Top national and international hunters and jumpers descended upon the Del Mar Fairgrounds this week, competing for highest accolades and prizes in their divisions. Beautiful weather held steady, and Del Mar's famous seaside setting made for a fantastic first week of the Del Mar International Horse Show. Spectators and competitors alike have enjoyed Del Mar's recent renovations, improvements and upgrades, including the creation of two new arenas with the move of the FEI stabling and schooling area. Results this week include Buddy Brown's spectacular finish aboard Finally Ours to clinch the $5,000 South Shore Farm Grand Prix Hunter Derby Presented by Fleeceworks. Brown and Finally Ours are the defending champions of the 2014 Del Mar International Grand Prix Hunter Derby Final, which occurs next week. Brown and Finally ours topped the competition in 2014 and are setting themselves up for a wonderful week of competition leading up to the Grand Prix Hunter Derby Series Finale next weekend! Michael Leon and West Coast Equine Partners' Versailles earned second place in the South Shore Farm Grand Prix Hunter Derby Presented by Fleeceworks and Jenny Karazissis piloting Hope Town Farms' Undeniable to round out the top three. The Del Mar Arena saw Will Simpson and The Dude rocket into first place out of 39 starters on Friday evening in the $25,000 LA Saddlery 1.45m Speed Class. Simpson went last in the competition, edging out second place finisher Eminent and Mandy Porter by only .26 seconds! Eric Navet on Jonkhkeer Z, owned by Signe Ostby finished in third place and fourth place also went to a Signe Ostby entry, Basimodo, with Karl Cook in the irons.
