One, Two, Three Finish For Scott Stewart on Day Two of the 3'/3'3" Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship

Top 30 Horse-and-Rider Combinations to Return for Championship Round and $80,634 in prize money

Lexington, Ky.—August 14, 2019—Sweeping the top three in the Second Round of the 3'/3'3" Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship was Scott Stewart aboard Mayflower, Sandstone and Charlemagne, all owned by Betsee Parker.

"This is a first for me," said Parker. "Personally, I’ve never had three horses in the line up at a final like this, and it is really thrilling." Parker's fourth horse in the Championships, Bordeaux, finished just out of the top 12 with rider Hunt Tosh.

The Second Round saw 142 horse-and-rider combinations return to contest designer Bobby Murphy's course and compete for $40,317 in prize money paid out across the top 30.

Earning scores of 84.5, 92 and 89 for an overall score of 265, Stewart and Mayflower impressed the judges to yet again finish on top, taking home $10,079.25 in prize money for a two-day total of $20,158.50 aboard the gray mare.

"I thought they all were great," said Stewart of his day. "[Mayflower] was awesome, but I thought all three went equally well...I had high expectations for them. You never know what’s going to happen, but I’m thrilled with them."

First in the order today on one of six mounts, Stewart and Sandstone held an early lead to again finish in second place, earning $7,136.11 in prize money in the Second Round for a two-day total of $12,770.41.

Stewart also piloted Parker's 5-year-old Selle Francais stallion, Charlemagne, to a third-place finish, earning $4,132.49 in prize money.

"I think it will be a good round," said Stewart in anticipation of Thursday's Championship. "I think all the horses are in a groove now so it will be a good class." 

"I think [the Championships] have really electrified the entire idea of showing young horses," said Parker of the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Program and Championships. "It’s exciting, and it’s truly a wonderful program for that reason. And we have great facilities here, and I would just like to say that the horse show officials have been really marvelous. Everyone who is associated with the show has been very helpful, and it’s been a real great show this year."

Judging the Championships this week are Tom Brennan, Richard Fancher, Daniel Robertshaw, William Sparks, Geoff Teall and James Toon.

The 3'/3'3" Championship features three rounds of competition over three days. The top 30 horses, including those tied for 30th, with the highest cumulative scores from Rounds 1 and 2 will advance to the final Championship Round on August 15, where they will start with a clean slate and compete for $80,634.

The Championship Round of the 3'/3'3" Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship will begin at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Walnut Ring of the Kentucky Horse Park.

Green Hunters competing at 3'6" and 3'9" will also contend for a Championship title on Thursday, August 15, after the conclusion of the 3'/3'3" Championship. 

Both Championships will also include additional prize money for horse-and-rider combinations piloted by Tier II Riders. Tier II Riders are those 31st or below on the Green Hunter Incentive Program rider money won three-year earnings list. This prize money is paid out across the top 10 placing horses ridden by Tier II riders in each section, based on scores prior to the Championship round, providing exhibitors more opportunities to win.

For those unable to watch the week-long competition in person, EQSportsNet, official broadcaster of the 2019 Platinum Performance/USHJA Hunter Week, will provide wall-to-wall live streaming coverage of and on-demand access to every round of both Championships. Coverage of the final rounds includes expert commentary and course visualization with live scoring throughout. USHJA members receive a 50 percent discount on their monthly EQSportsNet subscription by inputting their member number to receive their discount code. To join the USHJA as a free Outreach member, visit ushja.org/membership.

The USHJA thanks the Official Sponsors who helped to make these championships possible, including: Charles Owen, Inc., the Official Helmet of the USHJA; CWD, the Official Saddle of the USHJA; Parlanti International, the Official Riding Boot of the USHJA; Rood & Riddle, the Official Equine Hospital and Veterinary Pharmacy; Platinum Performance, title sponsor of the Green Hunter Incentive and International Hunter Derby Championships; The Clothes Horse, the Official Cooler of the Championships; EQSportsNet, the Official Host Broadcast; Hunter Championship Award Sponsors: Essex Classics, FITS Riding, and Shapley's; Supporting Sponsor Nightwatch®; Championship Welcome Reception Sponsor Kelly Sims and Windsor Stables.

For more information including the complete schedule, orders of go, and online results for the 2019 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships, visit ushja.org/GreenChampionship.

Click here to view complete results from Round 2.

Click here to view cumulative results from Round 1 & Round 2.