UPPER MARLBORO, Md.--JJ Torano won the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series Leading Rider Award, presented at the Washington International Horse Show on Saturday, Oct. 25.
JJ Torano on Oopsala winning the 1.35m Final (Photo by Shawn McMillen)Torano also rode Good Mood Semilly to win the Leading Horse Award.
“Obviously, it’s been a great year,” Torano said. “To win something like this is a very, very big win. It’s such a great feeling. My mom’s won this award three times, so I guess the thing for me to do now is try to beat her record.”
The 2025 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series Finals were held at the Washington International on Saturday over courses set by Nick Granat.
Mary Rose Canterbury of Houston, Texas won the $20,000, 1.45m Final and Torano of Wellington, Flla., won the $15,000, 1.35m Final.
In the $20,000 1.45m Final, only Canterbury went clean in the first round to win on Extase Ste Hermelle.
Jole Kosloske of Tampa, Fla., finished second on Crystal Claire, and Torano was third on Vitus K.
“I went in seventh in the order, so I didn’t really get to watch anyone else go,” Canterbury said. “But I did manage to watch the 1.35m, which had the same initial course. I knew it was challenging enough, so I really just focused on giving my mare a confident ride. She tried so hard every single jump. I didn’t expect to be the only clear; I thought there would be a couple of others after me, so I immediately started making my jump-off plans. Luckily, I was able to give my horse the extra rest."
“I’VE BEEN jumping the 1.45m for about two years now,” she said. “I’ve done a couple of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classics, but I’ve never been able to win one. It’s nice to finally win one, especially at Washington of all places.”
Six were clean to advance to the jump-off in the $15,000 1.35m Final, and Torano on Oopsala had the fastest clean round in 33.54 seconds to win.
Kosloske was second again in 33.71 seconds on Galadermie PP Z, and Maggie King of Spring, Texas on Olily Van D’ Abelendreef was third in 43.79 seconds.
“She's a little bit of an inexperienced horse,” he said of Oopsala, who was originally purchased as a ride for his mother, Danielle Torano.
“Coming here this week was really for experience, and we have been testing her a little bit and adding a little more speed," said Torano. "I would say the first day, I didn't really put it all out there. I think it was just a little bit of luck. Today, I watched my barnmate, Jole, go right before me. I thought to myself that was going to be hard to beat, but I think we trust each other. I really pushed her and gave her the test, and she rose to it.”
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame conducts its Jumper Classic Series with classes at approximately 80 horse shows each year.
The Series hosts classes for junior and amateur riders at both 1.40-1.45m and 1.30-1.35m in two Conferences – the East Conference and the West Conference.
The Series West Conference Championship Finals for both divisions were held in Temecula, Calif., and the overall Series Finals for both divisions at the Washington International.
All four Finals winners receive complimentary admission to the Hall of Fame’s annual Induction Ceremony and Awards Gala in Wellington in March, during which they are honored for their wins.
The Series recognizes each conference’s Leading Rider and Leading Horse as part of its year-end awards.
The winner of each award receives an engraved Tiffany crystal trophy and complimentary admission to the Hall of Fame’s annual Induction Ceremony and Awards Gala.
