Vanessa Hood Wins $32,000 Purina FEI 3* Speed Class at Lake Placid Horse Shows
Vanessa Hood (ISR) won the $32,000 FEI 3* Speed Class presented by Purina Animal Nutrition, Friday’s featured class at the I Love New York Horse Show, Week 2 of the 2025 Lake Placid Horse Shows (LPHS), Sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies, LLC, and Presented by Sea Shore Stables, LLC. Hood claimed the win over a 19-horse field at the newly renovated North Elba Showgrounds. The horse shows, sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), continue through Sunday, July 6.
Only eight entries were able to ride clean over the 15-effort one-round course designed by Alan Wade (IRL). Riding seventh in the order, Philip McGuane (IRL) took the lead when he rode My Lady Van De Krekel, Evergate Stables LLC’s 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, to a clean ride in 68.94 seconds. McGuane’s lead held for 10 rides until Brian Moggre (USA) finished clean in 68.76 seconds on Qatar Van D’Oude Pastory, McLain Ward’s 9-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding. Riding last, Hood blazed over the course on Take Two LLC’s 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding Cascalretto, finishing clean in 68.38 seconds to earn the win.
Moggre finished second and McGuane third, followed by Beat Mandli (SUI) who finished clean in 69.64 seconds on Grant Road Partners LLC’s 10-year-old Italian Sport Horse mare Kay Grey.
“I actually got to talk with Philip about his round, and he said he maybe had done one too many strides. This is such a big ring that you can get lost, so I just told myself to be efficient and stick with my plan,” Hood said. “He’s a fast horse, and he just needs me to stay with him and give him what he needs.
“I first came here maybe 25 years ago,” she added. “It’s always been an iconic show, and it’s great to see the new rings. It’s a huge improvement, and I see a bright future for Lake Placid.”
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