George Returns with a Win for McLain Ward in 1.40m Section A

Wellington, FL - February 23, 2005 - The huge turnout for 1.40m Jumpers today necessitated a split class with 80 plus in each section. The scoring was Table II, Sec 2(b) Time First Jump-Off. There were 83 starters. 30 produced clear rounds and eight were double clear.

In Section A, McLain Ward reversed the results of earlier in the day, turning the tables on Eric Lamaze and edging him by even closer fractions than Lamaze posted to win the 1.45m.

Ward, aboard George from the Double H Farm, got under the wire in a lightning quick 39.644 seconds for the win. Lamaze, aboard Torrey Pines Stable’s Hickstead, finished only .006 seconds behind Ward, racing home in 39.650 seconds.

Cody Baird and Fit 3 from the October Farm finished third in 42.267 seconds.

It was a nice comeback for Ward and George. “It was his first competition back from an injury suffered at the National Horse Show here in December. George is actually Cayce’s (Harrison) horse and I’m just getting him back into shape, and hopefully she’ll be back up on him soon,” Ward speculated.

With Palacious-Jugo doing the course designing, Ward was getting prepared for a demanding week. “He typically designs very difficult courses. Today was fine but very careful. He designs somewhat nagging type courses that don’t allow you to make any kind of mistake,” Ward said.

While Ward was enthusiastic about his horse’s return to action, Lamaze was thrilled with the progress of Hickstead. “This is a superstar,” Lamaze boldly stated. “This is my next great one. He’s a nine year old stallion and he has everything. This is as good a horse as I’ve ever ridden in my life. Ashland Farm was nice enough to buy him for me and I’m so excited about his potential.”

“You know, he’s just so careful. We’re kind of just letting him tell us how to proceed,” explained Lamaze, “but caliber and quality wise he has the potential to do it all. You spend some time in the sport and you think a lot of a horse, that you have the one. Then they end up disappointing you in the end, but there’s not a chance with this one.”

“We have a lot of nice young horses. The days of Raphael and Rosina were great but they got old and we’ve reinvested in younger stock and I’m very, very optimistic,” said a beaming Lamaze.

Official Results - #1004A - $5000 1.40m Table II Sec 2 (b) – 2-23-05 – Internationale Arena

• 1 – George, McLain Ward – 0-0/39.644
• 2 – Hickstead, Eric Lamaze – 0-0/39.650
• 3 – Fit 3, Cody Baird – 0-0/42.267
• 4 – Joyous, Laura Kraut – 0-0/43.380
• 5 – Rolling Thunder, Norman Dello Joio – 0-0/43.559
• 6 – Cathleen 16, Mac Cone – 0-0/45.924
• 7 – Fatalis Fatum, Federico Sztyrle – 0-0/48.190
• 8 – Catesko, Laurie Bucci – 0-0/48.430
• 9 – Labelle, Ramiro Quintana – 0-4/37.356
• 10 – Fanfan Du Orbec, McLain Ward – 0-4/39.254
• 11 – Rex Get Busy, Jose Rega – 0-4/41.184
• 12 – Concerto, Molly Ashe – 0-4/41.388