by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 8, 2021
A highly successful horse show held last autumn to benefit Kevin Babington will have an encore Oct. 10 at Duncraven in Titusville, with stable owner Tim Fedor offering the facility again to help the fund-raising effort.
Kevin, a U.S.-based Irish show jumper, suffered a severe spinal injury in a 2019 fall at a show. Although he was left as a quadriplegic, he has never stopped fighting to regain function, and has made some progress in a very long battle. Most recently, he received a stem cell transplant at the Mayo Clinic, but he still has a long and costly road ahead of him.
The show is still in need of division sponsors as well as basket / item donations for the raffle.Those who would like to sponsor a division or donate something contact jroslowski@hotmail.com or (609)-439-8983. Volunteers are also needed.
Meanwhile, donations to the Kevin Babington Foundation are now tax deductible, as it has become a 501 c3 organization. The foundation not only helps the Babington family handle the enormous expenses involved with Kevin’s situation, it also provides funding and support for equestrians with spinal cord injuries. The foundation works to educate riders, trainers and show organizers about the most current safety measures designed to reduce the risk of spinal cord injury.. To donate, click on this link
by Nancy Jaffer | May 25, 2021
Upgrades have been made during 2020 and 2021 to the historic Devon shwogrounds, where the spring show has been cancelled for two years in a row, but summer and autumn competitions will go ahead.
More than 500 stalls have been reconstructed and screening has been added in the stalls to create a better surface. The majority of the barns have new exterior walls, refurbished to showcase their historic style. Stable doors have been replaced with new ones that honor the original look and feel. The iconic Devon cupolas have all been re-built and are up-lighted to showcase them.
“Our team has worked so hard to update the stabling at the show grounds so that exhibitors can have the best possible experience every time they compete,” said Wayne W. Grafton, chairman and CEO of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
“Ensuring that the horses have safe and comfortable accommodations was a top priority and we (are) thrilled to have it completed ahead of our summer competitions.”
The Brandywine Horse Shows begin June 30. The Devon Fall Classic will be held Sept. 15-19, followed by Dressage at Devon. Sept. 28-Oct. 3.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 19, 2021
Whether he was on the red carpet, running a horse show, pulling out all the stops to organize a party or helming his public relations firm, Mason Phelps Jr. was always a force to be reckoned with.
He knew everyone and had a knack of getting them to do what he wanted, usually for the greater good of the equestrian community. He was often controversial, but never dull.
Mason Phelps in the National Horse Show’s orange and black colors. (Photo © 2014 by Nancy Jaffer)
The multi-faceted Mason, who died in his sleep last night, will be missed from Newport to Palm Beach and on out to the West Coast, as well as Canada, where he spent quiet summers.
After a dinner with friends at his home in Wellington, Fla., Mason went to bed and didn’t wake up, succumbing to a heart attack. It’s probably the way he would have wanted to go, but it was just too soon; he was only 72.
Even so, the founder of Phelps Media Group and former National Horse Show chairman crammed plenty into his interesting life, from being an alternate on the U.S. Olympic eventing team in 1968, when he was Rider of the Year for the U.S. Combined Training Association, to running a hunter/jumper stable, founding the International Jumping Derby on his family’s farm in Newport R.I., serving in equestrian governance, leading the National Horse Show and being integral to starting the Equestrian Aid Foundation (formerly the Equestrian AIDS Foundation), a fundraising organization for equestrians in need.
Mason on Gladstone at Punchestown, Ireland, 1967. (Photo courtesy of Phelps Sports)
Most recently, he stepped up to head a new group, Athletes Equity Resource Center, that is raising funds for Athletes for Equity in Sport.
Kim Tudor had dinner with Mason earlier this month and recalled, “I’d never seen him happier or looking better.”
She met him through Gene Mische, head of Stadium Jumping Inc., who put Mason in charge of public relations when the National Horse Show moved to Florida in 2004. Mason had no p.r. experience, but he learned fast and started Phelps Media Group, which became a public relations giant in the industry.
