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Kelley Farmer Wins Big on Derby Day at the Showplace Spring Spectacular II

June 15, 2010

Wayne, IL –-– The Showplace Spring Spectacular II got off to an exciting start on Tuesday with a one-of-a-kind ‘Derby Day’ at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL. The spacious Grand Prix Ring hosted not one, but three derby classes for the show’s exhibitors, providing an opportunity for the hunters and jumpers, young and old, to compete in the day’s special events. Kelley Farmer, of Keswick, VA, dominated the competition with two wins and several other tops placings in both of the morning’s hunter classes. Farmer earned top honors in the $15,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby riding Taken, and also rode to victory in the $5,000 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago USHJA 3’ Hunter Derby riding Crown N Specter. An exciting $10,000 Open Jumper Speed Derby was the final event of the day with a big win for Charlie Jayne and Victor.

The day’s appealing hunter derby courses were designed by Skip Bailey of Wellington, Florida. The course featured four option fences, a unique turf covered ‘S’ shaped wall that resembled a snake, a square wooden rail ‘S’ jump, a two-stride square pen, and a beautiful white oxer set on a bank that riders could canter from both directions.

The class was judged by two panels, the first made up of Randy Roy and John Roper, and the other including Scott Alder and Irving Evans. The judges had a big job on their hands as they watched many incredible hunter rounds throughout the day. The day’s $15,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby was presented by Woodrun Farm with special awards presented by Stacey and Jonathan Glick.

Kelley Farmer and Listen, owned by Jane Gaston, have had multiple ribbons in the derbies this year and began this handy round in fourth place. With a 21 point increase in their score and a top hunter round, Listen and Farmer placed in the second position at the end of the day.

Timber Ridge, owned by Caitlin Lane, and ridden by Kelley Farmer entered the handy round in third place, and made a consistent effort at the handy course to earn the third place ribbon overall.

The dapple-gray mare Bella Blue and Maggie Jayne entered the ring with the top score from the first round of 186.5. As the rain began to fall, Jayne piloted Bella Blue around the course. Jayne had a valiant effort with Pony Lane Farm’s mare, but her top score would not hold onto the lead and would place them in fourth overall.

Kelley Farmer’s last mount of the day was Taken, owned by Nancy Amling. The duo’s first round score of 186 had placed them in the second position behind Bella Blue going into the handy round. For their beautiful handy round, the first judges gave Taken and Farmer a score of 91 with 10 bonus points for handiness and four bonus points for the high option fences. The second judges granted Farmer and Taken a 96 with ten bonus points for handiness and four bonus points for option fences. The pair finished with a whopping 215 as the top handy score of the day and their total 401 earned first place.

Farmer was proud of all of her horses in today’s derbies and noted, “I had a great day; my horses were awesome!”

Farmer started Taken about half way through the Florida circuit and earned top honors in the First Year Green Hunter division. Their great performances continued through the derbies, onto the Kentucky Horse Show, and then onto Devon where they won the First Year Green Hunter division and where Farmer was named Leading Lady Hunter Rider. “During the derby at Devon Taken was a little tired going into the rounds, but he had done so well during the week that I was happy with his efforts,” noted Farmer. The little hunter that can jump to the sky when pointed just came off of an exciting derby win at the $15,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Keswick Hunt Club in Virginia.

The $10,000 Open Jumper Speed Derby was presented by Blue Gate Farm with special awards also presented by Stacey and Jonathan Glick. The class saw 23 competitors despite heavy afternoon rains, and horses and riders had a great time racing around the derby course with the help of the enthusiastic cheering and encouragement of the spectators. The class was held in a faults converted format, and it was the second combination to enter the ring that laid down the fastest clear round for a win.

Charlie Jayne, of Elgin, IL, piloted Pony Lane Farm’s Victor through the finish in 74.424 seconds and was presented with top honors. Lisa Goldman did her best to beat the time with Centurion B, but finished in second place in 75.433 seconds. Charlie Jayne returned to the ring riding Sampras and was fast, but not clear, and had four faults added to his time to end up with 77.410 seconds for third place. Ellis Morris and High Rustler finished in fourth in 77.47 seconds.

“It is fun to jump the hunter fences with the jumpers,” Jayne said after his victory. “It actually gives you more ground line, which lets you run faster because the jumps are a little more solid. I thought the course was nice. It was about the right distance for a jumper derby and I thought it was set up at the right height for the rain. I thought the footing held up great for how much rain came, so I was happy with it.”

Jayne grew up competing with Showplace Productions and loves returning to the horse shows each year. “I think that once again the facility looks great and I think the improvements that Pat did with the footing are tremendous. Last year if it had rained this much we would not have been showing today and today it was fine, I didn’t slip anywhere. I think Pat just does a great show and year in and year out he tries his hardest.”

Prior to the $15,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby the $5,000 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago USHJA Hunter Derby 3’ began the exciting derby day. Fifty-eight horses lined-up to conquer the unique derby course. Coming into the handy round the top four competitors starting with the top score included: Crown N Scepter with Kelley Farmer in the irons; Rocket Man and Meagan Murray; Bishop and Maria Rasmussen; Epic Journey and Thomas Cerra.

Chase N’ Gold, owned by Joan Ehrhart, with Taylor Ann Adams in the saddle began in fifth place and in the handy round the pair was phenomenal placing them in third place overall. Megan Murray and Rocket Man, owned by Connie Stevens/Matchmaker, secured their first round score with a 95 and would end up second overall.

Last to attempt the handy course was six-year old Crown N’ Scepter, owned by Larry Glefke and Farmer’s mom. The young chestnut scored a whopping 99 in the first round with accomplished rider Kelley Farmer at the reins. Farmer would earn points for the four options and they would earn six bonus points for handiness. With Farmer’s first score the duo would secure the tricolor to be presented with great prizes and smiles from the children of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago.

Farmer commented, “I had a great day today; Crown N Scepter was spectacular. He is a pre-green horse that belongs to my mom and Larry. Next year I am looking forward to him being my Green Conformation Horse in Florida. He is a really cool horse and I am excited about our future together. This was his first derby and we have never done anything like this before! He handled it like a pro and nothing fazed him. Crown N Scepter is a great horse, he is really brave, he is a good jumper, a great mover, and I feel really good about him for next year.”

Farmer enjoyed today’s courses in the Grand Prix Ring in particular because the courses and the jumps were a great challenge for all types of horses. Farmer remarked, “I thought they did a beautiful job because the courses were lovely. It was a beautiful horse show. I also thought that the 3’ hunter derby course was designed well. There were a lot of kids in that class and for a pre-green horse the course was really inviting and the handy course was also beautiful and inviting. They do a great job here; Skip and Pat did a great job with the courses in addition to last year’s great courses. The courses really did a great job of showing off the horses and it was enjoyable for the rider.”

Wednesday’s coverage of the 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular Week II will begin with the $1,500 Open Jumper 1.30 M and $1,500 Open Jumper 1.40 M in the Grand Prix Ring. For more information on Showplace Productions and the 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Show Series, please visit www.showplaceproductions.com.

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