by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 22, 2025
Ron Turcotte, who in 1972 rode Secretariat to racing’s first Triple Crown in a quarter-century, died Friday. He was 84.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame stated: “Ron was a legendary rider and also an inspiration for all he achieved and overcame during his incredible life. Although best known for sweeping the Triple Crown with Secretariat–culminating with a 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes – Turcotte’s Hall of Fame career spanned 18 years and more than 3,000 wins.
“As an ambassador for both the sport and the legacy of the great Secretariat, Ron made countless people into fans of racing through his kindness and the time he gave to all, whether telling stories about Big Red, signing autographs, or posing for pictures. He was a fierce competitor on the track and a gentleman off of it. He will forever be remembered as one of the game’s greats.”
The Belmont victory was historic, and I am still grateful I was present to witness it and write about the moment of a lifetime. Secretariat’s solo run to the finish line (he left the rest of the field behind in another dimension) was something I will never forget, a moment out of time.
That famous run.
“With 70 yards to go, I chirped to him to make sure he did not lose focus,” Turcotte told Tom Pedulla when remembering that magnificent airborne gallop.
“He responded by finding still another gear. Sure that the race was won, that Secretariat would be the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, I was able to soak in everything. The crowd that was going wild. The teletimer. track announcer Chic Anderson’s memorable race call. ‘Secretariat is widening now. He is moving like a tremendous machine!” Turcotte wanted to make sure the big red horse to set a record, and he did.
The jockey’s career was cut short in 1978 when a fall at Belmont Park left him a paraplegic. He made appearances at racetracks to celebrate his career and raise awareness for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. He moved back to his home town of Grand Falls in New Brunswick, Canada, where he was honored with a life-sized statue of himself riding Secretariat.
Turcotte was the last survivor of the triumvirate who oversaw Secretariat’s history-making career. Trainer Lucien Laurin died in 2000 and the horse’s owner, Penny Tweedy, passed away in 2017.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 20, 2025
It’s four months and a bit until Florida’s Winter Equestrian Festival gets under way again, but the improvements at Wellington International have been in the process since last year. The break from showing in July and the first half of August enabled more work to be completed at the showgrounds.
Prize money for the WEF finale, the the Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix, is being increased to $1 million from $750,000 in 2025, while all 4* WEF Grand Prix qualifier prize money has been boosted from $62,500 to $116,100. There will be 68 FEI jumping world ranking classes, while prize money has increased in all 1.25m and higher Junior and Amateur Jumper Classics from $10,000 to $15,000.
When the showgrounds were bought back by the former owners in 2024, that marked a new beginning. Very little had been done to improve the facility during the two-year tenure of the former owners, Global Equestrian Group. The new ownership began work immediately under the supervision of former U.S. Equestrian Federation President Murray Kessler, now CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions.
The efforts under the auspices of Equestrian Lifestyle Partners has included installing state-of-the-art lighting for the main arena, four additional rings — including a grass field that will be ready for showing in 2027 — and adding acreage from adjoining “Pod F” to transition the old venue from cramped to spacious.
By 2027, dressage will move over from the Equestrian Village down the street. Plans also call for a construction of a stadium, new FEI stabling for the jumpers, an indoor arena and refurbished FEI stabling for dressage, among many other improvements that include a more elegant VIP area and an indoor arena.
For 2026, three dressage FEI World Cup qualifiers will be offered.The stands for dressage will be covered for the first time.
New footing is set for the International Arena and its schooling area, while renovations have been completed in the Grand Hunter Ring, which will be used for dressage when that discipline arrives at the main showgrounds.
Wi-Fi around the showgrounds is being improved and roads between the barns are being resurfaced to reduce dust and improve drainage,
Food and beverage enhancements will include food service to the box seats, new Tiki Hut furniture, new self-contained buffet bars and additional action stations for more variety.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 18, 2025
After a long battle with cancer, respected horsewoman Linda Andrisani passed away in her sleep Sunday night.
She set a high bar, both as a trainer and a widely admired judge, whose contributions to the horse industry were always appreciated by her peers and exhibitors alike.
Linda Andrisani
“She set the standard for all of us to emulate, said National Show Hunter Hall of Fame President Jimmy Lee.
“Linda was one of a kind…and of course, the right kind. On a personal note, she was a great friend for over 40 years. I am deeply saddened, but blessed to have had her friendship.”
Linda and her partner, the late Jack Stedding, produced wonderful horses and riders. She also was nearlyas well-known for her fashion sense as she was for her horse sense and freely offered advice.
The winner of the U.S.Hunter Jumper Association’s lifetime achievement award in 2023, Linda “epitomized the definition of achievement; doing a thing successfully, typically with skill, effort and most importantly, with courage, and that’s 100 percent Linda,” as Jimmy put it.
Streett Moore, who rode with her for 50 years and became an admired trainer himself, said she was like a second mother to him.
“If I didn’t have a great day, she would reach out to me and make sure I was okay and say, `Son, don’t worry about it. It will be okay, there’s always tomorrow.’
“She taught me about things that went beyond just learning how to ride.”
Charlie Dennehy recalled that he “always enjoyed showing in front of Linda, because I knew I would get a fair and honest opinion of how well my horse and I executed the `plan.’