“If it could be done and even if it couldn’t be done, he was going to try it,” said Kim, noting, “he just had the spark that lit up any event.” And those events often were over-the-top lavish.
His Denim and Diamonds fundraisers for the U.S. Equestrian Team were legendary. Who could forget the party where show jumpers Margie Goldstein-Engle and Leslie Howard rode in on elephants? And the entertainment, with such names as Donna Summer, The Village People and The Pointer Sisters?
Someone once told Kim, “Mason Phelps is the only person I know who could exceed an unlimited budget.”
Mason often organized parties to benefit the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
He definitely was a character, and a lot of fun, but never took himself too seriously.
“You could tell stories about him, but he could always tell them better,” observed Kim.
“Every room he was ever in, the spotlight was on him,” said Marty Bauman, head of the Classic Communications public relations agency and a close friend of Mason’s, who spoke to him just yesterday.
“He was a star, whatever he did, wherever he went. He packed a lot of living into his life.”
Gina Johnson, who knew Mason from her days working at Stadium Jumping, observed, “If you ever met anyone born to wear a tuxedo, that was Mason. He was so elegant and so funny and could be such a gentleman. Yes, he had very strong opinions and he was fearless in what he believed needed to be done.
“He was one of those once-in-a-lifetime personalities,” she remembered.
“He really did just light up the space he was in. It’s hard to believe he was mortal.”
Lenore Phillips, recently promoted to the presidency of PMG, is still in stunned disbelief at losing the company’s founder.
“It never occurred to me that there would be a situation when he wouldn’t be bugging me. I thought that was going to be a constant in my life and that I would be the one that went first,” she said with a sad chuckle, but noted the firm will continue without him.
Lenore, who had been a groom and a vet tech, always wanted to work for PMG, but through two interviews was told she didn’t have enough meaningful experience to qualify. Things changed in her third interview, when Mason marched into the room, interrupted and took over.
He talked to her for an hour and said “I think you’re the perfect fit for us, because you really know the industry and it seems like what you don’t know, you’ll figure out.”
She explained, “He gave me this huge chance and believed in me when other people didn’t. That’s just who he was. He loved people who loved our sport and there just isn’t going to be another person like him. There are so many people he propped up and pushed forward. That, I think, is the most important part of his legacy and that goes back to his generosity of spirit.”
Mason had more than one side; he definitely was multi-faceted.
“He was a judgmental person, and everyone who knows him knows how sharp he could be,” said Lenore.
“But at the same time, he was the first person to embrace you if you needed help.”
That help could take any form. When I met him at the Jumping Derby sometime in the 1980s, my rental car was stuck in the mud. Everyone had gone home, and I was alone–until Mason came along. He pitched right in and pushed my car out of the muck, this glamorous guy who had been hobnobbing with socialites at the fabulous Derby party the previous night.
When it came to those who had fallen on hard times and needed a financial boost, “he helped a lot of people, he gave a lot of money without a lot of recognition, and supported things related to the sport,” said Bill Weeks, chairman of the National Horse Show, who took over that position from Mason.
Bill is one of the many who have been impressed by Mason’s magic.
He remembered when Mason felt the National should move to Kentucky in 2011, he made a sponsorship pitch to Pearse Lyons, the head of Alltech, who had backed the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington.
Mason gave such a persuasive account of why Pearse should support the National that the executive ended up doubling the amount requested.
Mason got the National Horse Show moved to the Kentucky Horse Park. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
“I was almost in disbelief,” said Bill remembering how stunned he was. “It was like one of those pinch-me moments.” That was especially true because if Pearse had not come through, the future of the show would have been in doubt.
“Mason was always at his best when the chips were down and his back was against the wall,” Bill mused.
“Somehow, he’d always find a way forward. Mason was like the Pied Piper. He just had that enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit. He would get people motivated and they would follow.”
