Hunt Tosh and Cannon Creek Make History in $268,920 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 17, 2024—There was more to celebrate at the conclusion of the 2024 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship on Saturday, August 17, than just 15 years of top competition. For the third time, Hunt Tosh and Cannon Creek led the victory gallop in the Kentucky Horse Park's Rolex Stadium, becoming the second pair to do so. With wins in 2010, 2021, and 2022 already under his belt, Tosh made history as the first rider to claim the title four times.

Course designers Ken Krome and Meghan Rawlins set a technical track for the afternoon's 40 competitors, including tight turn options and a trot fence. Returning to the Tier I Handy Round in fourth on a score of 287.50, the pressure was on Tosh and the gelding, owned by The Wheeler Family, if they were to capture another Championship. Now an International Hunter Derby Championship veteran, Cannon Creek stood out in the crowd to judges Rob Bielefeld, Robert Crandall, Shane George, Mark Jungherr, Brian Lenehan, and William Sparks, securing a second round score of 292.50.

"I can't say enough good things about him. He was great," said Tosh, of Milton, Georgia. "You had some different options you could do with the vertical option and the trot jump. My horse likes right lead a little more, so I chose a little different pattern that way."

"The last jump, to be honest with you, I was a little nervous. I didn't want to have it down," he continued, referencing an unfortunate rail on his other mount, Autograph, earlier in the order. "I put a little too much pressure on him, but I was like, 'Don't knock this jump down because it's going well!' But he's a great horse."

The effort paid off as the pair finished on a total score of 580 and collected their third win, along with the tricolor and $45,415.21. As Tier I champion, Tosh received an Essex Classics Show Shirt, gift from Platinum Performance, a cooler, a belt from Boy-O-Boy Bridleworks, a gift from Rood & Riddle Pharmacy, and a keeper trophy. The overall Tier I champion rider also received a CWD Saddle, a gift from Human Touch, a medal, a keeper trophy, and was awarded the Beaver River Farm Perpetual Trophy donated by Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw. As the Tier I champion's owner, the Wheeler Family received The Wrenwood Farm Trophy and a shadow box from Topline Design Ribbon Wreaths. The winning trainer received gift from Nutrena and a blower from Equine Equipment. Tosh's groom received an embroidered jacket.

Jumping to reserve honors and the $29,710.28 check was three-time winner Liza Boyd aboard Crooner Brimbelles Z. The Camden, South Carolina, rider and the gelding owned by Crooks Show Jumping, LLC originally sat in fifth following Friday's Classic Round. Adding a 291 to their first round score of 285, the duo finished four points behind Tosh on a 576.

"He's a little horse with big heart and a big stride," said Boyd. "I don't have the relationship with my horse that Hunt has. I started showing him in May and John French actually was the first one to ever show him as a Hunter. Lauren Crooks had him and is pregnant and said, 'How about you take him, do him in some derbies, and just do him through Derby [Championships] and then we'll see maybe he'll like that job.' And he clearly did."

As overall reserve champion, Boyd received a gift from Platinum Performance, a belt from Boy-O-Boy Bridleworks, a cooler, Essex Classic Show Shirt, and a gift from Rood & Riddle Pharmacy.

The top 20 riders designed as Tier II, meaning they ranked 41st and lower on the 2023 Rider Money Won list, were eligible for an additional 20 percent of the prize money, totaling $53,784. Those Tier II riders that qualified for the Tier I Handy Hunter Round were eligible for both purses.

Taking home an impressive $33,152.46 as third place overall and the Tier II Champion was Scott Stewart and Daydream, owned by Gochman Ventures, LLC. The pair rose from ninth on a 278, adding 289 in the Handy Round for a 567 overall.

“I think extra Tier II money is great, it was unexpected,” commented Stewart. “Daydream is an eight-year-old mare that we bought from Haylie Rolfe last year after she did the Derby [Championships] and received a good ribbon. She’s incredibly easy and she really took care of me yesterday. She is just an awesome horse every day with a big scope to her jump. It’s been a couple of years since I have done this class and I felt very confident riding it with her."

As Tier II champion, Stewart received a belt, Parlanti International Tall Boots, an Essex Classic Show Shirt, gift from Platinum Performance, a cooler, and a gift from Rood & Riddle Pharmacy. The winning trainer, Kenneth Berkley, also received a blower from Equine Equipment.

Earlier in the day, horse-and-rider combinations that didn't make it into the Championship's Handy Round could compete in the $10,000 Derby Challenge. Halie Robinson and Tangled Up In Blue topped the class, collecting a total of $3,000.

Additional awards were also presented throughout the evening. The Rider Style Award went to Brian Feigus, who received a duffle bag, a keeper trophy, and wore a white carnation in the Championship Round as a representation of receiving the honor. The Alberto Ramirez International Derby Groom’s Award and keeper trophy was presented to Carlos Enciso, groom of Calipso, ridden by Nina Alario and owned by Middlepath Farm, LLC. Augusta Iwasaki with a 275.50 aboard Iwasaki & Reilly’s Small Safari received the Amateur Owner High Score Award. Gigi Phillips was presented as the top-placing Junior-Owner and the top-placing Junior Rider with Thunderbird on a 241.50. Iwasaki and Phillips each received an Essex Classics Show Shirt for their honors.

The USHJA thanks the sponsors who helped to make these championships possible including Title Sponsor Platinum Performance and Official Sponsors CWD, Nutrena, and Parlanti International. Thanks also go to Official Broadcast Provider ClipMyHorse.TV and Livestream Sponsor Windsor Stables; Championship Official Sponsor Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Pharmacy; Supporting Sponsors Essex Classics, RingSide Pro, Human Touch, Horseflight, American Hanoverian Society, and Top Line Communications; Award Sponsors Equine Equipment and Boy O Boy Bridleworks; Challenge Round Supporters Ken and Ceil Wheeler; Exhibitors’ Party Supporters John Ingram and Laura Karat; and Rider Bonus Awards Ron Danta and Danny Robershaw.

The USHJA also thanks Show Manager Hugh Kincannon and the entire Kentucky Horse Shows team for their assistance with the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships.

Wall-to-wall live streaming coverage presented by Windsor Stables was available at no additional cost to members at ushja.org and ClipMyHorse.TV. Additional coverage will be available in the upcoming issue of In Stride.

For more information about the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships, visit ushja.org/DerbyChampionship. For online results, visit ushja.org/hunterchampionshipweek.

Photos: Shawn McMillen Photography

Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship Results

Horse | Owner | Rider | Score