On Sunday, May 10, Old Salem Farm in North Salem celebrated not only Mother’s Day but another ‘M’ – six-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist McLain Ward – as he took both first and second places in the $125,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix Presented by J.P. Morgan Private Bank, capping the first weekend of the farm’s “Spring Horse Shows.”
Ward set the pace as the first rider in the timed jumping event aboard Lestro VD Valckenborg, a bay gelding, then came back later to turn in another excellent performance, this time aboard Jordan Molga M, also a bay gelding. He was not the only rider to do double duty as Georgina Bloomberg of neighboring Gotham North farm, rode the gray mare Cassina and the liver chestnut stallion Tulara Colmine, while last year’s winner, Ireland’s Jordan Coyle, rode the bay gelding For Gold and then the gray gelding Ariso; and Colombia’s Mark Bluman appeared aboard the chestnut stallion S&L Hello Sunshine, then returned with the black mare S&L Haquinsa.
In the five-person jump-off, Ward was back aboard Lestro and Jordan for the one-two finish. The breeder and trainer of horses at his Castle Hill Farm in Brewster even had a hand as a trainer in the third-place finish of McKayla Langmeier of East Granby, Connecticut, riding the gray gelding Isidore de Chalusse.
It was an impressive showing from Ward, who led a field that also included Jessica Springsteen, part of the U.S. silver medal-winning team with him at the 2020/21 Tokyo Games; Israel’s Daniel Bluman; and Egypt’s Nayel Nassar in what was billed as a preview of Olympic hopefuls for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
It was Ward’s second winning outing in three days. On Friday, May 8, he defended his title in the $63,000 New York Welcome Stake presented by Evergate Stables, this time claiming top honors with Lestro. He and the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by E.T.C. Custodian FBO Marta Mattox, brought home the win in 34.65 seconds.
But the spring shows are not only about all things equestrian. They’re also about food, fun, fashion, family and other furry friends. (Think plenty of dogs.) This year, the shows are also very much about equestrian art. On Mother’s Day, Nigerian sculptor Precious Eboigbodin was on hand to talk about his work “The Resilient Beauty II” (2026), a rearing horse made out of what looked like ribbons of reclaimed stainless steel. For Eboigbodin, art is about more than the love of nature. He sees the horse as his spirit animal. He’s represented by Rohmer Gallery in Saugerties, New York, whose owner, J.C. Hopkins, is also a writer with his own imprint, Eponymous Books.
Another lover of the horse – and indeed all kinds of wild things – is photographer and small-group tour guide Drew Doggett, whose works grace the VIP tent during the horse shows.
At 6 p.m. Saturday, May 16, Old Salem Farm & New Canaan Mounted Troop will present an evening with the photographer. You can register for the event and bid on some of his works here.
The remainder of the “Spring Horse Shows” – which run Tuesday, May 12, through Sunday, May 17 – continue to feature an array of amateur and professional riders of all ages in athletic jumping and aesthetic hunter competitions.
Saturday, May 16, includes face painting, pony rides, arts and crafts with the North Salem Historical Society, A New Chance Animal Rescue dog adoptions and an ice cream party with the Wolf Conservation Center of South Salem. Besides face painting, pony rides and arts and crafts with the North Salem Historical Society, Sunday, May 17, will spotlight a visit from the Animal Embassy.
The shows conclude that day with the $225,000 Empire State Grand Prix Presented by Old Salem Farm, in which Ward is the defending champion.
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