Alex Parrish riding Frisco is presented with a $1,000 bonus from Jennifer Ward representing SSG Riding Gloves after winning the $15,000 SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Classic on February 19 at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Photo by Sportfot

February 19, 2012 – Wellington, FL – Alex Parrish rode away with a $1,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves after winning the $15,000 SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Classic on Sunday, February 19, to close out week six of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.

Only three riders successfully negotiated the first round course set by Steve Stephens to qualify for the jump-off.  All three were wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves to put themselves in contention for the $1,000 cash bonus.  First back for the jump-off, Tori Corts incurred four faults with Ultimo van ter Moude before Alex Parrish went clean in a time of 30.75 seconds riding Frisco to take the lead.  When Melissa Orlick-Zbierski dropped a rail with Viekie, the win went to Parrish of Midway, Kentucky.

“My birthday was two days ago and the gloves were a gift from a barn mate,” said Parrish of her new SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves.  “They are very comfortable, and they are lucky!”

Parrish, who trains with Donald and Cara Cheska, has been riding Frisco for the past two winters.

“He’s sassy and quite confident,” said Parrish of the horse purchased from Double H Farm.  “If I let him do his thing and not get in his way, he’s perfect.  He wants to win.”

While Parrish rode away a winner in the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion, Emanuel Andrade missed out on a $3,000 cash bonus.  Andrade and Costa won the $10,000 Griffis Group High Junior Jumper Classic but, unfortunately, Andrade was not wearing SSG ‘Digitals.’  The money now carries forward to week seven, when a $4,000 bonus will be on offer.

The SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion offers a bonus of $3,000 each week to the winner of the WEF Challenge Series.  In the weekly Junior Jumper High Classic and Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, a bonus of $1,000 is offered.  Any bonus money not awarded is carried forward to the next week.

SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves are available for purchase at numerous Wellington locations, including Tackeria, as well as on-site at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds at Running Fox, Beval Saddlery, Hadfield’s Saddlery, Ann K Hubbard’s Tack Shop and Jods.

Please refer to the 2012 WEF Prize List for complete details.  For further information, contact Jennifer Ward, Starting Gate Communications, at cell: 613 292-5439 or jward@startinggate.ca.