Abigail McArdle Tops Opening Day of 2017 American Gold Cup

Abigail McArdle and Chuck Berry 8 (Photo: The Book LLC)

North Salem, N.Y. - The 47th installment of the historic American Gold Cup CSI4*-W kicked off on Wednesday featuring the $8,000 Danbury Porsche Audi 1.40m Jumper and $8,000 Douglas Elliman 1.40m Jumper CSI4* on the pristine grass Grand Prix Field at Old Salem Farm.

The USA's Abigail McArdle and Plain Bay Sales' Chuck Berry 8 bested the field of 78 international horses and athletes to round out show jumping competition for day one, claiming the first FEI win of the week in the $8,000 Douglas Elliman 1.40m Jumper CSI4*.

Amber Harte (USA) and Take The High Road, LLC's Austria 2 held the lead for the majority of the class, jumping clear around the one-round speed course, designed by Ireland's Alan Wade, in 58.80 seconds.

Abigail McArdle and Chuck Berry 8 with Michael Fitzgibbon of Douglas Elliman. (Photo: Taylor Renner)

McArdle and the 10-year-old Hannoverian gelding, who recently won the $40,000 Great Lakes Classic CSI3* at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival in August, tackled the course as 52nd in the order-of-go with their eyes on the prize, taking over the top spot on the leaderboard with a clear performance in 57.43 seconds.

Harte had one more chance to reclaim her lead with her second mount a few rounds after McArdle with Cafino, also owned by Take The High Road, LLC. The pair stopped the timers in 58.97 seconds, securing Harte second and third place honors and the win for McArdle.

For more information on Old Salem Farm, including its year-long competition schedule, prize lists, clinics, boarding, lessons and training, visit oldsalemfarm.net.

For more information on the American Gold Cup visit www.theamericangoldcup.com.