NORTH SALEM, N.Y.--Ireland's Jordan Coyle on Ariso won the $225,000 Empire State Grand Prix in a 10 horse jump-off on Sunday, May 17 to close week two of the Old Salem Spring Horse Shows.
Jordan Coyle on Ariso (Photo by SEL Photography)Coyle had also won Friday’s $65,000 Welcome Stake, but on For Gold.
Fourth to go in the jump-off, Coyle was the first of four to go clean, and he finished in 34.65, nearly a full second ahead of his competitors, to eventually win.
“Ariso probably should have won both the Welcome and the Grand Prix last week, to be honest,” Coyle said. “I didn’t want to let him down today, so for sure, I was just trying to be on my game. I didn’t change my plan at all after watching some of the others go. The B element in the combination was one jump I could count on him not knocking down, especially in a jump-off. He’s been doing these types of jump-offs for a while now, so he kind of knows what he’s doing. As long as I can stay out of his way, like today, he’s always going to be really good."
“This place has always been really lucky to me,” he said. “I started here when I first came to America; I spent a year riding here. Now, it’s nice to come back and be as competitive as we are every time we’re here. Going forward into the summer, we’ll have a week off, and then I’ll be heading to Rome for the 5* Nations Cup.”
McKAYLA LANGMEIER on Riesling Van De Gaathoeve was clean in 35.56 to place second, and Katie Dinan on Out of the Blue SCF, clean in 35.72, was third.
Charlotte Jacobs on Korbach Van De Renger was the only other clean, finishing in 38.13 seconds for fourth place, and, with the fastest four-fault time of 34.77 seconds, Pieter De Brabandere of Belguim on Dothraki Warlord was fifth.
Prior to the Empire State Grand Prix, Old Salem celebrated the accomplishments of Lee McKeever
The Grand Prix opening ceremonies recognized McKeever for his induction into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in March.
As a key member of the neighboring Castle Hill Farm, McKeever has been part of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows for nearly 40 years.
McKeever was inducted into the Hall of Fame because of his role as Castle Hill’s sport horse manager and close advisor of six-time U.S. Olympian McLain Ward – a role that has helped Ward successfully compete in many international events, including 20 FEI World Cup Finals and 14 major championships, winning 13 medals along the way.
McKeever is always happy to share his incredible knowledge and expertise, not only with the Castle Hill team but also with other grooms and horsemen around the world.
