The Lamplight Spring Classic II on May 14-18, 2025, carried the momentum forward for what is shaping up to be a thrilling thirteen-week season at HITS Chicago, hosted at the renowned Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois. With its signature charm, elite footing, and picturesque setting, Lamplight welcomed riders from across the country for the second installment of the three-week spring series. Among the week’s highlights were the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby and the $24,500 FarmVet Grand Prix, both attracting standout competitors.
In the hunter ring, Misty Redd and Shades Of Grey emerged on top in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. The class featured a thoughtfully built track from Janine Weatherby, and was judged by the team of Rob Bielefeld and Peter Stoeckl. A competitive lineup of seasoned professionals delivered strong first-round performances before returning for the decisive handy round, where boldness and finesse made all the difference.
Redd, representing Hunter Holloway Stables of Topeka, Kansas, has been developing Fairway Ranch LLC’s 12-year-old German Sport Horse mare (Gepsom x Calido I) for over a year after transitioning her from the jumper ring.
“She’s really taken to the hunter ring,” explained Redd of her star mount. “I truly believe the derbies are her calling. It’s been incredibly rewarding to develop her and watch her grow into a lovely hunter over the past year.
“The course was a lot of fun to ride and flowed very nicely,” she added. “I especially enjoyed the handy round. Shades Of Grey is naturally smooth and careful, so she’s able to make tight turns and earn those bonus points without being rushed.”
Although it was her first trip to HITS Chicago, Redd made it count with a big win.
“We were really excited to come to HITS Chicago,” she expressed. “The Lamplight facility is absolutely beautiful, and the atmosphere here is just as welcoming as it is competitive.”
Joshua Graves claimed second with his own Cabaret LS, an 18-year-old Warmblood gelding (Clearway x Samba Hit I), while Melanie Wright took third aboard Game Day, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding (Cyrano VDV Z x Casa Grande V) owned by Wynmore Farm LLC.
The week also featured the $2,500 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby, giving junior and amateur athletes their moment in the spotlight. Amateur rider Eva Orlando piloted Reykjavik 18, Rachel Kane’s 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Roc USA, to the win. Junior competitor Caroline Smith followed in second with her own Made You Look, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Quaid I x Come On), and amateur Sinead Fennelly rounded out the top three aboard Allure DVE, a 12-year-old Warmblood mare (Etoulon VDL x Nimmerdor).
Featured competition in the Douglas Elliman Stadium highlighted the $24,500 FarmVet Grand Prix on Saturday, May 17, where Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N once again were best in show. Five entries out of the original starting field successfully conquered Florencio Hernandez’s first-round track to secure their spot in the jump-off, but for the second week in a row, it was Goldman-Smolen who found the fastest way around with Barbara Disko’s 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Elvaro. Fresh off the high of the win during the venue’s opening week, the pair continued on their hot streak, clocking in an unbeatable time of 39.59 seconds.
Despite only recently returning from maternity leave, Goldman-Smolen continues to be at the top of her game and piloted, not one, but three mounts, to a clean first-round finish. Of those, she decided to save her winningest partner, Sovereign, for another day. On her own eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion by Heartbreaker, Romeo B, she put in forward another flawless round to take the third-place finish in 42.58 seconds. Rounding out an incomparable day for Red Coat Farm, Goldman-Smolen’s long term student, Adeline Rohrbach, split the difference between her trainer’s talents to take the runner-up position with her own 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Carinjo, Cooper 211.
As the second week of the 2025 HITS Chicago Show Series wraps up, anticipation builds for even more action with the Lamplight Spring Series III set to kick off on May 21.
