Saturday evening began with a loud buzz of a sold-out stadium, busy merchandise vendors and food stands at the Del Mar National Horse Show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The Del Mar National Horse Show celebrated its 70th Anniversary in style, with a spectacular list of competitors in both the Speed Derby and Grand Prix of Del Mar to entertain the fans who came to celebrate the sport of show-jumping. The Speed Derby consisted of a course that had the riders taking on obstacles in the Del Mar Arena, then galloping from the Del Mar Arena outside to complete tight rollbacks in the Durante Arena, galloping back inside to tackle a triple bar to finish the exciting course with another tight roll back. The riders and their mounts meant business, turning and burning on tight inside tracks for a well designed course by world-renowned course designer Olaf Petersen. The Master of Faster, Richard Spooner kept a quick pace with Ace of Spades, but Karl Cook and his mount Banba came in to take the lead, maintaining a long, lofty stride and executing all the inside turns flawlessly. Another well known West Coast rider, Richard Fellers trotted in on Colgan Cruise with determination to take the class, in front of an enthusiastic crowd that cheered him on as he came galloping back into the Del Mar Arena, hitting every distance with precision. Fellers and Colgan Cruise took out the class to take home first place, with Cook and Banba close in second, and Spooner and Ace of Spades rounding out the top three.
Saturday evening began with a loud buzz of a sold-out stadium, busy merchandise vendors and food stands at the Del Mar National Horse Show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The Del Mar National Horse Show celebrated its 70th Anniversary in style, with a spectacular list of competitors in both the Speed Derby and Grand Prix of Del Mar to entertain the fans who came to celebrate the sport of show-jumping. The Speed Derby consisted of a course that had the riders taking on obstacles in the Del Mar Arena, then galloping from the Del Mar Arena outside to complete tight rollbacks in the Durante Arena, galloping back inside to tackle a triple bar to finish the exciting course with another tight roll back. The riders and their mounts meant business, turning and burning on tight inside tracks for a well designed course by world-renowned course designer Olaf Petersen. The Master of Faster, Richard Spooner kept a quick pace with Ace of Spades, but Karl Cook and his mount Banba came in to take the lead, maintaining a long, lofty stride and executing all the inside turns flawlessly. Another well known West Coast rider, Richard Fellers trotted in on Colgan Cruise with determination to take the class, in front of an enthusiastic crowd that cheered him on as he came galloping back into the Del Mar Arena, hitting every distance with precision. Fellers and Colgan Cruise took out the class to take home first place, with Cook and Banba close in second, and Spooner and Ace of Spades rounding out the top three.