Charlie Jacobs could have been nervous riding into the ring for the $50,000 CN Palm Beach Jumping Derby, held at the end of Week 6 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla. Many riders before him had already suffered rails and refusals. But Jacobs was comforted by the fact that his mare, Quidditch II, had already faced most of the spookier obstacles on Richard Jeffrey’s 20-effort course, only in a different location.

“At home we have banks, liverpools, and even a grob,” Jacobs said. “When I tried her [in England] we jumped natural obstacles there too.”

Jeffrey’s derby course wound all over the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center grass field and caused problems for many pairs. Several of the 40 starters were eliminated at fence 3, a double liverpool, while numerous others had rails on the first element of that combination. The grob eliminated two pairs and caused a few more stops, and the bank also caused a few issues. Show jumping veteran Richard Spooner took an unexpected dismount off Pariska 2 at the grob.

But Quidditch II, a 10-year-old Oldenburg, never took a second look at anything on the course. The bold chestnut mare clocked around with a clean and fast round to take the top check for Deeridge Farm in the speed class.

“She’s a hot girl,” Jacobs said. “I have to just get in a rhythm and then she really expresses herself. She’s very nimble and quick. I can’t describe it—she’s really explosive.”

That explosive tendency paid off towards the end of the long course when some horses, and riders, showed signs of fatigue. Shane Sweetnam, who finished second on Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Little Emir, admitted to being out of breath himself when he pulled up after his round.

“It was definitely a tough course,” Sweetnam said. “I think it even rode tougher this year than last year.”

Jacobs’ win was even more impressive since he is an amateur rider. He spends his weeks in Boston, Mass., and flies down to the horse shows when time allows. As his day job, he serves as president of the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins for his family’s business, Delaware North Companies.

“That’s the one part I regret,” Jacobs said. “I don’t get enough time in the saddle.” 

Results:

 1.   Quidditch II/Charlie Jacobs/Deeridge Farm/138.17 seconds

2.   Little Emir/Shane Sweetnam/Spy Coast Farm/139.15

3.   Nice de Prissey/Brianne Goutal/Cloverleaf Farm/139.89

4.   Wintina Deux/Clementine Goutal/Cloverleaf Farm/141.20

5.   Prima/Beezie Madden/Jenny Sutton and Neapolitan Holdings LLC/142.47

6.   Miss Liberty 7/McLain Ward/Overlook Farm LLC/142.55

7.   Murka’s Pall Mall/Peter Charles/Sandra Cordiner/144.94

8.   Olinda/Todd Minikus/Houlihan Lawrence/145.78

9.   H&M Necoll/Ali Wolff/Blacklick Bend Farm/145.95

10.  Cazino/Rodrigo Pessoa/Pessoa Stables LLC/147.51