Pointing toward “Victory in Versailles,” the venue of this summer’s Paris Olympics, the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation raised $2 million for its efforts at a weekend party hosted by Zacharie and Louis Vinios at their Five Rings farm in Wellington, Fla.
Bruce Springsteen and his wife, Patti Scialfa, entertained at the USET Foundation gala. (Jump Media Photo)
The co-chairs of the gala, Bruce Springsteen and his wife, Patty Scialfa, performed and put up for auction two trips to concerts on their band’s plane. Their daughter, Tokyo Olympics team show jumping silver medalist Jessica Springsteen was on hand as well. Another big ticket item also purchased twice at the auction was a vacation at a Tuscan villa donated by Glen Senk and Keith Johnson.
James McNerney Jr., the USET’s president and CEO, explained that unlike the situation in other countries, equestrian sport in the U.S. does not receive government funding and relies primarily on the USET Foundation to raise money needed for training and international competition. He was given the R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award for his service.
The setting for the gala summoned Paris. (Photo by Luxeciné)
Other awards presented during the party went to Olympic show jumping multi-medalist McLain Ward, who received the Whitney Stone Cup, while a representative of the younger generation of show jumpers, Zayna Rizvi, took the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy.