Hooker takes the Ariat Cup; Barnhill Wins $25,000 Challenge

Tracey Weinberg casually walked into the Show Place Arena aboard Cromwell, holding the reins on the buckle. It was her third mount of the night in the $25,000 North American Junior/ Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup and she was the last of eight riders to face the jump-off course. She walked halfway into the arena and the crowd waited. It didn’t look as if there was pressure on Weinberg, but if she wanted to take home the Ariat Congressional Cup for the second consecutive year she knew she had to win - besting Hayley Barnhill’s time of 38.669 seconds on Toucan Tango. Cromwell picked up the canter and Weinberg casually shortened her reins. If she came in second she would tie with Tim Hooker, who won the first two legs of the three-phase event. If they tied, there would be a jump-off. At that moment, Hooker was already preparing his horse.

Cromwell gradually picked up pace until his stride lengthened into a powerful gait. Weinberg was on the road to success, taking the first four jumps in stride, but on the roll back to the fifth obstacle – a big triple-bar Liverpool – she came in too short. As the back rail bounced out of the cups and hit the dirt, Weinberg handed the Ariat Congressional Cup to Hooker and Barnhill won the $25,000 class.
“I am very glad to have won the Cup,” said Hooker. “I was aiming for it from the time I got here. I tried take the lead early because I felt it would be necessary to give me a shot at keeping Tracey from winning. Fortunately my plan worked.”
Hooker felt if he could win the speed classes on Thursday and Friday, something his horse excels at, it would give him some leeway in the Time First Jump-Off in the third leg.
In addition to being pleased with his win, Hooker was also thrilled to compete against his daughter Heather, who made it to the jump-off tonight and placed fourth. “It was a lot of fun to ride with Heather in this class,” he said. “I hope to be doing that for years to come.”
Saturday night’s class, the $25,000 North American Junior/ Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup, was presented by the Oken Family and Hi Hopes Farm. Barnhill, 15, who took the blue, was pleased with her win and her horse’s performance. “We thought to go for it but not be too crazy because we’re trying to get ready for Harrisburg,” said Barnhill. The young rider from Memphis, TN, plans on showing next week in the Pennsylvania National’s Prix de States team competition.
Along with winning the class, Barnhill was named Best Junior Jumper Rider. Hooker was named the Best Amateur Jumper Rider.

$25,000 North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup

1. TOUCAN TANGO, HAYLEY BARNHILL 0/0/38.669

2. ESO KIRSTIE DOBBS 0/0/39.145

3. LARONE, TRACEY WEINBERG 0/0/41.129

4. PERLE, HEATHER HOOKER 0/4/38.748

5. CROMWELL, TRACEY WEINBERG 0/4/39.288

6. THE REAL DEAL, RACHEL CLINE 0/4/39.768

7. LINDA Z/ TRACEY WEINBERG 0/4/41.122

8. KOLETTE, KIRSTIE DOBBS 0/JO ELIM.

9. SIRIUS 127, TIM HOOKER 4/ 60.073

10. SUGAR RAY, SAMANTHA SCHAEFER 4/ 60.794

$40,000 North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup

Ariat Congressional Cup Trophy