For the second year running, literally, Laura Chapot and speed broker Little Big Man ran away with the $65,000 Budweiser Prix de Penn National, closing night of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Tenth of 31, Chapot was the third clear round, and receiving both a warm welcome and appreciative applause as she successfully navigated the triple jump combination that stopped so many others.
Clearly the Harrisburg favorite, Chapot rode, as she always does-on the fine line dividing chaos and victory, turning in a blistering round while her colleagues just tried to keep all their fences in tact.
“I knew it was going to be close with Laura Kraut, a two-time winner of this Class and Kent Farrington riding behind me. I knew I couldn’t really take it easy. It was a pretty difficult course,” said the reed slim Nashanic Station, NJ native.
“He was really strong. This is really the only indoor show we do. It was great to hear all the cheering, it’s a great feeling of support. I think he likes it, too,” she said, admitting that indoor showing isn’t his strongest suit. He prefers the great outdoors.
The 11-year Dutch Warmblood must have had aces up his sleeves the past two years as he certainly aced the competition. His time, 33.37 in the jump off was nearly 3 ½ seconds quicker than Megan Johnstone aboard Stoney Hill LLC’s Ollandaise. Schuyler Riley on South Beach Stables’ Nottingham finished third. There were only three clear rounds in the jump-off.
Chapot also won the leading Open Jumper Rider honors for the third consecutive year. “This was a chance of a lifetime twice,” she said. Chapot’s mother, Mary grooms for Laura at Harrisburg. She earned the award for the Caretaker of the Grand Prix winner, a wheelbarrow full of equine care essentials. It was a happy family packing up to return home. Little Big Man, called “Pony” in the barn will be off until the winter circuit begin in Florida.
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