Margie Goldstein-Engle Notches 250 Career Wins with 2* Grand Prix Victory in Traverse City
Another high-point in an already storied career, USA’s Margie Goldstein-Engle won the $75,000 Molon Excavating CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday at Traverse City Horse Shows to claim her 250th career victory. The 66-year-old Show Jumping Hall Of Fame rider concluded FEI action for the Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, taking the win in the irons of 12-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding, JackOfHearts.
USA’s Hilary McNerney and Brava (Balou Du Rouet x Graf Top), who won Spring II’s National Grand Prix, gave Engle a tight time to beat across the Anderson Lima (BRA) designed short track, keeping all the rails up in 37.81 seconds. Delaney Flynn (USA) and Namamia (Fantomas De Muze x Berlin) closed out the all-American podium on a clean time of 39.01 seconds.
Engle bested McNerney by less that a tenth of a second with JackofHearts (Heartbeat x Baloubet Du Rouet), emerging victorious after conquering the short course in a clear 37.73 seconds.
“Every win out here is special,” said Engle after her momentous win. “It’s always exciting [to win]. I don’t care whether it’s your first grand prix or your last grand prix, it’s special.”
Looking back on the horses she’s had throughout her career—and her assumed affinity for larger types like JackofHearts—Engle, said, “I’ve been on many different types of horses; everyone thinks I look for these big ones but I really don’t. I’ve been on horses that were almost a little bigger than ponies and done some of my biggest classes on them. Most of the other ones I’ve had since they were four or five years old so that’s special as well. This horse [JackOfHearts] is coming into his own so it’s really special to me how consistent he’s gotten.”
Engle had a large field to beat with nine horse-and-rider combinations returning for the jump-off. “I didn’t watch too many. I knew the ones were very fast ahead of me and I had my plan with him,” said Engle.
“He moved up to the second jump for me great and the leave-out to the fence three he got easily. He has a huge stride and he was very good back on the oxer because, again, the medium distance showed up. He doesn’t normally get flat. He gets so careful, then once I start galloping he’s like ‘okay I know I have to protect myself’ so he pretty much sets himself up.”
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