Jumping
Local favorite and nationally known Canton, GA based Terry Brown and Tasty kicked off the opening week of the Spring Classics with double Championship honors in the 1st Year Green Working and Green Conformation Hunters.
Owner of Showcase, Ltd., Terry has a list of accolades that could stretch across the country easily, yet is happiest when the wins come on her “home turf” at the Georgia International Horse Park. “With the great talent that comes to compete here it’s just double the pleasure to be the hometown girl and win.” Brown commented. Among other notable hunter champions for the opening week were owner Nancy Jones’ Colorado ridden by Gary Young for the top spot in the 2nd Year Green Working hunters and Aiken, SC based Daniel Geitner picked up the Tri Colors with El Gaucho (owned by James Fisher) in the Classic Hunter division, plus top rights from the Pre Green 3’ Hunters aboard the Libba Fisher owned Playoff. Also from Aiken, SC, owner-rider Michael Tokaruk claimed the Championship in the Pre Green 3’3 Hunters with Windsor.
Thursday’s perfect blue skies saw a hint of things to come from the Grand Prix arena as the Lucky Seven’s Welcome Stake presented by The Farm House got under way with 21 tough competitors vying for the victory. Virginia based Sulu Rose-Reed of The Galloping Field triumphed in the end with mount Ganon. Their first round time of 72.46 was safely below the allotted 77 seconds and the duo kept up the momentum for the jump off going double clean in a quick 35.896-again way under the 44 second limit.
The 12 obstacle-15 effort course was constructed under the guidance of Zionsville, IN resident, designer Allen Rheinheimer. Right from the start fence, a vertical with a dark grey wall beneath the rails that eliminated three riders, Rheinheimer challenged the riders to “think before jumping”. Typical rollback turns, and a triple combination didn’t appear to cause many to fault in comparison to the number who “tripped” up on the #7 vertical after making a sweep right off the #6 liverpool. It appeared miscalculating their stride and speed was the trouble. Only eight horses returned for the abbreviated jump off course of 7 elements which had competitors traversing a couple of tight turns which began at the #3 oxer and wound around the Olympic size ring to end with a slice across the final tall vertical. Setting the stage for this weekend’s big $25,000 Cherry Blossom Grand Prix.
Without question one of the busiest riders this week was Michael Tokaruk co-owner, with brother Luke, of the Aiken, SC based Tokaruk Show Stables. After a stellar week of championships in both the hunter and jumper divisions Tokaruk iced his cake with the sweet taste of triumph in the former Olympic arena winning today’s $25,000 Cherry Blossom Grand Prix presented by the Classic Company.
According to Michael the highlight of the afternoon for him was the grand prix debut of brother Luke with new horse Lucius 35. “It was a first for both and I couldn’t be happier for Luke!” gushed the older brother while Luke sat with a perpetual grin on his face. The brothers faced off against 16 horse-rider combinations and the lengthy 13-obstacle [15 effort] layout created by Allen Rheinheimer. Take 3 double combinations, the first being an oxer to vertical early in the course at 3AB, mix with some rollbacks, square oxer pairs at 5AB and a long track that encompassed almost the entire Olympic arena and it was clear the key to success was endurance. “You had to ride correctly and ride the tracks. Your horse had to be rideable and fit.” Michael began of the first round; “I thought it was a good course for the kind of day we had.” Referring to the drop in temperature-having been in the 70’s on Saturday and barely hitting 50 today, the slight wind, and more notably the Cherry Blossom Festival taking place on the grounds above the grand prix arena. A mixture of bands, balloons, huge carnival rides, and people loomed as horses navigated the course. “The 16th effort there.” a laughing Luke added.
