World Equestrian Center – Ocala was brimming with spectator and exhibitors alike to watch the $100,000 Wheels Up Grand Prix. Thirty of the world’s best athletes representing nine different nations vied for the winning title over tracks built by FEI Level IV course designer, Leopoldo Palacios (VEN). Daniel Coyle (IRL), fresh off two European World Cup™ victories, continued his winning streak by clinching both first and second place.
Leopoldo Palacios crafted a challenging track, where a total of nine horse-and-rider combinations managed to jump a clear first-round effort. The tie-breaking field consisted of some of the sport’s quickest athletes, but it became a battle between New Zealand and Ireland in the end.
Daniel Coyle complimented tonight’s design, “It was a great course. I talked to Leopoldo before we started. He’s the best course builder there is. The most difficult for sure, but most people like that. He wanted nine clears and I think there were exactly nine, so he was right on it.”