Jimmy Torano and Winsom blaze to victory in the 1.40m Open Jumper held July 28 at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. Photo by David Mullinix Photography

July 28, 2010 – East Dorset, Vermont – Winsom is helping rider Jimmy Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, stay at the top of the standings for the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Award, sponsored by Sir Ruly, Inc., at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT.

Jimmy Torano has been a fixture at the Vermont Summer Festival for years, and while the family has grown and the horses have changed, Torano can be counted on to turn in top performances. This was no exception on Wednesday, July 28, as he piloted Winsom, a seven-year-old grey gelding, to victory in the 1.40m Open Jumper class.

“I have all new ones right now,” said Torano of his current string of competition mounts. “All my old ones are gone, either sold or retired. So, I am starting fresh. I have two seven-year-olds and an eight-year-old. Winsom is only seven, but he is one of those horses that I think will be jumping the big classes as an eight-year-old because he just does it so easily.”

Despite having young stock, Torano is currently leading the standings for the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Award, sponsored by Sir Ruly, Inc., at the half-way mark of the Vermont Summer Festival. Open Jumpers earn points toward this award during the six weeks of competition, and Torano’s current total of 108 points puts him ahead of Hillary Dobbs who has 81 points and Louis Jacobs who has collected 69 points to date.

Meanwhile, over in the hunter rings, Cloudline and Lyman T. Whitehead, riding for owner Visse Wedell of North Salem, NY, turned in beautiful rounds to place first, second and third in the First Year Green Hunter division. The six-year-old grey mare has been performing consistently in this division and looks to be following in the footsteps of Wedell’s other horse, Avalon, who is a top performer in the Regular Working Hunter division.

“This is the place to be,” commented trainer Michelle Clopp of MLC Farm, located just outside of Rhinebeck, NY. “This is the perfect show to let riders test the waters. It is a big show, but there is much less stress. We have been coming here for years, and where else can you sit and relax and have this kind of view. It is hard to find a top event that is this friendly and laid back. Since we didn’t get an invitation to Chelsea Clinton’s wedding, we came here.”

The fourth of six weeks of competition comprising the Vermont Summer Festival is underway, featuring the $30,000 Mount Equinox Grand Prix, beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 1. Located at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children Wednesday through Saturday. On Grand Prix Sunday, admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children. All gate proceeds benefit Manchester Elementary-Middle School (MEMS).

Running July 7 through August 15, 2010, the Vermont Summer Festival offers more than $750,000 in prize money, making it the richest sporting event based on purse in the state. The six-week Vermont Summer Festival culminates with the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix on Sunday, August 15. The Vermont Summer Festival is a proud member event of the Show Jumping Hall Of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). For more information about the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail: info@vt-summerfestival.com or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.