News
Beezie Madden named first lady of HITS Championship
Sep 10, 2015
Sunday at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York was anything but an average day of show jumping competition. Horse sport royalty descended on the Hudson Valley for the nation’s highest ranked class of the year, the Canadian Pacific $1 Million Grand Prix FEI-CSI 5*, presented by Wells Fargo. Only one would be so lucky to return home with the big check and blue ribbon, and that one was none other than Beezie Madden, of Cazenovia, New York, aboard her iconic mount Simon, owned by Abigail Wexner.
A field of forty-one gave it a go over the course set by Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida. It was evident as soon as the class began that the track demanded a high level of athletic ability and mental toughness with the first five entries scoring six faults or higher. Sixth to appear at the in-gate was a newcomer to the 5* circuit scene, Nikolaj Hein Ruus and Gerardo Pasquel’s Big Red.
They carefully completed the course with no jumping faults, but in a time of 94.650, just four seconds over the time allowed, leaving them with two time faults and the lead. Onlookers grew anxious, hoping for another clear round but the next twenty-six contenders entered and exited the ring with down rails in their path. Thirty-third in the order, Madden came into the ring with determination in her eyes, never veering from her plan for success. They weaved through the course, navigating their way over the tricky Liverpool and above the sizeable triple bar that many others had trouble with. The crowd erupted in cheers as Madden crossed the timers with a clear track behind her and a time of 88.320 to bump Ruus from the top. With only eight left in the order of go, each trip kept fans on the edge of their seats. Pablo Barrios riding his own Antares, Conor Swail piloting Ilan Ferder’s Viva Columbia, and 2014 Saugerties Million victors, Todd Minikus and Quality Girl, owned by Quality Group, all fought to follow in Madden’s footsteps and go clear but were unsuccessful in their efforts. Then, two-time Million winner McLain Ward and Sagamore Farms’ Rothchild entered the ring thirty-ninth, and anyone who’s anyone knew he would give Madden a run for her money. Eager to make this his third $1 Million Grand Prix victory, Ward zipped through the course but had a rail at C of the triple for four faults and a time of 84.500 for third place.
1 SIMON MR. BLUE NED07405 KWPN Elizabeth MADDEN USA 0/88.320 330.000 €
2 BIG RED LUDWIG VON BAYERN 104TU16 Westf. Nikolaj HEIN RUUS MEX 2 200.000 €
3 ROTHCHILD ARTOS Z USA42795 SBS Mclain WARD USA 4 150.000 €
4 QUALITY GIRL QUIDAM'S RUBIN 102RI84 Old Todd MINIKUS USA 4 100.000 €
5 AMMERETTO NUMERO UNO 103VQ06 KWPN David BEISEL USA 4 60.000 €
6 WITH WINGS LARINO NED42540 KWPN Karen POLLE JPN 4 45.000 €
7 VIVA COLOMBIA COULEUR RUBIN 103ZP28 Old Conor SWAIL IRL 4 30.000 €
8 SHORAPUR STAKKATO GOLD 103QR05 Hann Kevin BABINGTON IRL 4 25.000 €
9 HARDROCK Z HEARTBREAKER BEL42900 Z Emanuel ANDRADE VEN 5 20.000 €
10 CZARDAS 30 CONTENDRO I 102NI85 Hann Kirsten COE USA 5 20.000 €
Source Press release from the HITS Media Team