Saly Glassman Claims $5,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic Victory at Vermont Summer Festival

Saly Glassman of Gwynedd Valley, PA, won the $5,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic riding HHS Bay Hill on Sunday, July 16, to conclude the second week of the Vermont Summer Festival, running through August 13 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

Course designer Alan Wade of Ireland, who will set the tracks at the upcoming 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, NC, built a course for 22 horse-rider combinations. Of the six horses to advance to the jump-off, Glassman, 58, and HHS Bay Hill, a nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Cavalier Royale x Laughton’s Flight) owned by Kindle Hill Affiliates, stopped the clock double-clear in 36.83 seconds for the win.

Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth McKim of Wilmington, NC, jumped to second place riding Airbrush with a double-clear effort in 37.18 seconds. Veronica Bot, 20, of Burlington, ON, was double clear in 39.53 seconds riding Quidam’s Caprice M for third place in her final class before representing Canada at the 2017 Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships held this month in Saugerties, NY.

Tabitha Brown, 17, of Flower Mound, TX, piloted MTM Chablis 157 to a four-faults jump-off score in 38.69 seconds for fourth place, while Dayna Scott, 16, of Valatie, NY, rounded out the top five with four faults in 40.78 seconds riding Colorado.

Glassman had never jumped HHS Bay Hill until a week before the start of the Vermont Summer Festival when she borrowed the mare from her daughter, Janice Glassman.

“One of my horses came down with a virus and my daughter and I have shared horses since she started riding at six years old,” said Glassman. “I jumped the horse at home and she was great, and then we came here. She is a very competitive, fast horse and was really on her game in the classic this week.

“The big question mark once I had a clear round was what I would do in the jump-off because I went last in the order,” continued Glassman. “I saw the rider before me do an inside turn, which I had looked at and walked. But, I knew I could get to fence eight quicker than she did and that would allow me to be able to go around. So, that is what I did and the horse was incredibly game. She’s a little spooky when you first walk in the ring, but as soon as you pick up the canter she is very aggressive and locks onto the course.”

Glassman, who is a wealth manager at Merrill Lynch/Bank of America when she isn’t riding or showing, has been competing at the Vermont Summer Festival for more than 20 years. Commenting on the show, she noted, “This is a wonderful show that treats the exhibitors with the highest level of respect and consideration. It is a great place to visit with family and friends, and I have even had clients here visiting with me. It is what horse showing is supposed to be and reminds me of what I have always enjoyed about showing; a fun experience.”

In addition to her share of the prize money, Glassman received a pair of Tonic paddock boots and half-chaps from Schockemoehle for the win.

Also taking place on Sunday, Cynthia McGrath of Hummelstown, PA, won the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, presented by Miller & Associates, for the second week in a row. After topping the class during the first week of competition riding Quinaro, McGrath claimed the week two win riding Carusa for owner, Wynnwood Farm, LLC.

Earlier in the day, Alexandra Volta of Catonsville, MD, topped the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Adult Amateur Jumper Classic riding Only In Texas, while Scarlet Jasperson of Loxahatchee, FL, won the $1,500 Marshall & Sterling Children’s Jumper Classic riding Columbus.

For over 20 years, the Vermont Summer Festival has attracted exhibitors and their families to the Manchester region in southern Vermont for great competition in an ideal summer setting. Offering more than $750,000 in prize money over the course of its six-week run, the Vermont Summer Festival is New England’s largest hunter/jumper competition as well as the state’s richest sporting event based on purse. Outside the show ring, exhibitors are immersed in the charm of Vermont's shopping, dining, and outdoor activities.

Competition at the 2017 Vermont Summer Festival runs weekly from Wednesday through Sunday, beginning each day at 8 a.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children from Wednesday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, admission is $9 for adults and $5 for children with 100% of all gate proceeds benefiting the Manchester Community Library, Meals on Wheels of Bennington County, and the Rotary Club of Manchester.

For more information on the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.

$5,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic
Sunday, July 16, 2017

Rider Hometown Horse Faults/Time
1. Saly Glassman  Gwynedd Valley, PA  HHS Bay Hill  0:0/36.83
2. Elizabeth McKim  Wilmington, NC  Airbrush  0:0/37.18
3. Veronica Bot  Canada  Quidam’s Caprice M  0:0/39.53
4. Tabitha Brown  Flower Mound, TX  MTM Chablis 157  0:4/38.69
5. Dayna Scott  Valatie, NY  Colorado  0:4/40.78
6. Bailey Doloff  Sykesville, MD  Diva  0:30/75.72
7. Donovan Ross  Westport, CT  Axiana  4
8. Donovan Ross  Westport, CT  Jasper III  4