Kent Farrington, of Greenwich, Conn., thrilled the crowd at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md., on Oct. 7, as he rode a blistering track to edge out McLain Ward for the title in the $50,000 Ariat Congressional Cup Grand Prix. The grand prix was a highlight of the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

“I knew McLain would be the one to beat on Goldika,” said Farrington. “When he is fast, he is very fast and that mare is very careful.”

Farrington and his mount, Madison, stopped the clock in 31.83 seconds, 1.57 seconds faster than Ward and Goldika.

The World Cup qualifier offered up a challenging course designed by Leopoldo Palacios. Palacios was able to narrow the field of 47 horses using maximum heights and spreads, which also matched the standards for a World Cup qualifier.

Eight horses returned for the shortened course, which included galloping lines and extremely tight turns. Margie Engle and Hidden Creek’s Quervo Gold were the second to tackle the track and set the pace with a clean go in 35.11 seconds.

Ramiro Quintana returned behind Engle and left the rails in the cups, but he was just off the pace with a 35.78-second finish. Ward returned fourth and set the bar higher as he hugged the turns and pressed Goldika across the ground. His time of 33.40 seconds stood until Farrington returned.

Farrington, 25, turned on the ignition and never took his foot off the gas pedal as Madison’s power propelled him around the turns, and her speed left a stride out of the second line to a tall plank jump. The excitement built as Farrington galloped a rollback to a large oxer. It was there that Madison rooted with her head and pulled the one rein out of Farrington’s hand. As the mare landed, Farrington galloped and gathered his reins to prepare for the in-and-out. The horse and rider were able to organize and Madison flew over the final oxer with a winning time of 31.83 seconds.

“She doesn’t have a very good mouth, and she is always flipping her head around. Right before the fence I went to turn back, and she gave a good tug and pulled the rein right out of my hand,” said Farrington.

“I’m really happy. That horse really feels great,” said Farrington. “She came in and just did that one class’one-for-one. I’m looking forward to the indoor season.”

Pony Hunters

Adrienne Sternlicht, 13, was excited to walk center ring with her medium pony Whisky Rocks to collect the grand pony hunter championship, and the best child rider award at the Capital Challenge on Oct. 7.

“It is a very prestigious award, and I’m really excited,” said Sternlicht smiling.

The Capital Challenge has been a successful show for Sternlicht. Last year the young rider from Greenwich, Conn., collected the small pony championship riding Ingenue, and the medium pony championship riding Truly Noble. In addition, she was a two-time winner of the World Champion Hunter Rider Pony Challenge class. But until this year, the grand championship honor has eluded her.

Sternlicht rides with Patricia Griffith of Heritage Farm and has ridden Whisky Rocks for three years. She said of the pony, “I got him from a girl with a prosthetic arm, so he drifted a lot. He’s come so far. He’s awesome.” She added, “He’s an awesome jumper, and he’s been great to me.” This is her third year at the fall indoor shows with him, and it will be her last. Whisky Rocks is being sold, and the young rider will be done with the medium division.

“It is a great way to end our years together,” said Sternlicht.

Also training with Heritage Farm is Schaefer Raposa, who picked up the small pony championship aboard Super Trooper. Raposa collected a second and a third in the jumping classes and topped the under saddle against a field of 41 ponies. Last year Raposa won the WCHR Pony Challenge class aboard Sternlicht’s Vanity Fair and piloted Clovercroft’s Bodacious Babe to the small pony hunter championship.

Another rider with a successful Capital Challenge history is Jennifer Waxman, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Waxman repeated her 2005 performance on Cherrybrook’s Blue Suede Shoes, picking up the large pony hunter championship. Waxman, 15, trains with Ken and Emily Smith at their Ashland Farms in Wellington, Fla., and is a catch rider for the pony’s owner, Paulexi LLC. Waxman has ridden their pony on and off for two years.

She said of being champion, “I’m really excited because he’s really nice. I’m just glad I got to ride him again because he’s so much fun. He’s very dependable, and he’s not going to let you down.”

Waxman will leave the pony division behind next year and is already focused on showing her junior hunters. When asked why she took the ride on Cherrybrook’s Blue Suede Shoes, she said, “When you get an opportunity like this you don’t turn it down because he’s so nice.”