,000 Mohegan Sun Derby, the $15,000 Equine Insurance Services presented by Great American and commences with the $75,000 Fidelity Investments AGA Grand Prix. The action will return September 2-6th, 2009 to the Silver Oak Equestrian Center.

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