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HORSE SHOWS IN THE SUN
Tracy Fenney and Grace Win $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix at Indio
Desert Circuit IV |
INDIO, CA (February 23, 2001)--Tracy Fenney, 36,
of Flower Mound, Texas, riding Grace won the $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix at the
Indio Desert Circuit in California today, besting a field of 47 on a course
designed by Danny Foster. Three riders were clean in the Jump-Off but Fenney
was almost two seconds faster than her closest competitors--Mary Tyng on
Baccarat and Will Simpson on El Campeon's Cayenne, who placed second and third
respectively by fractions. Fenney said that when she walked the course she
almost scratched. "I thought it was very technical and very hard. I didn't
want to get Grace in any jams with this Sunday coming up. I thought, 'Should we
take her or not?' Nothing bothers her so I figured it would be fine. She jumped
it easy. When I ride that mare, she makes me feel like I can do whatever and go
to the jumps." Fenney's win earned $7,500 for Grace's owner Hidden Lake
Farm. The $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix was taped by JCR Sports Productions of
Foothill Ranch, California, and will be televised next month. Air dates will be
available at www.tvshowjumping.com.
Tracy Fenney and Grace |
Prior to today's start, Course
Designer Foster--who will also build the World Cup qualifying course on Sunday,
February 25, at Indio--said he considered today's Grand Prix different from the
one this weekend. "It's a more modified course," he said.
"Friday you have some people that are bringing in young Grand Prix horses.
It's competitive enough because you have a good field." Today's 13-jump
Round One included a triple at Fence No. 5 and a double at Fence No. 12 with
Time Allowed set at 88 seconds. Fourteen horses had clear rounds and moved on
to the Jump Off. |
The eight-obstacle Jump Off course included one double combination. Time
Allowed was set at 52 seconds. Mary Tyng, 43, of Los Angeles, California,
riding the 10-year-old Selle Francais stallion Baccarat, was second in the
order of go and had the first clear round in 42.388 seconds. Tyng held the lead
for three rounds but finished in second place, taking home $5,000 for owner
China Blue Farm. Tyng said, "It was Baccarat's first start of this circuit
and of this year. He was just jumping incredibly. My coach, Michel
Vaillancourt, wanted me to do a double clear and quickly. We accomplished that
so we're very happy."
Fenney was eighth in the order riding the 15.3-hand, nine-year old Thoroughbred
mare, Grace, who was fast and clean in 38.639, snatching the lead from Tyng and
keeping it for the win. Fenney said the key to her winning strategy in the Jump
Off was, "Know what horse you're on and ride her like you know how to ride
her. She's very fast and careful. I knew there were plenty of good people
behind me. Richard Spooner was still behind me with two horses. I was going to
try to win."
Will Simpson, 42, of Thousand Oaks, California, on the 10-year old bay
Holsteiner El Campeon's Cayenne was the 11th rider on the short course and had
the only other clear round in 42.599, just 0.211 seconds behind Tyng, placing
him third for $3,500. "I thought about 38 seconds is what it would take to
win today. I jumped the first fence just like I wanted. I went to turn to the
left, my horse slipped and I thought, 'Wow, I'm lucky I didn't go down'. I kept
right on the pace and slipped on the next track. I thought 'Wow, I'm really
lucky I didn't go down, I guess I better slow down'. So that was the end of my
winning ride right there. That's how fast it was. If you just pulled on the
reins one time, you were off the mark. I won't pull on the reins on Sunday, I
guarantee you that."
Richard Spooner, who has won three of the six Grand Prix classes at Indio this
year, rode in the 12th and 13th slots and chased the leaders with Southshore in
39.067 and Robinson in 38.641, but had a rail with each of them. Robinson
placed fourth for owner Half Moon Bay Investment Group, and Southshore was
fifth for El Dorado 29.
Fenney, who's been riding since she was 12 years old and has competed at the
Grand Prix level for almost 18 years, was partnered with Grace in July. The
mare had experience in the Preliminaries in North Carolina, but this is her
first season at Grand Prix. "She's probably won six or seven Grand Prix
classes," said Fenney, who brought the mare to Indio with hopes of
qualifying for the World Cup Final to be held in Goteborg, Sweden in April, but
now feels out of contention. "We just haven't gotten in gear. This is the
first class she's won at Indio." Fenney said that today's course was the
most difficult of all the courses she's undertaken in two circuits here, but
she was confident in her rapport with Grace. "I try to give her the best
that I know how to do and she gives me her best."
$25,000 ARIAT GRAND PRIX, February 23, 2001
Indio Desert Circuit IV, Indio, California
Course Designer: Danny Foster
Pl# Horse/Rider/Owner/Prize Money/Rd 1/ Rd 2/Faults/J-O Time
1 Grace/Tracy Fenney/Hidden Lake Farm/$7,500/0/0/38.639
2 Baccarat/Mary Tyng/China Blue Farm/$5,000/0/0/42.388
3 El Campeon's Cayenne/Will Simpson/El Campeon Farms/$3,500/0/0/42.599
4 Robinson/Richard Spooner/Half Moon Bay Investment Group/$2,250/0/4/38.641
5 Southshore/Richard Spooner/Eldorado 29/$1,500/0/4/39.067
6 Fleur/Ray Texel/Beverly Hills Equestrian Park, LLC/$1,125/0/4/40.667
7 King Cavalier/Dehlia Oeuvray/Charles Burrus/$675/0/4/41.046
8 Sam Malone/Dick Carvin/Debbie & Jim Burrows/$725/0/4/44.070
9 Charmed/Ragan Roberts/Alex Dillard/$650/4/44.803
10 Rio Grande/Jenni Martin/Augustin Walch/$625/0/4/46.074
11 Native Code/Lu Thoma/Signe Ostby/$625/0/7/51.206
12 Stealth Sprenger/Rich Fellers/Harry & Mollie Chapman/$625/0/8/42.057
Number of horses who competed in this class: 47
Class Prize Money: $25,000
HITS Indio Desert 2001 Show Jumping Action Continues
Circuit IV February 21-25
Circuit V February 28-March 4
Circuit VI March 7-11
Featured Events:
$25,000 Ariat Grand Prix Every Friday 1pm
$50,000 Rio Vista Grand PrixSunday, February 25 1pm
$50,000 HITS Grand PrixSunday, March 4 1pm
$50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge
Presented by The Chronicle of the Horse Sunday, March 11 8am
$150,000 Ford Grand Prix of the Desert Sunday, March 112pm
Special Day Events:
Heritage Palms Seniors Day
Presented by KESQ TV3 & Palm Springs Follies Sunday, March 4 11am-1pm
Fiesta Day p
resented by KUNA TV Sunday, March 1111am-1pm
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