Valentine Car and Sharn Wordley end the 2024 Summer Series with a win in the UF Health Grand Prix with prize money of $75,000

Sharn Wordley and Valentine Car win the UF Health Grand Prix with a prize of $75,000. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

Edited press release

Ocala, FL – The 2024 Summer Series culminated in an electrifying showdown as 32 elite horse-rider combinations from nine nations battled for the final major class victory of the season in the $75,000 UF Health Grand Prix. The competition climaxed with a thrilling 12-horse jump-off where the podium reflected last week's results, but this time New Zealand's Sharn Wordley aboard Fernando Cardenas' Valentine Car (Son Of Juan Car x Sofia Car) emerged victorious.

FEI Level II course designer Eric Hasbrouck designed the challenging courses for Saturday evening's event. Of the 12 pairs in the jump-off, only six managed a double clear.

Sharn Wordley and Valentine Car jump into first place. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

The jump-off was nerve-wracking from the start, with each rider clocking faster times than the last, but when Sharn Wordley entered the ring on his speed-renowned 15-year-old American Warmblood gelding Valentine Car, the atmosphere was electric.

“If you have Tracy [Fenney] “At the end of a jump-off, you just have to go full throttle if you want to win,” Wordley said. “On one-two, I wanted to be as fast as possible and it was blind around the corner, but the six went well for us. Then a long canter to the oxer. Then it was seven, slowing down for the double jump, nine jumps to the corner and a steady six for most. I knew Tracy could do the eight-five, but I couldn't do the eight-five on 'Val', so I tried to be fast everywhere else.”

Sharn Wordley and Valentine Car accept their first award presented by Dr. Parker Gibbs, chief of the Department of Orthopedics at the UF College of Medicine, Dr. Steve Motew, president and system CEO of UF Health, and Jim Wolf of the World Equestrian Center. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

With an unbeatable time of 33.265 seconds, Wordley galloped away again and took home the lion's share of the prize money.

“All the horses were fantastic. Valentine Car has been clear in almost every Grand Prix this season except one where he had the fastest four. It was a great circuit,” added Wordley. “Now the horses will get a well-deserved break before preparing for the fall shows and the winter round here.”

Tracy Fenney and MTM Apple storm into second place. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

Tracy Fenney (USA) was once again hot on Wordley's heels in the saddle of the 13-year-old Danish warmblood mare MTM Apple (Favorit Ask x Kong's Whopsie) and stopped the clock less than a tenth of a second behind at 33.320 seconds, taking second place.

Dorothy Douglas and MTM Pablo complete the top three. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

Dorothy Douglas (USA) secured another podium place with a fast and faultless time of 34.032 seconds on the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding MTM Pablo (Perigueux x Celina) from Davenport Farms.

Sharn Wordley also took home the award for the fastest four-fault rider on Champion League with a fast time of 78.350 seconds in the first round and a broken bar.

Alexandra Green Kerby received the “Luck of the Draw” award.