Nov. 4, 1960

Margaret L. Smith reports on an epic battle in the conformation hunters at the Pennsylvania National in 1960.

Conformation Hunters

Two breathtakingly beautiful Thoroughbreds were crowned champion and reserve in the Conformation Hunter Division. Cold Climate, his chestnut coat gleaming like gold under the brilliant lights of the arena, earned the title of champion, and won a second leg on the Waiting Home Challenge Trophy, for his owner Mrs. J. Deane Rucker, whose Spanish Mint had won it last year.

Cold Climate is a mere babe as conformation hunters go, being only five years, yet he has collected many titles. He won the green conformation championship at Harrisburg in 1958 and 1959, and at New York in 1959. He has rarely failed to place in model classes—most frequently being in first place. Ridden at Harrisburg by Jack Payne, the gelded son of Chil Beau—Margery O, compiled 21½ points, winning first in the Middle and Heavyweight class, the stake and the model class, as well as three assorted seconds. Cold Climate’s performance in the stake was no less than perfect—rhythmic and sure, without a sound (not counting applause) except for soft thudding of hoofs in the tanbark between jumps, and utter silence over jumps—not a tick to be heard.

Reserve champion was the glamourous dappled gray, Bold Minstrel, by Bold and Bad—Wallace. The 8-year-old gelding, so richly dark that his rump is almost black, was owner-ridden by William D. Haggard III, for 14 points, winning second in the stake, first in the ladies, third in middle and heavyweight, and in the open, and fourth in the appointments class.

This article was first published on Nov. 4, 1960, in The Chronicle of the Horse. It’s part of a series celebrating 75 years of Chronicle history.