Mason dressed to suit every occasion; after all, you can’t always wear a tuxedo. Who can forget the figure he cut during his days at the National Horse Show, sporting its traditional colors in orange pants and a black jacket, or alternatively, black pants and an orange jacket. Remember him in white tie and tails? And then there was the time in 2005 that the good sport was Willy Wonka for a National Horse Show party.
Mason didn’t always wing it, and he took important matter seriously. He knew the industry and had deep insight into how it would have to evolve. For instance, in 2014, despite his deep roots in the past, he took note of the fact that the fall indoor shows needed to keep reinventing themselves.
“It’s a changing world,” he told me.
“Those of us with these events have to change with the times and not get stuck. Tradition is fine and I’m a believer in tradition. At the same time, you have to find a balance between tradition and what’s current.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 12, 2021
The inaugural Maryland 5-Star three-day event at Fair Hill will be offering $300,000 in prize money, while the 3-star Long that runs on the same dates Oct. 14-17 will award $25,000, the Fair Hill Organizing Committee announced today.
The events will be staged at the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Cecil County, Md., where the U.S Eventing Association’s Young Event Horse East Coast Championship also will be presented.
Meanwhile, British Eventing has suggested that a one-off 5-star could be organized to fill the need for such an event in the wake of the cancellation of the country’s two 5-stars, Badminton and Burghley. There are a lot of questions about such an initiative, including raising the necessary funding, as well as getting the right horses there due to commitments to the Olympics and European championships.
The Maryland 5-star organizing committee anticipates it will offer information in the coming weeks related to retail vendor applications, tickets, sponsorships, volunteer opportunities, livestream and broadcast partners.
Organizing committee co-chairs Mike Gill and Michael Hankin said, “While we remain focused on monitoring health and safety protocols for our event, we are excited to see that the conditions continue to improve here in Maryland, and that events are beginning to open up. We are looking forward to producing an inaugural Maryland 5-Star that will provide a top-class experience for our competitors, as well as our spectators.”
The event will mark a new chapter for the State of Maryland’s equestrian tradition. The Maryland 5-Star is one of only two CCI5*-L events in the United States, and the seventh worldwide, although two in England already have been cancelled due to Covid.
“It is (a) great feeling having sporting events coming back in Maryland this year and welcoming spectators,” commented Terry Hasseltine, president of The Sport Corp.
“The Maryland 5-Star at Fair Hill will be one of the highlights during the fall, giving people something to look forward to, and something new to experience. We are excited to showcase the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone for the first time and produce an event that our state can be proud of.”
For additional information and news from the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, visit www.Maryland5Star.us or follow on social @maryland5star.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 3, 2021
Like so much else, the Hunterdon Polo Classic is returning this year. It will be held June 12 at Fieldview Farm, 342 Quakertown Road, Pittstown.
Because of Covid protocols, however, there will be no general admission, only tailgates. Those attending must be part of a tailgate and arrive in one vehicle per tailgate. Tailgates will be spaced out to ensure social distancing is possible. Adjoining tailgates may be requested if more than one tailgate is needed. There will be no tailgate or hat judging. Gates open at 12:30, with the match starting at 2 p.m.
The match will benefit local charities, including the Hunterdon Art Museum, the Toshiko Takaezu Studio Project, Riding with Heart, Team Velvet and Crossroads4Hope. For info, contact hunterdonevents@gmail.com or call (908)713-POLO (7656).
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 24, 2021
Was it just four years ago that Ballynoe Castle RM, better known as Reggie, was retired at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event?
As we gathered at the Kentucky Horse Park this year for the competition, we got the sad news that the U.S. Eventing Association’s all-time high point earner had died in his field in Ocala at the age of 21. He was beloved by so many, but most of all, by his rider, Buck Davidson, and his owners, Carl and Cassie Segal.
As Buck noted, “He was a huge part of all of our lives for so many years and truly a horse of a lifetime.”
