SAUGERTIES, N.Y. Two-time US Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward of Brewster, N.Y., and his majestic, “million-dollar” mare, Sapphire, owned by McLain Ward and Blue Chip Bloodstock, won the inaugural Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix on Sunday, Sept 12 at HITS-on-the-Hudson. in Saugerties, New York.
The legendary duo of Ward and Sapphire proudly added their names to the show jumping history books once more when they bested a field of 43 high-performance riders before an energetic and enthusiastic crowd of thousands that lined all four berms surrounding the Strongid Stadium. Sunday’s line-up featured some of the best and most promising athletes and horses in the sport, including some of America’s brightest up-and-coming stars and several American and International Olympians.
Olympic Course Designer Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Fla., set a challenging and technical course that was decorated to the hilt by Olympic Course Decorator Flora Baptiston of Brazil.
“The course was brilliant,” explained Ward. “Today was a great balance of tests.”
After a successful week of show jumping, the Strongid Stadium was transformed into a field of dreams, as custom jumps, exclusive to the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, including a fence from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, set the stage for the biggest event of the year.