Edited Press Release
Lake Placid, NY – July 8, 2023 – Jordan Coyle of Ireland won the $75,000 Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix presented by Kadley Farm on Saturday at the I Love New York Horse Show, the second week of the 2023 Lake Placid Horse Shows (LPHS) Sponsored by Bainbridge Farms, LLC, and Presented by Sea Shore Stables, LLC. Awarding more than $600,000 in prize money, the horse show concludes Sunday when it will feature the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championship North presented by Eastern Hay & Grain and Purina Animal Nutrition.
Celebrating 54 years of equestrian tradition, LPHS hosts competitions for riders of all levels and ages ranging from young children on polished ponies, to glistening hunters, to Olympic veterans aboard their grand prix mounts. Competition at the North Elba Showgrounds is held in four spectacular show rings – the Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix Field, the E.R. Mische Jumper Ring, the EquiJet Main Hunter Ring, and the Kovacs Williams Hunter Ring.
Coyle rode eighth of the nine who reached the jump-off by riding fault-free over the 16-effort first-round course designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral of Portugal, course designer for this year’s FEI World Cup Finals. He and For Gold, Falkirk Farm LLC’s 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, turned in a blazing ride over the eight-jump tiebreaker course, finishing clean in 34.568 seconds to take the lead from five-time U.S. Olympian McLain Ward who had just moved into first with a clean ride in 35.276 seconds on First Lady.
The final entry, Jimmy Torano (USA) on Chewbacca HCC, winner of last week’s $75,000 Great American Insurance Group Grand Prix Presented by Alliant Private Client, finished clean in 35.328 seconds to place fourth. Third went to Ward on Cedric 84 with a clean ride in 35.282 seconds, and Torano took fifth on Kochio Z with a clean ride in 36.498. Torano’s two top-five placements, coupled with last week’s win, earned him the Richard & Diana Feldman Perpetual Trophy for Excellence for the best combined finishes in Lake Placid’s two Grand Prix events.
“He’s a new horse to me,” Coyle said. “My wife’s been a little frustrated with me that I haven’t been going fast enough with him. Everything we’ve jumped, he’s been in the top five, but today I threw everything at it and I’d say he’s pretty good at going fast! He’s a phenomenal horse and he’s quite easy to ride, so he makes my job easy. He felt fantastic today. Any day you can beat McLain Ward, you’re doing pretty well!”
