Tiffany Hammack and Ghana FS Z claimed victory in the $35,000 Purina Grand Prix on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at the HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois. The pair outperformed a field of 15 horse-and-rider combinations during the first week of the Equifest Series, achieving the fastest double-clear round in a competitive nine-horse jump-off.
Course designer Broady Robertson crafted a challenging track, featuring 13 obstacles and 16 efforts. The first round included a triple bar at fence 6, which was seven strides to a combination of tall verticals at fences 7a and 7b. A vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination at obstacle 12 and a large Purina oxer at fence 13 completed the test.
In the jump-off, riders faced an altered course that began with the triple bar that was fence 6, followed by a bending line to fence 9, a Vita Flex vertical. Next were obstacles 15 and 16, which were adjusted from the first round to be jumped in the opposite direction. The course continued with a roll back to an oxer at fence 8, a roll back to obstacle 12a and 12b, and concluded at the Purina oxer at fence 13.
Hammack was the last to contest the jump-off, knowing that she needed to beat the leading time of 37.35 seconds set by Bolivian rider Daniel Bedoya and Heritage MBF. With the pressure on, Hammack and Ghana FS Z navigated the course swiftly and precisely, executing tight turns and maintaining speed to cross the timers clear in 36.81 seconds, securing the victory. Bedoya would have to settle for the runner-up spot with the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Eldorado van de Zeshoek owned by NRG Farm LLC. Hammack completed the top three in 37.376 seconds with her second mount, Verdi O’Merveilles, a 15-year-old Selle Français gelding by Verdi owned by Fox Wood Farm.
“We’ve had her since she was seven years old, and she’s really stepped up to the 1.45m and the grand prix classes in the last two years,” said Hammack of the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare by Glasgow W vh Merelsnest owned by Fox Wood Farm. “She’s very game in the ring. Once she starts jumping, she gives it her all no matter what.” Hammack’s connection with Lamplight Equestrian Center runs deep, having competed there since childhood.
“I did my first grand prix here when I was 12 years old,” she recalled. “I’ve had a lot of firsts here, including moving up to junior jumpers. My very first horse show was here in 1996 or 1997 in the short stirrup on the B-circuit. I’ve spent a lot of time here.
“It’s a beautiful facility and local for us, so I get to stay at home in Rockford instead of a hotel,” she continued. “The horses love it here. I enjoy riding in the Grand Prix ring, and I have a lot of fun here. The management is good, and everything is easy. We just love coming here.”
The $35,000 Purina Grand Prix wasn’t the only highlight during the action-packed week at HITS Chicago. On Thursday, July 18, the $20,000 Alliant Private Client Cup was the spotlight event. October Hill Farm’s rider Nicolas Gamboa skillfully guided NKH Vittorio S, NKH LLC’s 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Q-Verdi, to a first-place finish with a double-clear round and a jump-off time of 30.819 seconds.
On Friday, July 20, the $10,000 STX Open Speed showcased horse-and-rider combinations vying for the fastest time. Lisa Goldman-Smolen clinched the win aboard her own seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion by Heartbreaker, Romeo B, with a remarkable flat time of 66.38 seconds.
Concluding the show jumping action on Sunday, July 22, was the $15,000 Horseflight Jumper Classic. Bedoya Farm’s rider Samanth Rice claimed victory on NRG Farm LLC’s 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Califax, Ringwood Zebo, with their double-clear jump-off time of 40.47 seconds.
Competition at HITS Chicago resumes on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, as hunter, jumper, and equitation riders gear up for the second week of the Lamplight Equifest Series.
