Charlie Jacobs Captures $25,000 Grand Prix at Fieldstone Summer Showcase

Aug. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- Halifax, MA - August 19, 2012 - Accomplished equestrian and Principal of the Boston Bruins, Charlie Jacobs, claimed victory in the $25,000 Summer Showcase Grand Prix held at Fieldstone Show Park yesterday afternoon. Jacobs and his mount, Flaming Star, were the last pair to enter the jump off, successfully completing the course in 47.639 seconds. Jacobs' winning time was three seconds faster than the runner up, Sarah Segal, who finished in 50.717 seconds atop her mount, Tilgham. Mattias Tromp of North Salem, NY, claimed third in 51.144 seconds on Vosquinas.

Located just outside of America's Hometown, Plymouth, MA, Fieldstone Show Park hosts several of the largest show jumping competitions in Massachusetts. Over the next eight days, the premier equestrian facility will welcome top competitors from across the country to compete for thousands of dollars in prize money. Featured classes at next week's Summer Showcase include the $25,000 NEHJA 3'3 Hunter Derby on August 24, and the $25,000 SmartPak Equine Grand Prix on August 25.

Yesterday's winning combination, Jacobs and Flaming Star, are defending champions of the $25,000 Summer Showcase Grand Prix last year; the pair enjoyed a similar victory lap in August of 2011. "This horse show has been good to me," Jacobs commented following the win, "my wife and children are all riding here and it's about an hour drive from our home in Weston, so we really make this a family event."

Earlier this week, Jacobs and his son, Charlie Jr., were among the top ten finishers in a $2,500 Hunter Derby at Fieldstone. Describing his experience participating in a class of that caliber with his son, Jacobs commented, "I'm really proud of him. He's been out of the ponies about two years now and to see him ride out there on the grass field, jumping these jumps, has been really fun."

Jacobs' mount, Flaming Star, is a thirteen-year-old Irish gelding owned by CMJ Sporthorse, LLC. According to the lifelong equestrian, Flaming Star is known for being quirky and quick. "He's one of those horses that the quicker you ride him, the more careful he gets," Jacobs explained, "I think some people saw that today as I ran to fence two in the jump off, and still had the confidence that he was going to leave it up and he did."

Following his win, Jacobs admitted to being aprehensive about entering the Grand Prix. "I will admit that given the rain, I had anxiety about even going," Jacobs said, "but, I spoke with show management and they were very reassuring that they had plans to place the jumps and collaborate with the course designer to make sure that we were in drier sports. I thought the course by and large rode very nicely."

Yesterday's Grand Prix track, designed by Phillip De Vita Jr. of Apopka, Fl, was certainly created with the weather in mind. "I basically found the best ground for my three combinations and created a plan from there," De Vita Jr. explained, "I tried to keep the flow of the horses going forward because I think the feeling from the riders was that it would be a little slippery out there. All things considered, I thought the horses jumped great and they were comfortable jumping fast. It couldn't have worked out better."

Second place finisher, Sarah Segal of New York, NY, was also pleased with De Vita Jr.'s course. "I thought the field and the course were beautiful," she said, "My horse, Tilgham, is only eight, so it was a step up for him to do the Grand Prix. I thought it was really smooth and went well, so I was happy."

While Segal plans to take a week off before heading the Hampton Classic horse show in Bridgehampton, NY, Jacobs and Flaming Star will have a second chance to claim victory during the $25,000 SmartPak Equine Grand Prix on August 25th.


Watch Charlie Jacobs talk about his Grand Prix victory atop Flaming Star at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AjmeT_w_Wc



Premier show jumping excitement will continue at Fieldstone Show Park during next week's Summer Showcase, held August 21 - 25. Competition is open to the public on Friday, August 24th and Saturday, August 25th. For ticket information, contact info@showfieldstone.com or visit www.showfieldstone.com.


Final Results: $25,000 Summer Showcase Grand Prix
1 Flaming Star, Charlie Jacobs, CMJ Sporthorse LLC
2 Tilghman, Sarah Segal, Horatio St Ventures LLC
3 Vosqinus, Mattias Tromp, Bayaert Farm Inc
4 Casey, Mattias Tromp, Bayaert Farm Inc
5 Perfect De Coquerie, Georgina Bloomberg, Georgina Bloomberg
6 Reno, Maria Costa, Maria Costa
7 Japan, Penny Brennan, Penny Brennan
8 Leap of Joy, Charlie Jacobs, Deeridge Farms
9 Zidane Z, David Tromp, David Tromp Show Stables
10 Chino, Derek Reed, Derek Reed
11 Cosmopolitan, David Oliynyk, Paraizo Equestrian Partners LLC
12 Hermine 44, Paul Halpern, Kamine & Fisher Partners LLC