LAKE PLACID, N,Y,--Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, N.J.on C&C Willow won the $5,000, 1.40m Jumper Class on Wednesday, June 25, the first day of the two weeks of shows in Lake Placid,
Laura Chapot on C&C Willow (Photo by KindMedia)The class was the first jumper class in the new rings at the 2025 Lake Placid Horse Shows.
Chapot, who won the last class in the old Grand Prix Field, rode C&C Willow to go clean in the jump-off to win over a 22-horse field at the newly renovated North Elba Showgrounds.
Chapot was one of six entries to turn in two clear rounds over the course designed by Michel Vaillancourt.
Her jump-off time of 33.470 seconds was more than three seconds faster than that of second-place finisher Heather Caristo-Williams on Mazzy Star, who finished in 36.500 seconds, and Vasco Flores of Puerto Rico on Pas Normal V was third in 36.514 seconds.
“It’s very exciting to win the first class of the week,” Chapot said. “It’s great to start off well, and we hope it will continue that way, although that is sometimes easier said than done. They did a great job with the new grounds. It’s riding really well and everything looks beautiful. We love being back in Lake Placid!”
Chapot was also sixth on a relatively new horse, Joie van Schuttershof, with four faults in the jump-off in 33.38 ,and seventh on Ginola with four faults in 34.10.
TWO CLASSES later, Chapot placed both first and third in the 1.30m Jumpers.
She won on Tyson Fury, clean in 59.38, to beat Brianne Goutal-Marteau on Bianca, clean in 59.812, and she was third on Chandon Blue, clean in 62.511.
A new FEI CSI3* division begins on Thursday with the $5,000 3* Two-Phase.
Other FEI highlights during the Lake Placid Horse Show from June 24-29 include Friday’s $45,000 3* Jump-off, Saturday’s $32,000 3* Speed Class and Sunday’s $100,000 Grand Prix of Lake Placid CSI3*.
FEI highlights for the I Love New York Horse Show, July 1-6, include Wednesday’s $5,000 3* Two-Phase, Thursday’s $45,000 3* Welcome Stake, Friday’s $32,000 3* Speed Class and Saturday’s $100,000 Grand Prix CSI3*.
Exhibitors in every division are competing on newly renovated showgrounds, which include reconstructed show rings with state-of-the-art all-weather footing installed by Travis Gould and his JTWG, Inc. team, who are working closely with horse show manager Allen Rheinheimer.
Improvements have also been made to the stabling and schooling areas, with more to come as part of a multi-year plan.
Highlights include a resurfaced all-weather grand prix ring, an expanded Jumper 2 Ring, two new hunter rings and a dedicated FEI exercise ring.
