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Barman Des Ponts and Nick Haness Victorious in $5,000 Middleburg Classic Derby

Upperville, Va. – September 21, 2024 – Competition kicked off with the $5,000 Middleburg Classic Derby, sponsored by Hesslink Williams LLC, at the 2024 Middleburg Classic Horse Show on Saturday morning, where some of the country’s top hunters gathered to compete for the winning title. At the end of the “hunt and go” style event, it was Nick Haness who once again led the lap of honor, this time aboard Madison Wu’s Barman Des Ponts after earning two scores of 91. They narrowly edged out Vivian Yowan and Lord Fantasy KWG, who placed second, while Haness also claimed the third place prize with Odette. 


“We've had a super week, but it feels good to have all the horses in the right shape before indoors,” expressed Haness after his win. “We've been on the East Coast and trying to strategically plan how to get the horses mentally and physically ready to be in tip-top condition before indoors. This show here is always a great place to compete – a beautiful venue and everyone is so nice. It's really important to keep that tradition alive here and we're very grateful to be in a good place before we go into the next event.”

Vivian Yowan and Lord Fantasy KWG

The format for this derby was a Hunt-and-Go where riders started their classic round in Main Hunter Ring and continued with fences 7- 13 for their handy round, which included an in-and-out, a trot fence, and multiple rollbacks. Barman Des Ponts was brilliant over each fence and topped the standings with a combined score of 182. Vivian Yowan and Lord Fantasy KWG took home the second-place award, earning a score of 180.5. Just behind them was Haness with his second mount, Odette, who earned a combined score of 177. 

Nick Haness and Odette

“The hunt and go is a long format, but I actually really enjoy them and I think it gives the horses an opportunity to go in and they're ready to go at that moment,” explained Haness. “ They don't have to go back and forth so many times. Barman is really, really tidy in his turns, and he's very capable of turning and jumping and galloping - as well as the trot jump, thank goodness!”


Barman Des Ponts is a 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding who normally competes in the Junior Hunters with his owner Madison Wu, who has earned several derby victories of her own the talented horse. “He's a great derby horse, and at 13 years old Madison has won a lot of large derbies, really competitive classes,” noted Haness. “He's a great guy. He's very good at this class. She could not make it this week, so I figured we would practice before Capital Challenge. 

Nick Haness and Barman Des Ponts

Haness continued, “My friend Cassandra Karazissis  imported this horse a few years ago and had called me and said, this horse is amazing. You have to have him for Madison. We basically bought him sight unseen, and they thought I was crazy at first, but her first horse show with him she won a derby. So he's been an amazing partner for us, for Madison. She's very lucky to have a horse like him and we love having him in the barn.”


Several other divisions crowned their Grand Champions, beginning with the Grand Children’s Pony Hunter Championship, which was awarded to Lily Scheurich & Bordeaux. The Grand Children’s Hunter Championship trophy was presented to Kenzie Smith and Sundown. Another special award for the day was The Friends Memorial Sportsmanship Trophy, which was presented to Lillibet Motion for exemplary sportsmanship this week. The Best Tack Room was earned by John and Stephanie Ingram LLC. 

Lillibet Motion winning The Friends Memorial Sportsmanship Trophy

The 2024 Middleburg Classic will continue on Sunday with the final Grand Hunter Championship awards, marking the conclusion of this unique one-week hunter event. Make sure to check out the silent auction as well, with all proceeds benefiting the Piedmont Environmental Council. To see the items available and start bidding click the button below.

SILENT AUCTION

For more information about the Middleburg Classic Horse Show please visit www.MiddleburgClassic.com.

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