Toronto, Ontario – For the second year in a row, victory in the $75,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix belonged to McLain Ward of Brewster, NY.

One of the featured events of the Royal Horse Show running November 3-12 in Toronto, ON, the $75,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix saw 24 of the best riders in the world line up to tackle course designer Michel Vaillancourt’s challenging track. And neither the competitors nor the audience were disappointed, as 10 riders managed to jump clear and advance to one of the most exciting jump-off’s in Royal Horse Show history.

As the fourth rider back for the jump-off, Ward, 31, made quick work of the course, turning on a dime and galloping to the finish to stop the clock at 36.51 seconds riding Goldika, his bay Holsteiner mare. None who followed were able to catch his time, giving him and Goldika their second consecutive victory in the CN World Cup Grand Prix.

“I did the inside turn which the riders after me took, but she’s a fast and experienced horse,” said Ward who pocketed a $25,000 winner’s cheque presented by Hunter Harrison, CEO of sponsor CN. “The Royal Horse Show makes an effort to bring the best horses and riders here, and you try to rise to the occasion. It was a great win, and I needed it!”

Canada’s Jill Henselwood came heartbreakingly close to catching Ward, clocking in at 36.78 seconds with Special Ed. The rider from Oxford Mills, ON, promised revenge, laughing, “I’ll get McLain next time.”

With 35.25 seconds on the clock, Ian Millar of Perth, ON, had the fastest time of the night but paid the price of fame when the overexcited crowd cheered loudly as he approached the final fence, disturbing In Style’s concentration and causing the rail to fall. The eight-time Olympian finished fifth. Two Americans, Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, and California’s Richard Spooner both had clear jump-off efforts to finish third and fourth respectively.

The Royal Horse Show continues through Sunday with featured events including Thursday evening’s FEI World Cup Canadian League Final, presented by Yamana Gold and Friday’s $50,000 Weston Canadian Open. Tickets for all Royal Horse Show performances, held as part of the 84th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling 416 872-7777 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.ca For more information on the Royal Horse Show, including complete schedules, please visit www.royalfair.org

$75,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix

  1. McLain Ward United States Goldika 0:0 36.51
  2. Jill Henselwood Oxford Mills, ON Special Ed 0:0 36.78
  3. Beezie Madden United States Desilvio 0:0 37.57
  4. Richard Spooner United States Cristallo 0:0 38.46
  5. Ian Millar Perth, ON In Style 0:4 35.25
  6. Michael Whitaker Great Britain Portofino 0:4 38.68
  7. Georgina Bloomberg United States Cim Christo 0:9 43.08
  8. Rodrigo Pessoa Brazil Oasis 0:10 48.09
  9. Frankie Chesler Orangeville, ON Picolien Zeldenrust 0:17 47.50
  10. Hyde Moffatt Brantford, ON Ting Tin 0:elim.

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