Canada’s Mario Deslauriers was eighth aboard Bardolina
U.S. Olympic team gold medalist Leslie Howard stormed to a victory in the $133,700 Empire State Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by The Kincade Group, riding Quadam during the final day of the 2019 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY, on Sunday, May 19. The highlight class of the two-week event also had local rider Katie Dinan of North Salem, NY, in second place with Brego R’N B, while Israel’s Daniel Bluman, also based in North Salem, NY, was third riding Colestina H.
In 1983, Howard rode to her first grand prix victory at Old Salem Farm aboard Albany, the horse that later carried her to win a team gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. On Sunday, she returned to familiar territory and claimed another milestone win on the Old Salem Farm Grand Prix Field. From a starting order that included 30 horses, Howard, 62, was the first of only three to jump clear over a challenging track set by Ken Krome (USA).
Again leading the charge in the jump-off, Howard and Quadam, owned by Laure Sudreau, set the pace with another clear round in 42.45 seconds. The time was more than enough to top runner-up and North Salem, NY, local Katie Dinan (USA), who guided Brego R’N B to a double-clear day in 42.45 seconds.