The 96 second time limit was not a factor as most horses finished far under the mark, including Tokaruk’s 14 year-old Holsteiner gelding Lord Byron (Lordy to barn mates) who went clear in 88.31. “He was amazing!” Michael said of Lordy, “Anywhere I wasn’t quite on it, he gave more than 110%.” None of the doubles posed a problem for either Tokaruk, “at home we practice all sorts of combinations.” Michael said and went on to comment of the 5AB oxers, “The distances walked fine and it rode nicely. As long as you backed them up a little so that they’d kicked up their hind legs it was fine.” Luke chuckled saying, “My horse just loves combinations.” Brother Luke had the lucky position of going last in the order giving him the opportunity to observe how opponents faired, including Michael. The 10 year-old Lucius 35 (a Holsteiner gelding) did not let his new partner down, going clean in the first round with a time of 91.92. Joining the brothers in the final round would be 6 others including fellow Aiken residents Daniel Geitner aboard Mrs. Charles Bostwick’s Sympa and Angel Karolyi with two mounts, Noble Carthago owned by Paxton Mendelssohn and Galant owned by McLain Ward.
The 44 second 7 effort jump off would test the horses’ scope and speed. From the inside turn after the second fence to a tight rollback off the fifth fence to an immediate bending turn toward the final fence. Angel and Noble Carthago had an amazing run going until the final oxer where a nick of the rail cost them 4 faults with a time of 33.242. Following next was Kate Gerhart and Timo with a momentum that appeared to be carrying them towards the lead, but sadly the jinx seemed to be the last fence for this pair as the rail dropped again leaving them to finish with 4 faults in 32.854 seconds. “I didn’t watch anyone go before me. I was fifth in the order and a couple had gone clear so I knew I had to go fast as I possibly could.” Michael confessed. “I told him to watch the last jump because of those first two having it down.” Luke added. So much for sibling rivalry, it’s more like sibling solidarity. Aside from his brothers sage words Michael felt the toughest part was “the inside turn to 3AB. I knew I had to hit it just right..and I did! I left a stride out to the Swedish oxer and then he [Lordy] turned on a dime back to the triple bar. I think I could have left a stride out to the last oxer and been even faster, but I wanted to stay clean.” he concluded with a grin. Their time of 31.692 seized the lead with two left in the round including brother Luke. “We did have a bit of an advantage going at the end.” Michael further commented of the last round, “Luke had a great draw for the order today.” Luke used his luck to go clear once again in a time of 37.219.
The brothers, who hail originally from Ontario, Canada, have turned their mutual love of horses, talent in the irons, and show-jumping experience into a burgeoning family business. As for now competing with the one another in the prix ring Michael laughed as he shared a memory, “It was in Aiken last year I believe, I won the $30,000 event. We got back to the barn and I said you know I can’t wait until it’s you in the jump off..Luke sorta scowled and grumbled “Yeah me neither.” And now it is! I think it’s great, we help each other, and if one of us wins then the barn wins.” Luke included his two cents worth, “We both win.”
Originally the Tokaruk’s had only planned to show this first week of the Spring Classics and not that Michael is superstitious, but he admitted “when I saw Bob Bell earlier in the week he said I’ll look for you Sunday in the winners circle. I laughed and said ok well if that happens I guess we’ll stay another week, so looks like we better stay.” After a few days back home to let the horses relax brothers Tokaruk will return for next week’s grand prix competition.
Official results for the Cherry Blossom Grand Prix were victors Michael Tokaruk and Lord Byron with a clear final time of 31.692. Second place went to Angel Karolyi aboard Galant going clear in 31.965. Third went Daniel Geitner and Sympa with a fault free time of 32.354. Fourth place went to Susan Horn on the Kingsfield Farm entry Playboy De Trichot with a clean time of 35.697. And completing the top five was Luke Tokaruk and Lucius 35 with a clean finish in 37.219.
The Atlanta Spring Classics continue through April 6th with showing taking place Wednesday through Sunday each week. Classes begin daily at 8AM until approximately 4:30PM and the public is invited. Admission is free and each Sunday afternoon will host an exciting $25,000 Grand Prix jumper event. For more information or results on the Spring Classics visit www.classiccompany.com or call the show office at 770-602-2510.
Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY, is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com or Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322, cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com.
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