Harrisburg, PA -- Judy Garofalo Torres and her mount Oliver won the $7,500 For The Moment Open Jump Off at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, handily defeating an international field.
Of the 19 horse and rider combinations that entered the ring, only six managed to traverse Course Designer Steve Stephens tricky course of bending lines, large oxers and airy verticles. Garofalo Torres and Oliver delivered two clear rounds and their jump-off time of 40.519 gave them the win.
The class, named in honor of For The Moment, a horse that represented the United States in two Olympic Games, 1984 and 1988, winning a team Silver Medal in Seoul, Korea. In 1995, "Fred" became the oldest horse ever to win a show jumping Grand Prix at the age of 21. Over the course of his career, For The Moment became one of the most successful American Thoroughbreds ever to compete.
It is fitting that Garofalo Torres, Dover Plains, NY, should win this class with its oldest entry. Oliver is a 19 year-old stallion that has been her mount ever since she found him in Norway 10 years ago. He was her first grand prix horse, and the duo has been competing successfully ever since, including a superlative second place finish behind Olympic veterans McLain Ward and Sapphire in the 2009 $250,000 Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic Horse Show.
Second place, and the only other clear round of the jump-off was Contino 14 and Jonathon Millar of Perth, Ontario, the son of famed Canadian Show Jumping rider Ian Millar. Contino 14 crossed the finish in 41.124 seconds.
Third place went to another Canadian entry, Erynn Ballard of Caledon, Ontario, and her mount Robin Van Roosendael, a huge Belgian warmblood gelding. Ballard took her time moving through the course and although clear over all the obstacles, incurred one time penalty for going over the time allowed.
Like Millar, Ballard is part of an equestrian dynasty, her father David, a well respected coach, was the course designer for the 1999 Pan American Games.
The 2009 Pennsylvania National Horse Show runs October 8-17, at the Pennsylvania Farm and Show Complex in Harrisburg, and features 10 full days of hunter and jumper competition with both amateurs and professionals vying for the coveted championships. The Pennsylvania National hosts 10 national championships. The competition highlight is the $75,000 Grand Prix de Penn National on Saturday, October 17th at 7:00 pm.
Special event highlights include: Kinsley Construction Company Hunt Night Competition, Jack Russell Terrier Races, The North American Fox Hunting Horn Blowing Championship, Family Days with Free Pony Rides. There will be demonstrations, as well as special educational events and barrel and carriage racing.
The show is entertaining and educational. Approximately 70 vendors are accepted offering a wide variety of items: clothing, gifts and antiques, custom signs and furniture, fine and costume jewelry, toys, pet items, t-shirts and tack shops. All offer a unique variety of items sure to please horse lovers and non-horse people alike.
The Pennsylvania National Horse Show is proud of its tradition of supporting both equine and youth programs. The show benefits the Harrisburg Kiwanis Youth Foundation and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.
Further information is available at the horse show's website at www.panational.org or by calling the horse show office at 717-770-0222.
Live streaming webcast of the event is available at http://www.productionseast.com.
