Jennifer Ritucci Rides Quidam’s Reveal to $5,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby Win at Vermont Summer Festival

Jennifer Ritucci of Franklin, MA, and Quidam’s Reveal topped the $5,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby, presented by Eastern Hay, on Thursday, August 1, at the Vermont Summer Festival, marking the second year in a row that the pair has won the derby event held during week five of the six-week show series that runs through August 11 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

A large starting field of 59 entries contested the first round of the derby course set across two competition rings by course designer Dean Battaglia of Woodstock, IL, with the top 12 horses from the opening round returning in reverse order of their standings for a handy round. With a score of 86 in the first round and 83.5 in the second round, Ritucci and Quidam’s Reveal led from beginning to end to take the victory with an overall score of 169.5.

“He hears the word derby, and he knows he has to put his game face on!” said Ritucci of Quidam’s Reveal, a 10-year-old Selle Français gelding owned by Sophia Carbone. “He tries to win every time. The derbies are his favorite thing to do. He loves it. The spookier the better, and the handier the better. He likes to win, and I think he had a lot of fun.”

While Quidam’s Reveal, or “Vinnie” as he is known in the barn, generally competes in the junior hunters with Carbone, Ritucci has shown him in the week five hunter derby at the Vermont Summer Festival for the last two years, winning each time. For Ritucci, the wins carry special significance.

“It was just the year anniversary of my friend Vanessa passing,” said Ritucci of Vanessa Lencewicz, a good friend to Ritucci and a barn manager who she had previously worked alongside who passed away unexpectedly just days prior to Ritucci’s 2018 derby win. “I feel like she has something to do with it. Somebody’s looking down on me.”

Finishing in second behind Ritucci and Quidam’s Reveal were Oakley Clark of New Haven, VT, and Ballinaboola Guy, owned by John Bourgoin. The pair earned a score of 83.5 in the first round and moved up from fifth to second with a score of 85 in the second round for a 168.5 total. Third place with a first-round score of 84, a second-round score of 83, and a 167 total score went to Megan Young of Jacksonville, FL, riding Red C, owned by Terrapin Hill Farm, LLC.

Finishing in fourth with an overall score of 164 was Lauren Schweppe of Ocala, FL, riding In Favor for owner Cynthia Boudreau, and fifth place with a total score of 163 went to Ciara Bolger of Canton, MA, riding Calafell, owned by Cheryl Buxton.

Sixth place and the high-point junior rider award went to Lily Toensing of Charlotte, VT, riding Consanto, owned by Adelaide Toensing, and the high-point amateur rider award went to 12^th place finisher Emily Noble of Concord, MA, riding her own Claudio.

Competition at the Vermont Summer Festival continues on Saturday with the featured $30,000 Manchester & the Mountains Grand Prix beginning at 1 p.m.

Now in its 26th year, the Vermont Summer Festival offers a dynamic competition schedule while also giving competitors an opportunity to enjoy the wide variety of entertainment, recreation, shopping, and dining options offered in Dorset, Manchester, and the surrounding area. A recent study conducted by the Center for Rural Studies at the University of Vermont cited that the total direct spending of visitors frequenting Vermont for equine-related activities is estimated at nearly $15.5 million annually.

Competition at the 2019 Vermont Summer Festival runs weekly from Wednesday through Sunday, beginning each day at 8 a.m. Admission is $5 for adults and children from Wednesday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children with 100 percent of all gate proceeds benefiting Dorset Equine Rescue, The Dorset School, and Manchester Community Library.

The Vermont Summer Festival is a proud member of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). For more information on the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com. Like Vermont Summer Festival Horse Show on Facebook and follow @vtsummerfestival on Instagram.

$5,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby, Presented by Eastern Hay - Thursday, August 1

            Rider                                    Hometown                      Horse                        Score

1.         Jennifer Ritucci                      Franklin, MA                    Quidam’s Reveal        86+83.5=169.5
2.         Oakley Clark                          New Haven, VT                Ballinaboola Guy        83.5+85=168.5
3.         Megan Young                        Jacksonville, FL               Red C                        84+83=167
4.         Lauren Schweppe                  Ocala, FL                         In Favor                     85.5+78.5=164
5.         Ciara Bolger                          Canton, MA                     Calafell                      81+82=163
6.         Lily Toensing                         Charlotte, VT                   Consanto                   82+80=162
7.         Joyce Mersereau                   Concord, MA                    Huckleberry Finn        82.75+79=161.75
8.         Taylor Franchi                        Ridgefield, CT                  Marcello                    82.5+78=160.5
9.         Jennifer Ritucci                      Franklin, MA                    In the Pursuit             83+77=160
10.       Taryn Fall                              Madbury, NH                   Capitaano Z               80.5+73=153.5
11.       Josselyn Mersereau               Concord, MA                    Cloud Nine                 85+68=153
12.       Emily Noble                           Concord, MA                    Claudio                      82.25+69=151.25