Darcy Hayes Claims $25,000 Knightwood Hunter Derby Victory

Darcy Hayes of Aurora, ON, and Say When topped the $25,000 Knightwood Hunter Derby on Tuesday, November 8, at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON.

Hot off their victory in Sunday’s $15,000 Braeburn Farms Hunter Derby, Hayes and Say When returned to the Ricoh Coliseum on Tuesday as the final competitors, where they delivered a repeat winning performance.

Judges Brian Lenehan of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and Steve Wall of Pinehurst, NC, awarded Hayes and Say When a base score of 90, plus eight high option bonus points and eight handy bonus points for a total of 108 points over the traditional derby course designed by J.P. Godard.

Scroll to continue with content

“This feels great,” said Hayes. “I’ve won one – either the $15,000 Braeburn Farms Hunter Derby or the $25,000 Knightwood Hunter Derby – with Say When for the last two years, but the second win always eluded me. Now we did it!”

Riding to second place with a score of 103 was Ryan Roy of King City, ON, aboard Bayridge, owned by Doug Bannister. Finishing a close third with a 102 was Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, riding Hide Away for owner Looking Back Farm.

For Tuesday night’s win, Hayes was presented with the Paddy Ann Burns Trophy. Hayes was also presented with the Lorna Jean Guthrie Challenge Trophy as the Canadian Hunter Derby Champion, awarded to the high point horse over both the Braeburn Farms Hunter Derby and the Knightwood Hunter Derby.

“He felt really good today,” Hayes said of Say When, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Danielle Trudell-Baran. “I wasn’t quite sure going into today though; he felt a little bossier out here in the warm-up than he did on Sunday. He was a little bit more full of himself today!”

Hayes has had the ride on Say When for four years, and Trudell-Baran also competes the gelding in the Adult-Amateur Hunter divisions.

“It’s just a joy to have a horse like this,” said Trudell-Baran of Toronto, ON. “He’s the horse of a lifetime. To have him go out with me and do the three-foot and then to go out with Darcy and do the big classes; he’s a special horse. He takes my breath away every time, and watching Darcy takes my breath away every time. It’s just a joy.”

Competition at the Royal Horse Show continues through Sunday with jumping highlights including the $130,500 Longines FEI World Cup ™ Jumping Toronto on Wednesday, November 9, Friday night’s $50,000 Weston Canadian Open, and the $75,000 Big Ben International Challenge on Saturday, November 12.

Limited remaining tickets can still be purchased by visiting royalfair.org or ticketmaster.ca. For more information on the Royal Horse Show, the marquee event of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, royalfair.org/horse-show. A complete horse show schedule can be accessed here.

Funding support for The Royal has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.

$25,000 Knightwood Hunter Derby – Tuesday, November 8
Rider/Hometown/Horse/Score
1. Darcy Hayes/Aurora, ON/Say When/108
2. Ryan Roy/King City, ON/Bayridge/103
3. Erynn Ballard/Tottenham, ON/Hide Away/102
4. Carly Campbell Cooper/Waterloo, ON/California/101
5. Sam Walker/Nobleton, ON/Heavenly/99.5
6. Muffie Guthrie/Guelph, ON/Lucky 2 Knight 99
7. Quincy Hayes Aurora, ON Posh 98.5
8. Muffie Guthrie Guelph, ON Damiro van ter Notelaere 97