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Ocala,
FL (February 18, 2003)—Tracy Fenney of Flower Mount,
TX, and her mount Grace, a thoroughbred mare owned by Hidden
Lakes Farm, made it two in a row by winning Sunday's $50,000
Rio Vista Grand Prix at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. Fenney
and Grace also won the prior week's $50,000 Grand Prix—a
remarkable achievement for the pair, considering that the
mare has just returned to competition after over a year's
absence from the ring due to an injury. Grace has certainly
proved that she is back on form and Tracy Fenney is enjoying
every moment of it. Twenty-one
horse/rider combinations took to the field in the $50,000
Rio Vista Grand Prix. Course designer, Javier Fernandez,
set a challenging 14-obstacle course that whittled the entries
down to just four contenders. Canadian
Olympic veteran Mario Deslauriers and his mount Kathleen
were the first to enter the ring for the jump-off. Deslauriers
and Kathleen won the $25,000 HITS Ocala Grand Prix on February
6th, and were strong contenders for top honors in this competition.
The pair had an unlucky rail at the third fence and established
the Great American Insurance Group Time to Beat of 45.33
seconds. Next to attempt the 8-obstacle jump-off course,
was Aaron Vale on Wanderlust. Vale got caught at the double
and accumulated four faults in a time of 46.16 seconds.
Tricia O'Connor and Furistos Treasure followed up with eight
faults in a time of 45.17. Tracy Fenney saw that a clear
round would secure her win, and enjoyed the added comfort
of knowing that time was not a factor. Fenney and Grace
took to the ring and completed a safe clear round in a time
of 51.41 seconds, well within the 56 seconds allowed. Fenney's
mount, Grace, has proved that she is back on top form and
is the one to watch at the 2003 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit.
Other
major award winners at HITS Ocala Winter Circuit II included:
Bayer Legend Leading Hunter Rider - Winn Alden
Bayer Legend Leading Jumper Rider - Aaron Vale, Aiken, SC
HBO Junior Medal Winner - Courtney Anne McKay, Ocala, FL
Charles Owen Children's Medal Winner - Ayla Osgood, East
Fairfield, VT
Charles Owen Adult Medal Winner - Lily Desousa, Randolph
Ctr, VT
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