Carl Segal wrote me to say, “Cassie and I were shocked to hear about Reggie’s death in Ocala, as he has been healthy throughout his retirement. We are so fortunate to have owned Reggie all these years and will always remember the extraordinary joy he gave us. Early on, Buck and Reggie formed a special partnership that became difficult to beat. Buck obviously deserves enormous credit for Reggie’s tremendous success. We will always miss Reggie but he will never be forgotten.”
Here is a link to a story about Reggie’s life in retirement. Take comfort in knowing that this extraordinary horse had an extraordinary retirement, happily dividing his time between the Segals’ farm in New Jersey and Ocala, where he was part of Buck’s contingent there..No horse could ask for more.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 16, 2021
The Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event May 5-9, the Garden State Horse Show on the same dates and the Essex Horse Trials July 17-18 will be welcoming the public after the U.S. Equestrian Federation announced this week it will allow a limited number of fans to attend competitions starting May 3.
With restrictions on public attendance eased, the Essex Horse Trials again will host tailgaters. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
USEF has barred fans since last June 1 in an effort to keep things safe during the Covid pandemic. Under the new protocols, 40 percent of the ticketed spectator capacity will be allowed at USEF-licensed outdoor venues that operate with a ticketed gate. The alternative is a maximum of 400 spectators for competitions that do not ticket spectators, whichever is greater.
Sponsors, participants, competition staff, support personnel, volunteers, and service providers are not included in the spectator capacity numbers. Meanwhile, the USEF’s definition of sponsors has been expanded to include individual persons or business entities that have an agreement in place with the competition to provide goods, services, or financial support integral to the sustainability of a competition. Everyone who comes to a showgrounds must continue to wear a mask, unless they are on a horse, and will have to social distance.
Having a lot of space makes it easy to do that. Garden State, one of the state’s oldest shows, is being held for the first time at The Ridge at Riverview, 3 Wolverton Road, Asbury (Warren County) where there’s plenty of land to spread out.
The same goes for Jersey Fresh at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Monmouth County. Presented by B.W. Furlong & Associates, Jersey Fresh is the final selection trial for the U.S. Olympic eventing team. Already entered are three favorites to make the squad, Boyd Martin, Phillip Dutton and Liz Halliday-Sharp, the country’s leading eventing rider of 2020, as well as New Jersey native Doug Payne, who now lives in North Carolina. More entries are expected after next weekend’s Land Rover Kentucky 5-star Long and 4-star Short, as horses often reroute from Kentucky to Jersey Fresh if things don’t go as hoped in Lexington.
Tickets for Jersey Fresh can be bought on line or at the gate. Go to this link for information about tickets., Morgan Rowsell, co-organizer of Jersey Fresh with Jane Cory, said arrangements are being finalized on how to handle admission. Guidance will be posted here as soon as it is available. In addition to B.W. Furlong & Associates, the event’s sponsors include Zoetis, AIG and Boehringer Ingelheim.
Morgan is also the co-organizer of Essex in Far Hills with Ralph Jones and he designs the cross-country courses for both New Jersey events.
Essex Horse Trials co-organizers Ralph Jones and Morgan Rowsell, who also designs the cross-country courses. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Ralph commented that the easing of restrictions on the number of spectators who can come to the event in Somerset County “will allow us to better promote the Essex Horse Trials in July at Moorland Farm, as we have many vendors and tailgate patrons waiting to hear about our summer plans.”
With Essex nearly three months away, restrictions likely will be eased even further to permit more people to attend what has become a popular community event since its revival in 2017 after a 19-year absence from the scene. Its new date in July was arranged to avoid the wet ground that the event dealt with last year after intense June rain.
As Far Hills Mayor Paul Vallone noted, “We all have been through much and it is so great to see the beginning of normalcy and families coming together once again. It is my hope that the traditions that have defined our communities can once again come front and center. The Essex Horse Trials and the steeplechase (the October Far Hills Race Meeting at Moorland) are signature events that define equestrianism but equally important, are events that our residents have supported for 100 years.”
