WEF ‘Saturday Night Lights’ $385,000 5* Bainbridge Grand Prix
Dr. Gregory Beroza, aka HorseDoc ‘Talking Horses,’ offers this recap of the $385,000 5* Bainbridge Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Entrance to WEF. Photo by GBeroza.
On March 9, 2024, the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at the Wellington International Show Grounds in Florida hosted the $385,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix. It marked the culmination of a magnificent ninth week of competition and took center stage for WEF’s traditional ‘Saturday Night Lights’ star-studded event, which hosted many of the best Olympic caliber jump riders showcasing their talent to earn a spot on several different national Olympic Teams. The 2024 Summer Olympics is scheduled from July 26 to August 11 in Paris, France.
Spectators at the event. Photo by GBeroza.
The WEF week was filled with numerous equestrian events, training and competitive action happening daily in several rings, with the featured Grand Prix Jump-Off event on a beautiful Saturday night in front of a packed crowd of several thousand friends, family, fans, and spectators. In attendance were several Olympic scouts and team leaders whose professional title is Chef d’Equipe.
Many Hall of Fame and Olympic-caliber riders shared their excitement and opinions with HorseDoc®, leading up to the climactic final evening’s jump off, which determined the top five competitors and ultimate Grand Prix winner. This 14-minute YouTube video showcases the major action:
Luciana Lossio (BRA) was the Grand Prix Champion and after winning was overflowing with joy at the Press Conference. She stated, “This is unbelievable for me. I’ve been with this mare for six years … and … we went higher and higher. Today I’m here in my first five-star and winning alongside these riders (Cook & Nassar) that I just enjoy watching. Lady Louise Jmen is so confident and doesn’t change from day to night, or from the grass (footing) to the sand (footing), she’s perfect.”
Luciana Lossio’s final winning jump. Photo by Sportfot.
Lossio rode next to last in a four-horse jump-off, masterfully designed by Ireland’s Alan Wade. Lossio’s final time of 39.53 seconds beat the second-place finisher’s, Nayel Nassar, time of 39.57 seconds, and Karl Cook’s initial jump-off round’s leading time of 39.90 seconds which dropped him to a 3rd place finish. Award honors were given by Jennifer and Richard Schechter, Chairman and CEO of the Bainbridge Companies and media was coordinated by WEF Press Officer Lindsay Brock.
Trophy winners presentation. From left to right: Nassar, Lossio and Cook are on the podium. -Jennifer and Richard Schechter to the right. Photo by Sportfot.
The Top Five Finalist Results:
- Luciana Lossio (BRA) & Lady Louise Jmen: 2010 mare
- Nayel Nassar (EGY) & Igor van de Wittimoere: 2008 Belgian WB gelding
- Karl Cook (USA) & Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet: 2010 Belgain WB mare
- Shane Sweetnam (IRL) & Otis Blue: 2014 Belgian WB gelding
- Kyle Timm (CAN) & Cassino Calvin: 2013 Oldenburg gelding
Dr. Gregory A. Beroza, DVM, DACVS, DABVP has been a practicing veterinarian and consultant for 42 years; and HorseDoc® ‘Talking Horses’® media host, author, and consultant since 2007. Dr. Beroza is a multimedia host and broadcasts his productions, including a new Podcast, via his WuzUpDoc Media website: www.WuzUpDoc.com. He can be found on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and other social media sources.
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