Lexington, KY – May 20, 2011 – Ian Millar of Canada has stepped up to take over the lead in the 2011 Hagyard Challenge Series, following the first two $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classics. The talented rider piloted Instyle and Star Power to fourth and fifth place finishes, respectively, during both of the competitions after consistently advancing to the jump-off.

Hector Florentino has moved into the second place position. The rider from the Dominican Republic finished sixth with Ultimo during yesterday’s competition, after winning the first event. Following in third is last night’s winner, Kent Farrington, who piloted Uceko to the fastest double clear effort during the hotly contested tiebreaker. The Hagyard Challenge Series features seven show jumping events at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The rider who accumulates the most points in the series will receive a $45,000 Leading Rider Award, presented after the $50,000 World Cup Qualifier held on September 23, 2011, during the Kentucky National Horse Show. Several generous sponsors have helped make this exciting series event happen. These gracious supporters include: presenting sponsor Pfizer Animal Health, Audi of Lexington, Dean Dorton Allen Ford, Hagyard Flex-tra 200, Wyatt Equine Law Group, Johnson Horse Transportation, Chase, and J.P. Morgan.Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and well-being of the horse for more than 130 years.The facility at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers 13 Digital Radiology systems, 1.5 Tesla Siemens Open MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy, a high speed treadmill, an on-site laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, full surgical services, 24-hour ambulance and emergency services, and Hyperbaric Medicine. The institute has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 133 years and is currently composed of over 60 experienced veterinarians, with 12 board certifications in specialty areas of Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, and Theriogenology.For more information on the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows please go to www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.To learn more about Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, please go to www.hagyard.com.2011 HAGYARD CHALLENGE SERIES STANDINGS PLACE    TOTAL    RIDER1    360   IAN MILLAR2    320   HECTOR FLORENTINO3    280   KENT FARRINGTON4    190   CHRISTIAN HEINEKING5    170   QUENTIN JUDGE      170   MARGIE ENGLE7    120   RAGAN ROBERTS8     60    BLYTHE MARANO       60    JONATHON MILLAR10    50    LUIS LARRAZABAL       50    AMY MILLAR       50    TIFFANY FOSTER13    40    KEN BERKLEY       40    JONATHAN MCCREA15    20    DAVID BEISEL       20    PAIGE JOGNSONPhoto Credit: Ian Millar’s top finishes in the first two $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic events moved him into the lead in the Hagyard Challenge Series standings. Photo: Rebecca Walton/PMG.