The penultimate day of the 2026 HITS Del Mar National Horse Show – Hunter/Jumper Week at the HITS Del Mar Horsepark in Del Mar, California, came to a head on Saturday, May 2, as spectators and exhibitors flocked in for the day’s featured event, the $80,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar, presented by Core Specialty Insurance. A USEF Heritage Competition known for tradition and excellence, the action-packed week draws impressive talent throughout the jumper ranks, as well as in the hunter arenas, boasting a World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) designation. Of course, all eyes were on the marquee event, the $80,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar, presented by Core Specialty Insurance, which put the exclamation mark on a thrilling week of sport as Kyle King (USA) raced to the top spot aboard Replay Touch v/d Stapelheyde.
Ivan Tagle (ARG) was the mastermind behind the opening track, which saw 34 horse-and-rider combinations contest for a clear round. Just four duos managed to leave the poles in the cups to advance to the all-deciding jump-off.
Tagle’s short course saw competitors racing across the icon Grand Prix Field as they vied for victory. Reagan Tomb (USA) was the first to set the pace with Nijinsky 10, the 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Numero Uno x Cartani 4) owned by Greg Tomb. They stopped the clock in 40.743 seconds but ticked one rail for four faults. Determined to put in a clear effort, Chandler Meadows (USA) took a steadier approach, breaking the beam in 43.331 seconds with her own Puskas de Kalvarie, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Sea Coast Don’t Touch Tiji Her x For Pleasure), putting them into the provisional lead. A frequent face in the HITS Del Mar winner’s circle, Irishman James Chawke stepped on the gas with his own Daido van’t Ruytershof Z, the 12-year-old Zangersheide mare (Dieu-Merci van T&L x Bamako de Muze), landing in blazing 38.157 seconds but with one costly rail. Last to go, King knew what he had to do and guided Replay Touch v/d Stapelheyde to the winning fault-free round in 42.921 seconds. Meadows finished in second as the only other double-clear score, while Chawke ended up in third, and Tomb completed the jump-off in fourth.
“I’ve been coming to the Del Mar National Horse Show for probably 50 years, since I was a baby,” noted King. “I’ve never won this Grand Prix, though. I’ve been top four a few times, but I’ve never won it. The show has such great history and prestige. My mother rode in this Grand Prix back in the 70’s, so this is an especially great victory, and I’m very proud that I’ve finally won this.
“Replay Touch v/d Stapelheyde is a young horse; he’s a great horse, so I was really happy that he went clear,” he continued of his winning mount. “It all came to me in the jump-off. I was lucky enough to go last, which is a great position. It was one of those classes where I had to go clear and just be a little faster. I almost let it slip away being a little too cautious, but everything was meant to be.”
King’s partnership with the nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Vannan x Narew xx) owned by The Chess Group is more than a year in the making, having discovered the budding star with friends in Belgium as a seven-year-old. Now making his mark on both the national and international show jumping stage, the $80,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar, presented by Core Specialty Insurance, represents the gelding’s biggest result to date.
“He’s a little bit of a project; he has his own style, but he’s stepping up to these upper levels now,” explained King. “Today was one of his bigger tracks. He’s an exciting horse for my future. He’s very fast against the clock, he’s got a big heart, he’s super fun, and he’s
just a real character. He’s like my little pet; he’s my baby. He’s the first horse that I ride everyday. He’s just a special personality.”
Having grown up in an equestrian family in Southern California, King is no stranger to the HITS Del Mar venue. In fact, he at one point lived just 20 minutes away, giving him a sense of home “field” advantage.
“I’m really glad that HITS brought back the Horsepark,” said of the facility. “This field is one of the best fields to ride on. My first Grand Prix, when I was 14, was on this field. HITS is doing a great job with it. The footing, the barns are in really top shape, and there’s just something special about this field. It’s the perfect size, It’s the best grass footing, for sure, on the West Coast. There’s also perfect weather all the time, and the location, Del Mar, is one of my favorite towns in the world.”
The 2026 HITS Del Mar National Horse Show concludes on Sunday, May 3, with a variety of hunter and jumper classics, featuring the $24,500 Horseflight Jumper Classic. For a full list of results, please visit showmanagementsystem.com.
