Wilmington, Ohio, USA – October 12, 2024 – World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) hosted the highlight event of Fall Classic III Saturday evening in the Standlee Sanctuary. All eyes were on the $60,000 Standlee Grand Prix where a field of 33 internationally acclaimed horse-and-athlete combinations contested FEI Level IV course designer Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) technically set first-round track.

Seven partnerships managed to make their way to the jump-off phase, where only four secured double clear efforts. Tiffany Hammack (USA), riding for Foxwood Farm owned by Roger and Kay Schramm, discovered the quickest path with Verdi O’Merveilles (Verdi x O’My Star).

Hammack thought, “that the track was challenging today. I wasn’t 100% confident in myself, so I was very happy that both of my horses jumped clear over the fences,” she laughed. “It really made me think the whole time and I think seven was a good number for the jump-off out of 33.”

Hammack was the first to jump clear in the jump-off and was ultimately uncatchable with her naturally quick mount.

“We have had Verdi for about three years now. I jumped my first CSI3* on him at WEC – Ocala and was fifth there. I have done a lot of 1.55m stuff with him for the first time and he has been very good to learn on,” Hammack shared.

“He is very fast! He likes to double down and act like a race horse on the back side. It has been a little bit of a learning curve! He jumped three grands prix double clear in a row this summer, and I feel like at the end of that he really understood the job. He helped me out through the double in the jump-off and it worked out.”

The 15-year-old Selle Francais gelding stopped the clock in 38.858 seconds – just enough to clinch the win.

“We always come here in October, we love it,” Hammack shared about WEC – Wilmington. “The course designers are always great, the jumps are nice and the classes are always realistic and fair. The footing is good, the competition is good and there is great money. The jumpers really like it and I love riding in that ring!”

Last week’s winner, Sam Pegg (CAN), entered directly after Hammack to chase the leading time. With his 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Gin Tonic 158 (Graf Top x Sanjador), Pegg mirrored the winning track but was just shy of the win in 38.996 seconds for second place.

Lorcan Gallagher (IRL) and Lost Lake Farm LLC’s 11-year-old Westphalian gelding, Copycat (Comme Il Faut x Whoopy Goldberg), posted a time of 40.374 seconds for third.

Final Results – $60,000 Standlee Grand Prix

1) Tiffany Hammack (USA) & Verdi O’Merveilles, Foxwood Farm | 0 | 39.858

2) Sam Pegg (CAN) & Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg | 0 | 38.996

3) Lorcan Gallagher (IRL) & Copycat, Lost Lake Farm LLC | 0 | 40.374

4) Sarah Meier (USA) & Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier | 0 | 42.324

]5) Mia Albelo (USA) & MHS Cardenta, Mia Albelo | 4 | 40.359

6) Elliott Stone (USA) & Montana, Elliott Stone | 4 | 40.923

7) Charlotte Babbitt (USA) & Vivianne Blue PS, Charlotte Babbitt | 9 | 53.23

8) Lani Hutchison (USA) Duc De Jentiere, Lani Hutchison | 1 | 79.196

9) Tiffany Hammack (USA) & Ghana FS Z, Foxwood Farm | 2 | 80.361

10) David Cameron (AUS) & Oaks Come By Chance, David Cameron | 2 | 80.656

Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center

Photos: © WEC / Winslow Photography

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