Chicago’s Doug Boyd Wins $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at Chicago Hunter Derby

Chicago native Doug Boyd and his mount, Calido’s Son, bested a field of talented competitors to win the $5,000 United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) National Hunter Derby held Saturday at the Chicago Hunter Derby, presented by Canadian Pacific (CP).

The $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Sapphire Riding Academy, is just part of the competition going on all weekend in Antioch, IL. Many of the nation’s top hunter horses and riders also took to Annali Farm’s spacious grass field on Saturday afternoon for the first round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, and leading the way heading into Sunday’s second round are Kelley Farmer and her mount Kodachrome.

For Boyd and Calido’s Son, the win on Saturday was the second in as many days, as they came into the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby with a victory at the Chicago Hunter Derby already under their belt from Friday’s $2,500 National Welcome Stake.

The duo then turned in the highest first round score in the USHJA National Hunter Derby, and when the top 12 advanced to the second round over the Bobby Murphy designed course, it was again Boyd and Calido’s Son who delivered the highest scoring performance, guaranteeing them the victory.

“[Calido’s Son] is extremely straight forward, and he’s just always so consistent,” Boyd said of the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Mimi Rothman. “He really is special. He’s a once in a lifetime horse for all of us.”

Also somewhat special for Boyd was winning the class that his own farm, Sapphire Riding Academy, sponsored – and has sponsored for the last three years at the Chicago Hunter Derby.

“It’s a lot of pressure!” Boyd said. “You want to bring home the blue and the trophy with your own farm on it.”

Finishing second in the class were Caroline Weeden and Poetry, owned by Glory Days Farms LLC, while Ryan Sassmannshausen and Poetic, owned by Melissa Williams, rounded out the top three.

In the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, the top three positions are currently held by Farmer aboard Kodachrome, owned by Nina Moore; Erica Quinn and Celtic Fire, owned by CF Partners; and Farmer on Need I Say, owned by herself and Danielle Brown Swanston.

In 2013, Farmer made history as the first hunter rider to surpass $1 million in hunter earnings, and she continues to be the nation’s leading hunter derby money earner in the USHJA International Hunter Derby program. And while she has competed in the largest hunter derbies across the country, Farmer notes that none currently compare to the Chicago Hunter Derby.

“It’s always so much fun to ride on that field no matter how it works out, and it’s in beautiful condition,” Farmer said. “Rush and Carl Weeden and this whole production go above and beyond for this class. I can’t say enough about this and what they do.”

With two horses in the top three, Farmer will be trying for her third Chicago Hunter Derby victory on Sunday afternoon when competition kicks off at 1 p.m.

Prior to the conclusion of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, the Chicago Hunter Derby will for the first time offer a $2,500 Pony Hunter Exhibition Class, giving young riders the opportunity to compete on the large grass derby field.

Sunday’s festivities will also include a VIP brunch, boutique shopping, face painting, a petting zoo, an appearance by the Millcreek hounds, and more. The event is open to the public and tickets can be purchased online here: www.chicagoequestriansforacause.com/tickets

Proceeds from the 2016 Chicago Hunter Derby directly benefit the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation, the USHJA Foundation, and Horsefeathers Therapeutic Riding.

To learn more and to view the full schedule of events, please visit  www.ChicagoEquestriansForACause.com.

Results: $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Sapphire Riding Academy

            Rider                                      Hometown                   Horse                           
1.         Doug Boyd                            Chicago, IL                  Calido’s Son              
2.         Caroline Weeden                Antioch, IL                    Poetry
3.         Ryan Sassmannshausen  St. Charles, IL              Poetic
4.         Caroline Weeden                Antioch, IL                    In Time
5.         Ryan Sassmannshausen  St. Charles, IL              HJ Atleta II
6.         Serah Vogus                        Antioch, IL                    Zidane
7.         Margaret Papka                   Pewaukee, WI             Zagiem
8.         Ashley Vogel                        Milwaukee, WI             True Colors
9.         Maria Rasmussen               Milwaukee, WI             Blue Monday
10.      Jordan Allen                         West Bloomfield, MI   Goodman

Results: Round One - $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Canadian Pacific

            Rider                                      Hometown                   Horse                           
1.         Kelley Farmer                       Keswick, VA                 Kodachrome              
2.         Erica Quinn                           Maineville, OH            Celtic Fire
3.         Kelley Farmer                       Keswick, VA                 Need I Say
4.         Caroline Weeden                Antioch, IL                    Corvine
5.         Meagan Murray                   Highland Park, IL        Editorial
6.         Caroline Weeden                Antioch, IL                    Fernelli
7.         Mindy Cortez                        Tulsa, OK                     Happy Hour
8.         Rush Weeden                      Antioch, IL                    Oak Grove
9.         Serah Vogus                        Antioch, IL                    Bonfeuer
10.      Tommi Clark                         Agoura Hills, CA         Black Jack

ABOUT CANADIAN PACIFIC

Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to eight major ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit www.cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of Canadian Pacific.

ABOUT THE CHICAGO HUNTER DERBY

Founded by Chicago Equestrians for a Cause (CEC), the Chicago Hunter Derby will return to the beautiful Annali-Brookwood Farm on Saturday, September 10, and Sunday, September 11. The ninth annual stand-alone USHJA hunter derby event will feature a $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, a $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, a Pony Hunter Exhibition class, and two Welcome Stake classes, all while raising funds for the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation, the USHJA Foundation, and Horsefeathers Therapeutic Riding. Since its inception, the Chicago Hunter Derby raised more than $500,000 in support of these charities, and the unique and popular spectator event continues to grow each year. Visit www.chicagoequestriansforacause.com to learn more.

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