For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Marty Bauman – 508-878-2394, Marty@Classic-Communications.com

Sam Walker Wins $25,000 Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism 1.45m Jumper Classic at Lake Placid Horse Shows

Lake Placid, NY – July 6, 2025 – Sam Walker (CAN) won the $25,000 Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism 1.45m Jumper Classic, to close the I Love New York Horse Show and the two weeks of the 2025 Lake Placid Horse Shows (LPHS), Sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies, LLC, and Presented by Sea Shore Stables, LLC. Walker claimed the win on Ilan Ferder’s Funny Star Semilly over a 20-horse field at the newly renovated North Elba Showgrounds. The 2025 horse shows were sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

Five entries rode clean over the 16-effort first-round course designed by Alan Wade (IRL), and Walker was the only one to go clean again over the eight-jump tiebreaker course. He finished in 37.486 seconds. Finishing second with the fastest four-fault ride of 36.980 seconds was Matthias Hollberg on Hachi. Third went to Christian Coyle on Ma Pomme De Tamerville with a four-fault ride in 37.745 seconds.

“This is a new partnership for me,” Walker said. “I’m real excited to have spent the last two weeks here in Lake Placid, not only to get to know him but also to win some prize money with him.”

Sam Walker and Funny Star Semilly ©Kind Media  

Closing day action in the Grand Prix Ring also featured three classes that are part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series. Alexis Mierzwa rode Glynnwood Mer Calido to the win over a 31-horse field in the $10,000 Crowne Plaza Lake Placid 1.35m SJHOF Amateur Jumper Classic. Mierzwa was one of six entries to turn in two clean rounds and she had the fastest jump-off time of 29.293 seconds to claim the win which also earned her the division Reserve Championship. The division Champion was Alexander Alston and Undercover.

Rylie True claimed the win on Quick Bob in the $10,000 Crowne Plaza Lake Placid 1.35m SJHOF Junior Jumper Classic. True was one of only two entries to turn in two clean rides and her jump-off time of 28.314 seconds gave her the win over Jole Kosloske who finished the jump-off clean in 28.562 seconds on Crystal Claire. The second-place finish was good enough to clinch the division Championship for Kosloske and Crystal Claire, with the Reserve Championship going to True and Quick Bob.

Rylie True on Quick Bob © KindMedia

In the $15,000 Eastern Hay 1.45m SJHOF Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, JJ Torano swept the top three places. He had two clean rounds on each of the three horses, and his jump-off time of 38.385 seconds on Good Mood Semilly proved the fastest which gave him the win and the division Championship. He placed second on Vitus K, earning the Reserve Championship, and third on Oopsala.

JJ Torano and Good Mood Semilly© Kind Media

Sunday’s highlights also included a win by Shane Radimer on Dominant Z in the $5,000 1.15m Junior Jumper Classic presented by The Hooker Family, making it two straight weeks that they won the class. Also winning was Mary Roth on Londarco, owned by Elizabeth Sobel, in the NAL Adult Amateur Hunter Classic presented by Essex Classics. Roth also placed third on Evening Stroll, also owned by Elizabeth Sobel, with second going to Kylie Schoelen on Quintus, owned by Sea Shore Stables LLC.

Londarco with rider Mary Roth © Kind Media

Located in the historic Olympic town of Lake Placid, NY, the annual LPHS offer two weeks of exciting equestrian competition in a setting no other horse show can match, surrounded by breathtaking views of the Adirondack Mountains and the chance to enjoy countless activities that help make the Lake Placid Horse Shows, “The Best Two Weeks of a Horseman’s Summer!” LPHS hosts competitions for riders of all levels and ages ranging from young children on polished ponies, to glistening hunters, to Olympic veterans aboard their grand prix mounts. Each show day, LPHS action starts at 8:00 a.m., with classes running simultaneously in four spectacular, new show rings.

Competition continues throughout the week with many familiar features and a new FEI CSI3* division. FEI highlights for the I Love New York Horse Show (July 1-6) include Wednesday’s $5,000 Purina 3* Two-Phase, Thursday’s $45,000 Wölffer Estate 3* Welcome Stake, Friday’s $32,000 Speed Class presented by Purina Animal Nutrition, and Saturday’s $100,000 Richard Feldman Memorial Grand Prix CSI3*. 

Exhibitors in every division are competing on newly renovated showgrounds, which include reconstructed show rings with state-of-the-art all-weather footing installed by Travis Gould and his JTWG, Inc. team, who are working closely with horse show manager Allen Rheinheimer. Improvements have also been made to the stabling and schooling areas, with more to come as part of a multi-year plan. Highlights include a resurfaced all-weather grand prix ring, an expanded Jumper 2 Ring, two new hunter rings and a dedicated FEI exercise ring.

Fun Activities at the Horse Show
With a variety of things to do for the entire family both on and off the showgrounds, it’s no wonder that Lake Placid is home to one of exhibitors’ favorite shows in the U.S. There is also a lot for spectators to enjoy with superb shopping in the boutique vendor area featuring local Adirondack artists, products, clothing and apparel, as well as real estate, photography, a variety of equine-related shops, official Lake Placid Horse Shows commemorative sportswear and merchandise, and an assortment of dining options. The horse shows also host their Best Dressed Barns competition sponsored by KindMedia.

