There's no better place to spend Halloween than the Central California Fall Classic at Paso Robles Horse Park! Creativity abounded in every ring as costumed competitors competed in full Halloween spirit. From ghosts and ghouls to witches, zombies and all manner of elaborate horse-and-rider costumes, participants took Halloween to heart and dressed to impress the judges. In the exciting $25,000 Wine Country Grand Prix presented by Travel Paso Robles Alliance, Maplewood Inc.'s Osophia with Kevin Winkel in the irons bested a field of 25 to take home the top prize. Close behind, Michelle Kerivan aboard her own entry Colin made a super effort to catch Kevin, but had to settle for second place. Guy Thomas rode Danielle Lambert's Black Jack to a powerful third place finish and fourth place went to Susan Hutchison, riding Brisbane, an entry owned by Barbara Phillips. In Friday's $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Asuncion Valley farms, John French continued his winning ways, riding Elizabeth Gabler's Soldier to top honors, with Hope Glynn and Full Circle, owned by Karen Trione earning second place. John French came back again to take home the yellow ribbon aboard Maritime, also owned by Elizabeth Gabler. The course contained a total of four higher options, and allowed riders to show off their hunters to full advantage over a big track that rewarded a forward, flowing ride. Derby elements in our harvest-themed course included a huge log that came from the Paso Robles Horse Park property, decorative pumpkins adorning some of the jumps, rustic branches and tall logs that caused horses to prick their ears with interest. Congratulations to all who competed over this challenging hunter derby course!
