Margie Engle Wins Hagyard Challenge Series’ $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus

Lexington, KY – September 22, 2009 – On Friday, September 18, Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, received a check of $50,000 for earning the most points in the 2009 Hagyard Challenge Series. The Hagyard Challenge Series is a show jumping competition that is held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, throughout the summer months. Composed of seven grand prix events, the Hagyard Challenge Series concluded on September 18 with the $50,000 CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix. Engle’s second place finish in the prix secured her the $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus, which is awarded to the series’ top rider.

Engle won consistent ribbons throughout the series and was a top contender going into the final event. “Last year I was leading the series until the last class and lost it, so I never count on anything,” reported Engle after her win. “This is great. I think it’s fantastic that Hagyard offers this much money for the series. It’s a real incentive, and it’s just another reason why I love coming to Kentucky. It’s one of the nicest facilities we have in this country. The footing is fantastic and we get to show under the lights during the summer, so I couldn’t be happier with tonight’s outcome,” she said. “Again, my thanks to Hagyard for their sponsorship.”

Grand prix events in the Hagyard Challenge Series are held at competitions managed by Kentucky Horse Shows LLC. The series is sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, which is located directly across the street from the Kentucky Horse Park. The $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus is sponsored by Holiday Inn Georgetown Hotel; Dean, Dorton, & Ford; Fifth Third Bank; Fort Dodge Animal Health; Hagyard Pharmacy; Kathleen Sullivan, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Turf Town Properties; Air 51 and Audi of Lexington.

Hugh Kincannon, manager for Kentucky Horse Shows LLC, commented, “We really appreciate what Dr. Andy Clark and Hagyard Equine Medical Institute do for the Hagyard Challenge Series. Their support is a very important part of our schedule throughout the year, and we hope to make the series bigger and better in the future. We are grateful for all of our sponsors and are pleased to be able to offer our competitors such an exciting rider bonus.”

Kincannon added, “I am thrilled with Friday night’s class. It was a wonderful evening. The new indoor arena is a really great venue. The footing was good, a great group of horses and riders attended, and I thought it was a world class event. I was happy to see Margie win the Leading Rider Bonus. She’s been one of our best supporters over the years, and she’s been close to winning it on a number of occasions. I thought everything, from the look of the arena to the competitors and crowd to the charity gala, went really well.”

For more information on the Kentucky Horse Shows or the Hagyard Challenge Series, please go to www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Additional information on Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is available at www.hagyard.com.

Photo Caption: Margie Engle, winner of the Hagyard Challenge Series’ $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus. Photo C 2009 Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.