“Dad’s last words when I walked in the ring in front of Linda were always along the lines of `Don’t give her any reasons; because she WILL catch them’.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 17, 2025
Victoria Colvin became the only rider ever to win the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship four times on four different horses, as she rode through pain to take the title Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Tori and the Ingram family’s Dicoblue PS, winner of the Classic round the previous day, were able to top the event’s finale, the Handy round to earn the tri-color. Jennifer Hannan and Cellestino finished second, ahead of John French and Milagro.
Tori Colvin and Dicoblue PS (USHJA photo)
Tori had a fall in the warm-up early in the class on another horse. She scratched that mount, but although her ribs were hurting as a result, she persevered to define what makes a champion.
“It was a bit of a fluke accident,” she observed after the class.
“Everything is all right – it was a little painful at first, but it’s okay now. Dicoblue PS took me around beautifully and he’s an incredible horse, so I give it all to him.”
She called the horse, “super-special. I’ve been riding him for a couple of years, and I’ve done mainly derbies with him, but he’s still a little green,” said Colvin, though you couldn’t tell it from watching his style of floating over the fences.
“He has shown once under lights, but he’s not quite used to this atmosphere. I wasn’t completely sure what to expect, but he went out there and was amazing. He didn’t even bat an eye.”
On the challenging 14-obstacle course set by Ken Krome and Meghan Rawlins, there were four high options, with the tallest fence set at 4 feet, 6 inches, while other highlights included a bounce double and a multi-faceted horseshoe, where riders could jump the three sections in any order and any direction.
“It was a difficult course – I felt like I was back to my equitation days,” Tori said.
“There were a lot of unique options, which was super fun and everybody could take their own route.”
Dicoblue earned scores of 92, 95 and 96. Adding in all four high options as well as their leading score from the Classic round, he and Tori had a two-round total of 608. Jennifer’s total was 597, while John finished on 583.5.
Two favorites ran into trouble along the route. Amanda Steege, who was on track to win last year until applause startled Lafitte de Muze at the end of his round, this time lost out when he ticked one of the tiny pieces of wood perched on top of the straw bale jump.
Hunt Tosh, another four-time winner of the class (but not on four different horses!) had a block at the stone wall and chipped in at the out of the in-and-out with Cannon Creek.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 16, 2025
The 2026 U.S. Equestrian Federation Grand Prix Dressage National Championship is moving to the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla., from May 13-17, where the atmosphere will offer a special opportunity in the run-up to the FEI World Championships at Aachen, Germany, later that year.
The Grand Arena, set against the impressive pillared backdrop of a 5-star hotel, is a special setting to test American riders at the top of their discipline. Although the Grand Prix competition is usually held among a variety of classes for national titles — from ponies on up — at the Dressage Festival of Champions in Illinois, that will not be the case next year.
“It was important for us to make our Grand Prix National Championship a stand-alone event, as it should be one of the most highlighted events for the qualified combinations. It’s also our intention to make it part of our selection process for the World Championships,” said Chef d’Equipe Christine Traurig.
The atmosphere is stunning, with spectators all around the arena and seated at ringside tables so close to the action that spectators may feel they can practically reach out to touch the horses.
“It is essential we see the top combinations on the same field of play with the same panel of judges in a comparable setting to what our experience will feel like in Aachen, Germany, at the Championships. WEC provides us with everything we need to best prepare our combinations for just that, while also attracting spectators and ensuring a memorable championship,” Christine explained.
The facility hosts the only U.S. competition in the Longines League of Nations for show jumping. It has attracted top riders from Europe and the Americas.
A view of spectators with a ringside seat at the hotel during the Longines League of Nations. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
On behalf of the Robert family, which owns WEC, Roby Roberts said, “We are honored to host the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship at World Equestrian Center Ocala. This prestigious event represents the pinnacle of American dressage, and we are excited to provide a stage that reflects the caliber of the athletes competing. With our world-class facilities and commitment to quality, class and distinction, WEC is uniquely positioned to deliver an unforgettable championship experience for competitors, horses, and fans alike. We look forward to welcoming the equestrian community to Ocala and celebrating the best in U.S. dressage.”
The qualification period for the championship begins Sept. 1 and combinations seeking qualification for the championship must earn required scores at FEI events.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 5, 2025
London. Vienna. Rome.
Liberty State Park?
How does a New Jersey park wind up on the same page of the Longines Global Champions Tour website with some of the world’s greatest cities that have hosted its show jumping competitions?
It’s all about the vista — because the park has a great view of the Statue of Liberty and New York skyline. A presence in the Manhattan area is important to the international jumping competition, which is why the GCT is scheduled to host a show at the park Sept. 19-21.
Among the many accomplished riders who are regulars at GCT competitions are Olympic multi-gold medalist Ben Maher of Great Britain; current individual gold medalist Christian Kukuk of Germany, world champion Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden and the USA’s Jessica Springsteen, who grew up in New Jersey,
The last time GCT was staged in the New York metro area, its show was a half-mile south of Manhattan at Governor’s Island, reachable only by ferry, a situation that made it inconvenient at best.
Liberty State Park and its vista.
Liberty State Park is easier to access, which means there is great demand for tickets to the competition. The Sunday, which features the grand prix, is a sellout except for some VIP opportunities, but tickets in both the covered and uncovered stands, as well as the lounge, are still available for the Friday and Saturday shows that also include 5-star jumping.
Six-person and eight-person tables in VIP for all three days are on sale at $16,633.50 and $22,178 respectively.
For tickets, click here.
