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Phillip Dutton posted the first points on the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series leader board
with wins in both Gold Cup divisions at the Series’ first 2006 event, the Red Hills Horse
Trials in Tallahassee, Florida, March 10-12. Dutton, who was named last year’s Gold Cup
Advanced champion, won the Red Hills CIC***-W, which served as the Advanced Gold
Cup division (as well as a FEI World Cup Qualifier), with Annie Jones’ ten-year-old
Thoroughbred gelding, The Foreman. The pair moved up from seventh to first place after a stellar cross-country performance,
putting in the fastest clear round of the day with just 2.8 time penalties. The Mark
Phillips’ designed cross-country course, which wound its way through the hilly terrain of
the Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park, tested the talents of a field of 44. No one made the time,
and there were stops, run-outs, eliminations, and retirements throughout the day. Just 25 started Sunday’s show jumping. Noticeably absent were one of the crowd’s
favorites, West Coasters Gina Miles and McKinlaigh, who lost their fourth place position
after McKinlaigh failed the final horse inspection Sunday morning. Dutton and The
Foreman had two rails and change in hand going into show jumping after Leslie Law and
his 2004 Olympic gold medal partner, Shear L’Eau, knocked two rails, dropping them into
third place behind Jonathan Holling and longtime mount, Lion King II. Dutton and The Foreman also dropped two rails, giving them a final score of 62, less than
a rail behind Holling and Lion King on 65.1. For their efforts, Dutton received a one-year
lease of a BMW SUV, courtesy of Capital Eurocars, and he, The Foreman, and Annie Jones
will have the pleasure of divvying up $15,000 in prize money for the CIC***-W, in
addition to $500 for the Gold Cup win, as well as a 28-day supply (seven doses) of
Adequan from the Gold Cup title sponsor, a pair of front and hind Nunn Finer American
Style galloping boots, and a Mountain Horse Fame jacket embroidered with the Gold Cup
logo from Patron Sponsor, Mountain Horse. Dutton and Lucky Stripe, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, and his owner Rebecca
Broussard, earned the same list of Gold Cup prize money and prizes, plus additional prize
money and bounty from the event, after holding their lead in the CIC**, which served as
the Gold Cup Intermediate division. The pair put in a double clear show jumping round to
win on a final score of 51.6, ahead of Leslie Law and Another Garrison, who finished
second with 59.2, and the competition’s original leaders after dressage, Mara Dean and
Jos Ambition who took third with 59.6. Interestingly the division’s top eight finishers all
put in double clear show jumping rounds. Over 40,000 spectators attended the Red Hills Horse Trials, which has become a
destination event for both competitors and Tallahassee residents. Organizers Sallie
Ausley and Sylvia Ochs ran the first Red Hills event nine years ago, and over the years
have developed a dedicated volunteer force (623 strong on the 2006 roster) while at the
same time gaining the support of the local communities. The pair announced several
months ago that this year’s event would be their swan song. Thankfully several
volunteers have agreed to continue organizing the event, and though there is no doubt
they will continue Sallie and Sylvia’s vision, everyone agreed that it will not be the same
without the dynamic duo. This year’s Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series Leader board is slightly different from last year,
with the points now following horse-and-rider combinations instead of riders only. It will
be interesting to see how this change affects the year’s final standings. Considering
Dutton’s talent, and impressive (in both quality and quantity) string of horses, it’s a safe
bet to assume we’ll see him near or at the top of one or both leader boards at the end of
the year. The 2006 champions will receive their winnings at the USEA’s Annual Meeting and
Convention, December 7-10 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Advanced winner will receive, in
addition to their Gold Cup trophy, $6,000 in prize money as well as an Amerigo saddle.
The second place Advanced finisher will receive a $3,500 Bit of Britain gift certificate.
The Intermediate winner will also receive their Gold Cup trophy, $4,000 in prize money,
and an Amerigo saddle, while the runner-up will take home a $2,500 Bit of Britain gift
certificate. This year’s Series includes 12 of the top events around the country and runs through the
end of September. For a complete schedule, click here or log on to
www.useventing.com and click on the Gold Cup logo. The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of many
sponsors, including Title Sponsor, Adequan; Presenting Sponsors, Amerigo, Nunn
Finer, and Nutrena; Contributing Sponsors, Cover-All, Premier Equestrian, and
UlcerGard; and Patron Sponsor, Mountain Horse.
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