Ali Ramsay & Casino Cash Out in the $100,000 Diamond Tour Grand Prix, sponsored by Adequan
Photos © ESI Photography
For Immediate Release:
THERMAL, Calif. – February 23, 2020 –Ali Ramsay (CAN) and Casino cash out in the $100,000 Diamond Tour Grand Prix CSI3*, sponsored by Adequan, at the Desert International Horse Park with a short-course time of 40.84 seconds. Erin Davis-Heineking (USA) and Leonie (Leo Von Faelz x Chacco-blue), owned by October Hill Farm, Inc., finished second with a time of 41.51 seconds. Nicholas Dello Joio (USA) and Blueberry (Conrad x Creve Coeur), owned by Jose Salgado Negrete, concluded the top three finishing with a time of 42.24 seconds.
Thirty-two pairs challenged the course designed by Alan Wade (IRL) with eight participating in the short-course. “I thought the course was hard, when I walked the course – they were pulling out all the stops here,” Ramsay shared. “I think the course caught everybody in different places, it was tall and very technical,” Ramsay continued, “It was impressive enough making it [the class] really special today.”
Photos © ESI Photography
Ramsay and Casino (Casiro 3 x Ludwig von Bayern), owned by Ramsay Equestrian Inc., have had a successful week here at the Desert International Horse Park after also finishing third in the Diamond Welcome on Thursday.
“Casino is my baby; this is my first Grand Prix that I’ve ever won with him, so I almost cried when it happened,” Ramsay noted. “He’s really special; he’s just the sweetest dude and as long as you have all the pieces together right, then he can be everything. He’s just so special,” Ramsay shared about the 2008 Oldenburg Gelding.
Ramsay will be remaining at the Desert International Horse Park next week to compete in the FEI tour and for the duration of the circuit. “I’m heading towards that Stephex [Van],” Ramsay continued, “I’m really excited for the $250,000 Invitational Grand Prix.”
Photos © ESI Photography
Ramsay, Davis-Heineking, and Dello Joio were joined for the presentation by a few special guests at the podium. Devin Vespi, the American Region Animal Health Territory Manager for Southern California, brought with her the Fallbrook Pony Club and the Pass Pioneers 4-H Club to celebrate the victors for the $100,000 Adequan Grand Prix. American Region Animal Health is the manufacturer for Adequan products.
“I wanted to set them up with a really cool experience,” Vespi shared about this special opportunity, “They are the future; these kids are going to be our future trainers, riders, and supporters of our industry.” The kids received the full VIP experience while attending the horse show. In addition to their access to the VIP viewing area and being included in the Grand Prix presentation, they also had the opportunity to walk the course with two-time Olympic silver medalist Anne Kursinski.
“The kids absolutely loved it,” Vespi commented. “They had so much fun and had no idea how big the jumps were, it was just really cool to be with someone as accomplished as her [Kursinski] to do the course walk.”
About the Desert International Horse Park (DIHP)
With nearly 1.3 million square feet of competition and riding space, the Desert International Horse Park is one of the largest equestrian facilities in North America. Offering multiple weeks of world-class equestrian competition from October through March, the facility is a destination location for thousands of equestrians, their horses, family and friends for several months annually. Competitors from all over the world travel to Thermal, CA to not only compete but to enjoy everything the desert has to offer.