Traverse City, Mich. - May 13, 2021 - The highly anticipated Dudley B. Smith Equitation Championship is set to return during the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF). After a successful 2019 and 2020 championship class, the Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS) management team is thrilled to welcome this championship equitation class back for the third year in a row. The Dudley B. Smith Equitation Championship was formed to honor Dudley B. Smith after his unexpected passing in August 2018. The class brings some of equitations brightest young stars and will be held during Week IV of the series, taking center stage in the Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel International Ring.
2020 winner Elli Yeager on Copperfield 39 with second-place finisher Sophee Steckbeck on Zapfier Photo courtesy of Brooke Giacin
“We are excited to be able to offer this class for our equitation exhibitors,” commented Matt Morrissey, Event Director of Traverse City Horse Shows. “The class holds a special commemoration to a remarkable friend and supporter of Traverse City Horse Shows and offers a unique opportunity for equitation riders to showcase their talents here at TCHS.” The Dudley B. Smith Equitation Championship is open to riders aged 21 years old and under who earn first, second or third place in any 3’6” equitation class, phase or overall, during the Traverse City Spring Horse Show (TCS) and GLEF. Held in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring, riders will be tested across two rounds of competition over derby-style fences, where the 12 best-scoring riders will be asked to return to compete in the second round to determine the champion. Additionally, the trainers of the talented top four riders will be awarded Dudley B. Smith Trainer Awards and each will receive a portion of the $10,000 trainer bonus purse. Smith was a proud philanthropist of multiple local charities that included the Cherryland Humane Society, Northwestern Michigan College’s Museum Center, generously donated to the Munson Medical Center, and helped fund the Smith Family Breast Health Center with his wife, Barbara. His love for the arts, animals and helping those in need made Smith a devout patron to his community. Smith was also a significant supporter of the equestrian industry and an avid spectator at many equestrian competitions as a support system for his beloved granddaughter, Paige Matthies. For more information, please visit www.traversecityhorseshows.com.
Save the date for the 2021 Traverse City Horse Shows! Traverse City Spring, presented by Turtle Creek Hotel & Casino June 9 - 27, 2021 CSI4*/ AA Hunters / Jumper 6 (TCS I) CSI2* / B Hunters / Jumper 5 (TCS II) A Hunters / Jumper 2 /$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby (June 14 – 16) CSI3* / AA Hunter / Jumper 6 (TCS III) World Championship Hunter Rider Week (TCS III) Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors July 7 - Aug. 15, 2021 CSI3* / AA Hunter / Jumper 6 (GLEEF I) CSI2* / AA Hunter / Jumper 5, CSI 5* pending USEF approval (GLEF II) World Championship Hunter Rider Week (GLEF II) Major League Show Jumping CSI5* (GLEF III) CSI5* & CSI 2* /AA Hunter / Jumper 6 (GLEF III) CSI2* / AA Hunters / Jumper 5 (GLEF IV) CSI3* / AA Hunters / Jumper 6 (GLEF V) Markel / USHJA Zone 5 & 6 Jumper Team/Platinum Jumper Championship (GLEF V) CSI3* / AA Hunters / Jumper 6 (GLEF VI) FEI North American Youth Championship - Jumping & Dressage (GLEF VI) Traverse City Tournament of Champions Sept. 1 - 19, 2021 CSI3* / AA Hunters / Jumper 6 (TCF I) CSI3* / AA Hunters / Jumper 6 (TCF II) USHJA Young Jumper Championship (TCF II) Silver Oak Jumper Tournament (TCF II) CSI5* & CSI2* / AA Hunters / Jumper 6 (TCF III) Traverse City Hunter & Derby Finals (TCF III) American Gold Cup Presented by, CaptiveOne Advisors (TCF III) Major League Show Jumping CSI5* (TCF III)
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