Florida – Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, won the $50,000 Ocala Jumping Classic held Sunday, March 25, at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, Florida. Having enjoyed a successful competition circuit at HITS Ocala that saw her win the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix on February 18 followed by a second place finish in the $100,000 Grand Prix of Ocala on March 18, Underhill made the move over to the Florida Horse Park for the second annual Ocala Jumping Classic, organized and managed by fellow Canadian Olympian Jay Hayes and his family.

A total of 34 starters tried their luck over the track set by FEI ‘O’ course designer David Ballard of Canada. Riding eighth out of the starting order, Underhill guided Magdaline to a clear round to assure her place in the jump-off. Eight other riders did the same, making for an exciting tie-breaker. Decorated U.S. Equestrian Team member Debbie Stephens was the first rider back for the jump-off and posted a clear round in a time of 35.65 seconds riding All Star. Underhill followed her into the ring, scorching around the shortened track to stop the timers at 32.37 seconds – more than three full seconds faster than Stephens’ time. Libby McKinney came the closest to catching Underhill, but her time of 33.32 seconds riding Gun du Desfi fell short, leaving her in second position. Two other riders, Sharn Wordley and Colombia’s Roberto Teran, were faster than Underhill by mere fractions of a second, but both paid the price of a fallen rail to finish in fourth and fifth positions respectively. And so Underhill earned her second major Grand Prix victory in as many months, taking home the winner’s cheque of $15,000 in prize money.

In addition to their two Grand Prix titles, Underhill and Magdaline won the $15,000 Friday Mini Prix during the first week of competition at HITS Ocala, and finished runner-up in three other Grand Prix classes. For Underhill, her consistent results throughout the Ocala circuit were as rewarding as the wins.

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