The borough will celebrate its centennial May 15.
Essex has dropped its advanced division for this year, hoping to reinstate it in 2022, but is offering sections up through Preliminary. Still on board are its sponsors, MARS, Peapack Gladstone Bank, AIG and Running S Veterinary Services.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 14, 2021
News that a limited number of spectators from the general public will be allowed under new Covid protocols at U.S. Equestrian Federation-licensed shows starting May 3 did not come in time to save the 2021 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
In addition, an April 16 statement from the show noted the venue’s 17-acre footprint doesn’t allow for proper social distancing during the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to have long lasting negative effects despite social distancing guidelines and recent vaccination efforts. With many factors beyond capacity limits, the social distancing protocols for such an intimate venue would have continued to prevent the success of the show regardless of the increase in allowed participation,” read the statement.
“The decision to cancel was overwhelmingly embraced by our local community as the right choice in these uncertain times. The DHSCF believes in protecting the health and safety of their entire community and does not believe this is possible with the venue’s structural limitations.
“The DHSCF is unlike any other horse show in the country. Although many other horse shows are able to operate under restricted conditions, the Board of Directors realizes that it cannot sacrifice the less recognizable parts of its event to run something that will be largely unrecognizable and that only a few can participate in. The complicated mechanics of putting on an event of Devon’s size was put on hold based on months of conversations with USEF. There is not enough time to resume preparations based on the adjusted timeline of USEF. As previously stated, the cancellation decision was made only after significant evaluation of the far-reaching operational and financial implications.
A view of the country fair at Devon.
Wayne Grafton, chairman of the show, said last Saturday that even if he had gotten word then on allowing spectators to attend, it would be too late, given all the work necessary to enable the show and fair to run at their iconic venue on Philadelphia’s Main Line. He explained the show couldn’t be held without the revenue-producing fair aend vice-versa.
Read that story here
Devon Horse Show Chairman Wayne Grafton.
USEF and Devon had been in talks for months over when fans would be welcome, and how many could be on the grounds. USEF originally said it was “optimistic” about lifting restrictions as of mid-May on spectators from the general public, who were banned under Covid protocols starting June 1,2020.
But for Devon, set to start its 11-day run on May 27, mid-May was far too late to plan. Wayne said Devon will celebrate its 125th anniversary a year late in 2022. This summer’s Brandywine show, which does not depend on spectators, is going ahead, as is the Devon Fall Classic in September and another special event in the fall.
Never an organization to miss a bet, the World Equestrian Center folks are offering a Devon alternative at their Ohio facility.
“With the cancellation of the iconic Devon Horse Show, World Equestrian Center is making plans to offer a special opportunity for Devon 2021 exhibitors. Pending sanctioning body approval, WEC will host an invitational horse show featuring classes, prize money and special events tailored just for you, exclusively at our Ohio venue from May 27-June 6, 2021.
“In the event that Devon is able to move forward with their show, we would suspend these plans,” said a statement from WEC. Those interested in learning more can contact TJ Campbell at tj.campbell@wec.net or (352) 857-4572.
Dr. Mark Hart, the USEF’s chief medical officer, said spectator protocols for federation-licensed shows are being finalized and new measures “along with any other pertinent updates in the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan” will be revealed April 20.
That is the day before the Land Rover Kentucky 5-star Three-Day Event is set to start. The competition was cancelled because organizers said they couldn’t run it without 50 percent of their usual spectators. But a grassroots fund raising effort from competitors and other supporters cancelled the cancellation, though riders galloping along the cross-country course will have to run without being cheered by their fans.
