Aaron Vale and Serval win Louise Salter Memorial Grand Prix © Flashpoint Photography

ASHEVILLE, NC (July 21, 2006) — Aaron Vale of Aiken, SC, continued his streak with a victory in this afternoon’s $25,000 Louise Salter Memorial Grand Prix partnered with Serval, the 11-year-old Belgium Warmblood gelding owned by the Serval Group.

True to his words from Thursday’s Welcome event, course designer Allen Rheinheimer of Zionsville, IN, gave the starting field quite a first round challenge. The layout of 13 obstacles that encompassed the entire grass arena had it all: Long sweeping turns as well as some tight twists to showcase his course of 16 huge efforts and truly test each competitor. As with Thursday’s tracks there was a wicked rollback from fence 8 to 9 that lead into one of the three combinations on the course – a vertical-to-vertical double at 10AB. “I gave them 104 seconds to get through it,” Rheinheimer commented with a laugh.

Vale’s student Paige Beal Andros, riding Gelha’s Junior for owner Fairway Farm, was the first horse to tackle the course and the first to go clear with a time of 102.253 seconds. “She’s from California but rode with us this winter and after a short break back home returned to prep for the North American Young Riders Championships,” Aaron bragged with a smile. “She’s a great talent.”

Serval was his first of three rides for the event and went clear in a time of 99.864. “Nice course but really long,” he replied when asked about round one. “Footing went great but the 3 to 4AB with it being a forward 5 stride was a little tricky, especially so early in the course.” His second mount, Thursday’s winner Arriscraft Soleil, showed no trouble getting around the long layout, going clean in a time of 100.656. The footing proved great when his final ride of the first round, Waldi, going near the bottom of the order, had a clear run in 100.728 seconds.

A mere 7 horses returned for the jump off course of 7 obstacles that appeared to have as many twists if not more than round one. Ideally coming off the 3rd fence, a wide oxer, the best strategy was to make a hard roll to the left and right into the 7AB combo, oxer to vertical, followed by another left sweep to the final line at speeds better than the 49 second allowance. The problem with this theory was if the rider went too fast it could get a little slick at the 7AB combo, not from moisture but the friction.

“I held all of mine back just a little from their normal. Deciding safer-smarter was better than faster on this course,” Vale said of the jump off ride. Serval was 3rd in the return order and went clear in a time of 41.032 becoming the new leader as well the one to chase. Junior rider Hardin Towell, riding Iago Du Quesnoy, gave chase to Vale with a blazing time of 39.962 but an unfortunate rail down on the last fence. “He really came after me,” Aaron began, “Hardin’s a terrific rider. He gave it his all on that ride and would have had it except for that last rail. I don’t know what happened... but I’m glad it fell,” he finished with a warm smile and laugh.

The Vale trifecta included second place going to Waldi, owned by Millstream, Inc., with a clear jump off time of 41.553, and third place to Arriscraft Soleil with a clear time of 41.850. Owner-rider and bride-to-be Elizabeth “Liza” Towell with Rockefeller placed 4th in a clear time of 44.006, and brother Hardin Towell with his mount Iago Du Quesnoy completed the top five with a fast 39.962 and 4 faults.

Prior to the start of the Grand Prix the audience was treated to the Parade of Champions. Classic Company Bob Bell presented the awards to the Grand Champions who include:

• All Heart, owned by Bill Schaub and shown by Taylor Ann Adams, was awarded Grand Pony Champion.
• Diva, owned by Sarah Sullivan and piloted by Hunt Tosh, was presented as Grand Pre Green Hunter Champion.
• Georgetown, owned and ridden by Molly Gardner, was named Grand 1st Year Green Hunter Champion.
• Natalie, owned by Hunt and Mandy Tosh and shown by Lauren Hogan, became the Grand Green Hunter Champion.
• Lexus, owned by Boothe Parker and shown by Harold Chopping, was awarded the Grand Regular Working Hunter title.

“This has been an incredible two weeks. I honestly hate to see it come to an end tomorrow but we’ve got big plans for next year to start working on,” Bell stated after the closing events, “Very exciting things happening for the future!”

The Biltmore Estate Summer Classics conclude tomorrow with showing taking place from 8AM until approximately 4:30PM and the public is invited to attend. Admission is required to the Biltmore grounds and may be purchased at the gates. For more information or results on the Summer Classics visit www.ClassicCompany.com or call the show office at (828) 225-6202.