The highly popular Doggie Costume Contest, sponsored by Man and Beast, is returning for its 32nd year on Saturday, July 5, at 12:00 noon! Everyone in town is invited to bring a leashed dog in costume to participate free of charge, with free admission to the horse show that day for those participating in the doggie contest!

Admission to the horse shows is $6.00 per person per day Wednesday through Friday and $10.00 per person per day on Saturday and Sunday.

Fun Activities in Lake Placid

There are endless activities to do away from the horse show while in the Lake Placid region, making it the ideal vacation spot for families coming to the horse shows. Outdoor activities include kayaking, tubing, hiking, fishing, boating, cycling, paddling, rock climbing, swimming, golf and so much more. The quaint town of Lake Placid also has a wide variety of shops and a plethora of restaurants, and the Fourth of July celebrations are famous in Lake Placid with a parade down Main Street followed by electrifying fireworks over Mirror Lake. Lake Placid is a horse show that the whole family can enjoy!

Upcoming events during the second week’s I Love New York Horse Show include:

Thursday, July 3 – $45,000 Wölffer Estate FEI 3* Welcome Stake; 1.40m Speed Challenge; 1.30m Open Jumper Class; Young Jumpers 6 & 7 Yr. Olds; Capri Pants 1.20m Amateur Jumper Class; $1,000 Green Hunter Incentive 3’-3’3”; Dover Saddlery USEF Hunter Seat Medal; ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay; Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3” Medal; NEHC Junior Hunt Seat; Various Hunter & Jumper Classes

Friday, July 4 – $32,000 FEI 3* Speed Class presented by Purina Animal Nutrition; $5,000 1.25m Jumper Classic; $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Perfect Products; THIS National Children’s Medal Classes; Various Hunter & Jumper Classes

Saturday, July 5 – Kathy Scholl Equitation Classic; $5,000 Great American Insurance Group 1.35m Jumper Stake; $5,000 1.25m Junior Jumper Classic; $5,000 Cambria Lake Placid 1.25m Amateur Jumper Classic; Ariat Adult Medal, USEF Adult Equitation; NAL Children’s Hunter Classic; Marshall & Sterling USEF Pony Equitation – Small, Medium and Large; The Clothes Horse Parade of Champions (3:40 PM); $100,000 FEI 3* Richard Feldman Memorial Grand Prix (4:00 PM); Various Hunter & Jumper Classes

Sunday, July 6 – $10,000 Crowne Plaza Lake Placid 1.35m SJHOF Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic; $15,000 Eastern Hay 1.45m SJHOF Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic; $25,000 Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism 1.45m Jumper Classic; $5,000 1.15m Junior Jumper Classic presented by The Hooker Family; NAL/WIHS Amateur Jumper Classic; NAL Adult Amateur Hunter Classic presented by Essex Classics; WIHS Pony Equitation; Various Hunter & Jumper Classes

Many sponsors and supporters have joined with LPHS to undertake this significant effort to upgrade the showgrounds and invest in the future of the LPHS. This joint effort of dedicated equestrians, the Town of North Elba, and local Lake Placid supporters will continue to foster equestrian excellence, family fun and community bonds in the heart of the picturesque Adirondacks. LPHS would like to thank our partners who have joined us in this effort, including The Bainbridge Companies LLC, Sea Shore Stables LLC, Cambria Hotel Lake Placid, Charles Ancona, Classic Communications, ClipMyHorse, Community Bank NA, Crowne Plaza Lake Placid, Eastern Hay, Empire Merchants North/1800 Tequila, Essex Classics, FarmVet, Inc., Great American Insurance Group, Hampton Inn, Hollow Brook Wealth Management, Horseflight, JTWG, Inc., K&L Ribbon Wreaths, KindMedia, Lake Placid Flower & Gift Co., Lukens Horse Transportation, Inc., Marina Samad, Mirror Lake Inn/The Cottage Café, Mrs. Pastures Cookies, Perfect Products, Purina Animal Nutrition, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital Saratoga, Saratoga Horseworks, Show Jumps LLC, STX, The Clothes Horse, The Hooker Family, W&B Golf Carts, Wölffer Estate Vineyard

LPHSA, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that runs the Lake Placid Horse Show, a hallmark of the summer equestrian season which presents two weeks of world-class competition at the historic North Elba Showgrounds in Lake Placid, New York. Attracting top riders and horses from across the globe, the shows feature prestigious hunter, jumper, and equitation classes, including FEI-rated events. Steeped in tradition and set against the stunning backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains, the Lake Placid Horse Show, a USEF Heritage competition, offers a unique blend of high-level equestrian sport and family-friendly entertainment, contributing significantly to the region’s economy and community spirit. All donations are tax-deductible (TIN: 82-5074078). Further information for exhibitors, spectators, sponsors, and donors is available at www.lakeplacidhorseshows.org or by calling 518-523-9625.