In terms of numbers starting May 3, 40 percent of the ticketed spectator capacity will be allowed at USEF-licensed outdoor venues that operate with a ticketed gate. The alternative is a maximum of 400 spectators for competitions that do not ticket spectators, whichever is greater. Indoors, a maximum of 30 percent of the ticketed spectator capacity will be allowed, or a maximum of 300 spectators for competitions that do not ticket spectators, whichever is greater. The percentages and numbers apply on a daily basis.
Spectators will still have to wear face masks and social distance. Sponsors, participants, competition staff, support personnel, volunteers, and service providers are not included in the spectator capacity numbers. Meanwhile, the USEF’s definition of sponsors has been expanded to include individual persons or business entities that have an agreement in place with the competition to provide goods, services, or financial support integral to the sustainability of a competition.
“We will continue to carefully monitor conditions and regularly consult with health authorities with the goal of being able to provide additional updates in the coming weeks and months that will further ease restrictions without endangering the health and safety of competitors,” Dr. Hart said.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 10, 2021
The stunning announcement came today that the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is cancelled for the second year in a row, as the organizers and board cited “far-reaching operational and financial implications due to on-going (Covid-related) restrictions imposed by U.S. Equestrian (USEF) regarding spectators and other important issues at their sanctioned events.”
Representatives of Devon had been in talks with the USEF about how many people could be allowed on the grounds of the suburban Philadelphia show, which has attracted as many as 126,000 people over its 11-day run, where the fair and carnival are also a draw.
USEF has barred general public attendance at its licensed competitions under Covid protocols, but advised last week it was “optimistic” that by mid-May, it would be able to permit a limited number of fans at USEF-licensed competitions. The federation planned to offer details in the next weeks “so that organizers and spectators have time to prepare in advance.”
According to the show’s chairman, Wayne Grafton, that timeline doesn’t work for Devon, which was scheduled to run May 27-June 6.
“We’ve been asking for the last 75 days,” he said.
As of April 1, the state of Pennsylvania began permitting 50 percent occupancy for outdoor events under its Covid rules.
Wayne noted that since USEF has its own health guidance and “we’re under license for them, we agreed to be in that boat when we agreed to their sanction. I tried to say to them…just leave the health issue to the state. We could have gone forward a month ago with state guidance.
“April 10 is too late for us to respond,” he explained.
“Devon is unique. Aside from the show, you’re hurting the institution. You’re damaging us financially. There’s more to it than just the loss of the show, as painful as that is. We will not have money to get through the year–pay the taxes, insurance, utilities. It’s a quagmire. The organization was prepared to go forward and lose money on this show. We could have gotten reasonably close with (using the) state guidance.”
The USEF was taken aback by the Devon decision.
“We were extremely disappointed and surprised to read the press release posted by the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair (DHSCF) this morning announcing the cancellation of the 2021 competition by the Board of Directors. Over the past several weeks, Bill Moroney, CEO USEF, has met with multiple representatives of the DHSCF to discuss updates to the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan that would allow a restricted number of spectators and accommodate sponsors,” said a USEF statement.
“These conversations were positive and productive. Amendments to the COVID-19 Action Plan are slated to be announced this week. DHSCF is an important and historic competition on the USEF calendar. While it is ultimately the business decision of the DHSCF Board of Director to go forward or cancel the show, the USEF has taken steps and will continue to take steps to work with all organizers to provide opportunities for competitions to go forward viably and safely. We are reaching out directly to the DHSCF Board of Directors to determine if they have any interest in revisiting their decision.”
When I questioned Wayne about whether the board might reconsider and stage the show, he replied, “We couldn’t make it happen.”
Entries for the jumpers, hunters, equitation and coaching closed last Monday, with all other entries wrapping up May 3 for the country’s largest multi-breed show, which also includes saddlebreds.
Cancellation is a blow for riders, so many of whom treasure Devon–designated a USEF Heritage Show–as an annual stop on their schedule.
“It’s disappointing. It’s disheartening. We love Devon, it’s a phenomenal event and venue. I think it’s a huge loss for our sport,” said McLain Ward, who in 2019 for the 11th time won the show’s grand prix named after his longtime mount, Sapphire.
