The 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) opened up its first day of competition on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). It is a welcome return of the largest and longest-running equestrian circuit in the world after an early cancellation of the final two weeks of competition in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 WEF runs for 13 weeks through April 4. Ramiro Quintana (ARG) started the show season off on a high note with a victory on the first day in the $8,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m Jumpers.
The WEF Premiere week will continue through Sunday, January 10, and is sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies. It features national-level competition for hunters, jumpers, and equitation. International jumper classes will begin at WEF 1 on January 13-17 with a CSI3*. The live stream schedule for the WEF Premiere week will include Thursday’s $35,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Premiere Round, both rounds of the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Friday, the $25,000 CaptiveOne Advisors Classic taking place Saturday, and Sunday’s $75,000 Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix at 2 p.m. EST.
Eight riders, representing six different nations, took their turn over the two-phase power and speed track designed by Eric Hasbrouck (USA). Quintana aboard Orpen Horses’ Hemerald-Balia produced a clear ride in a winning time of 31.67 seconds, with a five second lead on the runner-up. Johan Kachelhoffer (GER) piloted Ursula Esser’s Gabrovo to a second-place finish after the pair stopped the timers at 36.85 seconds. Third place honors went to Victoria Colvin (USA) and Justine Bestler’s Bipper Du Libaire with a fault-free time of 40.54 seconds.