Farrington Back on Top in $32,000 Old Salem Farm 2* Classic at Old Salem Farm CSI2* Summer Jumper Classic
Old Salem Farm course designer Oscar Soberon challenged 51 entries representing nine nations to a winding 15-effort, 1.45m course in Thursday’s $32,000 Old Salem Farm 2* Classic, which successfully set the tone for Saturday’s $65,000 Old Salem Farm 2* Grand Prix at the 2026 Summer Jumper Classic. Flying to victory between the raindrops was World #1 Kent Farrington (USA), who claimed his second consecutive title aboard Dolores PS with a time of 38.13 seconds.
With the beautiful backdrop of Westchester County’s surrounding horse country, Old Salem Farm hosts a year-round schedule of world-class equestrian competition. The Old Salem Farm CSI2* Summer Jumper Classic, August 19-22, takes place just a few weeks before the Old Salem Farm September Horse Shows, which feature FEI CSI4*/2* (September 8-13) and CSI2* (September 15-20) events.
Farrington continued to make his 8-year-old Oldenburg mare’s FEI debut one to remember with their decisive win in the $32,000 Classic on Thursday. As the last pair to return for the jump-off, they rode under some of the day’s hardest rainfall, but that didn’t stop them from clinching victory in a faultless 38.13 seconds – 1.75 seconds faster than second-place finisher Amanda Derbyshire (GBR).
“I’m just trying to train this horse and produce her along,” Farrington said. “It’s a totally different style of horse that has a huge stride, so I’m trying to teach her to look for the next fence and use her stride to her advantage. Really, today was more about what I felt was best to teach this horse how to compete. [Two wins in two FEI classes] is a great start, you know? She’s only 8, she’s still quite green, but she’s stepping up the ranks nicely.
“I really am glad that they’re putting on great shows here,” he added. “I hope that they can continue to do that and maybe even add some more. As I said yesterday, there’s such a community of horse people who support these events, and a day like today helps you see why they have all-weather footing here. This facility is great for allowing us to compete even if there’s a little rain, and I’m very happy to be here.”
Derbyshire’s speedy time of 39.88 seconds aboard her 18-year-old Holsteiner gelding Cornwall BH hung on for second place ahead of Carly Anthony (USA) and Las Vegas, Rosalie Midyette’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, who finished third in 41.04 seconds.
Earlier in the day, the International Arena hosted competitors in two Open Jumper classes and the Junior/Amateur Jumper 1.30/1.40m. Hugh Mutch of Loxahatchee, FL, and Jenna Mutch’s Cassava secured victory in the Open Jumper 1.40m with a blazing time of 54.779 seconds, three seconds faster than their fellow competitors. Ilan Bluman (COL) followed them into the winner’s circle aboard Over The Top Stables LLC’s Pinot Gris Di Fer, stopping the clock in 59.070 seconds in the Open Jumper 1.30m.
In the Junior/Amateur Jumper 1.30/1.40m, Sydney Cummings of Middletown, CT, and her Untouchable 34 lived up to the gelding’s name with the winning jump-off time of 35.851 seconds, four seconds faster than their fellow competitors. Also joining the winner’s circle was Barbara Hakim of Greenwich, CT, and her Lady M, who earned top honors in the June Road Ring’s 0.90m Junior/Amateur Jumper.
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Further information on Old Salem Farm, the Summer Jumper Classic and other upcoming shows is available at www.OldSalemFarm.net.