“I don’t know who’s directly responsible. I don’t think the federation is the problem here. USEF has been able to work with every organizer in our country to run show after show successfully and find a way to do it safely,” he continued, citing competitions in Florida and California, among others.
“It seems like this announcement came out all of a sudden today, when I think there were still some people making great efforts to make it happen. There was still room and time to find some more support to make up some of that ground to make it go forward. So many sporting events are making great effort to continue through this difficult time. I offered whatever resources I have as far as relationships to try to help.”
The Olympic gold medalist noted grand prix riders can find somewhere else to compete, but he expressed sympathy for the junior riders, who will have missed two Devons and may never have a chance to ride there..
“It’s an entire generation’s career. That’s pretty devastating for those kids who worked.very, very hard to be the best of their level and age group. I think that’s very sad,” he said.
He pointed out that Devon would be “allowed to have the box holders as sponsors; they’re allowed to have a certain amount of occupancy, which I believe is 30 percent, and yes, the carnival and country fair at the very least will have to be significantly reduced.”
“It’s an entire generation’s career. That’s pretty devastating for those kids who worked.very, very hard to be the best of their level and age group. I think that’s very sad.”.
In that regard, Wayne said, “What most people don’t realize is that the horse show depends on the country fair and the country fair depends upon the horse show.”
McLain, meanwhile, noted, “But they are sold out for horse show entries. Devon is about sport, not about the fair. The fair is part of it. I think it’s very disappointing to lose sport over having to make some modifications to the activities, which are wonderful, but they are around what the core event is.”
Looking ahead to running the show in 2022, Wayne said Devon will donate the $45,000 of personal protective equipment it bought for its fixture to the Brandywine show that runs in June at the venue. In terms of fundraising, he is hoping to boost the Fall Classic in September and attract people to a program on the legends of Devon at Ardrossan, a nearby estate that was owned by former show chairman Hope Montgomery Scott, said to be the inspiration for the main character in “The Philadelphia Story.”
“I am as sick as I can be over this,” said Wayne about the cancellation.
“Staff is really, really dejected. Now the issue is trying to pick everyone up and walk it forward. We’ve got to get some funding in place to keep us going here. I call on everybody to support the events we have this fall to make sure we do have a grand 2022.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 9, 2021
The United Kingdom’s Prince Philip, a former president of the International Equestrian Federation, has died at the age of 99. Queen Elizabeth’s husband, who developed the sport of combined driving as a modern international competition, had been hospitalized in February for an infection and a heart issue, returning home last month.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s interest in horses was inherited by his son, Prince Charles, who had been an active polo player and his daughter, Princess Anne, a European eventing champion who succeeded Prince Philip as FEI president. His granddaughter, Zara Tindall, won the 2006 individual eventing world championship.and was on Britain’s 2012 silver medal eventing team.
The longest-serving prince consort in history, Philip married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, and was an active support to her as she succeeded her father to the monarchy after his death in 1952. A polo player in his younger days when he was one of Britain’s top 10 in that sport, Prince Philip turned to combined driving to keep himself actively involved with horses.
He helped standardize international rules and became a successful competitor, winning team gold at the 1980 World Driving Championships and bronze in 1978, 1982 and 1984. He also placed sixth individually in 1982. During his time as the longest serving FEI president, from 1964-1986, he supported the establishment of the show jumping World Cup..
The Queen spoke of her appreciation and love for her husband in her Diamond Jubilee Address in 2012, saying, “He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”
Current FEI President Ingmar de Vos said of Prince Philip, “His dedication to equestrian sports cannot be underestimated and will never be forgotten, especially in the driving community. He was born in the same year the FEI was founded and sadly, he will not be with us to celebrate his own and the FEI’s centenary this year. We will celebrate his life and remember him as a great ambassador of our sport.”
