Cavalier Classic finishes bigger than ever before

Bob Groves, Sports Correspondent
Published: July 20, 2008

Nobody could blame HITS Culpeper show manager Kristen Vale if she bellowed a resounding “Yahoo!”.

With sweltering temperatures approaching 100 degrees Sunday, Horse Shows in the Sun brought record numers of the equine population to Commonwealth Park for the Cavalier Classic, ending a very successful four-day event.

The signature $40,000 HITS Grand Prix brought a flotilla of horse trailers from as far as Texas to the shadow of the Blue Ridge Skyline.

For the second time in as many weeks, S & L Willie, owned by MTM Farm, and ridden by Tracy Feeney, took home top honors.

In the $15,000 Junior High Classic co-feature, R-Mable-KZ, ownded by Morgan Hill Partners Inc. was handled very cleverly by Michelle Spidone.

Rob Corona from Berwick, Pa., made the long drive and indicated he would return for the next stop on the Culpeper circuit when it resumes Aug. 20-24. It will be a zone III Junior Equitation final called the Winston National.

“We drove down, got our football fix at Redskins training camp, and found our way for this event,” Corona said. “We’ve really enjoyed ourselves.”