Sponsored by Bainbridge Companies
Michael Tokaruk & Fenway in the $15,000 USHJA International Derby, sponsored by Bainbridge Companies © Sportfot
Competition continued Friday afternoon with eleven horse-and-rider pairs competing for the lion’s share of the prize money in the $15,000 USHJA International Derby, sponsored by Bainbridge Companies. The hunter derby class was also held in the “Hunt and Go” format. Going fifth in the class, Michael Tokaruk (USA) and Kate Barton’s Fenway, secured the blue with an 88 in the classic round and an 85 in the handy round for a combined score of 173.
Tokaruk and Fenway’s partnership is still new, noting “We’ve only had him for about two years now. He was initially meant to be a sales horse but we ended up liking him a lot. We had a really good riding Junior in the barn, Kate Barton, and she was in the market for an equitation horse. She ended up buying him and we got to keep him in the barn, which is great! He gives you total confidence, his canter is amazing, the jump, the feeling - he’s a lovely horse and he just continues to get better and better.”
Michael Tokaruk & Fenway presented as winners in the $15,000 USHJA International Derby, sponsored by Bainbridge Companies © Sportfot
Reserve honors were awarded to Maddie Tosh (USA) and Spoken, owned by Andesite Equestrian, with an 84 in the classic round and an 86 in the handy for a combined score of 170. Jennifer Bliss (USA) and the Harris Farm LLC-owned Poker Face, earned a combined score of 165 with a 78 in the classic round and an 87 in the handy.
The ESP Holiday & Horses show will continue with competition through Sunday, culminating with the $226,000 Holiday & Horses CSI4* Grand Prix, presented by Keyflow Feeds USA.