TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--World no. 1 Kent Farrington on Greya won the $340,000 American Gold Cup during the final day of the Traverse City Horse Shows, Sunday, Sept. 21.
Kent Farrington on Greya (Photo by Megan Giese)Farrington set a new standard with Grey as together they won a record sixth five-star grand prix inside a year m finishing with the Gold Cup.
The American Gold Cup was first awarded in 1970 and has been won by some of show jumping’s most legendary names throughout its 55-year history.
The event has been held at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City since 2020, the sixth location to host it.
Farrington was the first of six in the jump-of the course set by Alan Wade of Ireland as he designed his 11th American Gold Cup track this week.
Riding Greya, Farrington set the time to beat in the jump-off at 34.75 seconds, which would stand as the winning result.
Farrington has now won the American Gold Cup three times, previously in 2016 and 2020.
“MY BIGGEST concern today was going to be measuring the speed it was going to take to win,” said Farrington. “You don’t want to be chasing what somebody else can do—you have to know what your horse’s best possible round is. I tried to put down a solid effort where they were going to have to do something special to beat me, and luckily it worked out.”
The win helped Farrington to match his record of six grand prix wins in a calendar year, a title he also carries aboard the now retired Gazelle.
“We produce these horses, which is a long but rewarding process. I’m really proud of my team and the horses we have today and I’m enjoying the journey,” said Farrington. “This is an incredible horse and an amazing athlete; she can do everything she needs to be able to in the sport. I’m looking forward to the future and trying to enjoy the moment at the same time.”
Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam started the day as a hopeful for an American Gold Cup hat trick after winning the historic title in 2022 and 2024 with James Kann Cruz, but he finished in 35.97, just over a second off the winning time, to finish second.
“James Kann Cruz was great, Greya is just a faster horse,” said Sweetnam. “Even going in, I knew it would be a long shot. I watched Greya’s round and knew that it probably wouldn’t be caught but I’ve already had about six or seven second-place finishes this year, so I was going to give it a go no matter what. I didn’t feel I left much out there."
“For North America, this is the highlight of the summer,” he said. “Since I’ve come over from Ireland, it has been a special class held at brilliant venues.”
Fellow Irish Olympian Daniel Coyle on Farrel was third in 36.49.
The finish was a momentous one after the now 15-year-old Farrel was sidelined for six years from an injury as a 9-year-old.
“Every round on this horse feels like a bonus because there was a point we never thought he would jump again, let alone double clear in a five-star,” said world no. 11 Coyle. “The American Gold Cup is an iconic event for riders from any country, and I’m thrilled to get a piece of it.”
“I think this has been a great proving ground for many horses—not just mine,” Farrington said. “It’s a great place to build with two-star and national divisions where we can also ride young horses at the same time. They bring in excellent course builders like we had today with Alan Wade as one of the best in the world. That’s really what helps elevate the level of sport in conjunction with having great competitors and world-class horses.”
