Eric Lamaze, mounted on Artisan Farms LLC’s Fine Lady 5, is presented with a $3,000 bonus from Jennifer Ward on behalf of SSG Gloves for wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ on his way to victory in the $34,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round III at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Photo by Sportfot
Eric Lamaze receives his third consecutive SSG Gloves bonus from promotion manager Jennifer Ward, bringing his total bonus money won to $9,000 so far this season. Photo by Starting Gate Communications

January 22, 2015 – Wellington, FL – For an unprecedented third week in a row, Canada’s Eric Lamaze won the $34,000 WEF Challenge Cup and also claimed a $3,000 bonus in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion for wearing SSG ‘Digital’ riding gloves on his way to victory. The SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion runs throughout the duration of the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival, held January 7 through March 29 in Wellington, FL.

Lamaze had won the first two events in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series riding Rosana du Park, owned by Artisan Farms LLC in partnership with Lamaze’s Torrey Pines Stable. For the win in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round III, held January 22, Lamaze’s partner was Fine Lady 5, a 12-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Artisan Farms LLC.

Of the secret to his success with Rosana du Park and Fine Lady 5, Lamaze noted, “They are very competitive horses. The two horses I’ve had are very competitive horses anywhere in the world. They are quick, quick horses. If you get into the jump-off, you just set up the speed. Today, I was going for it; I hate to go half-way. Fine Lady loves it; she loves to be competitive.”

In addition to winning the WEF Challenge Cup three weeks in a row, Lamaze was also a winner in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion for the third week in a row. A $3,000 bonus is on offer to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style riding gloves and, as always, the 2008 Olympic Champion was sporting his ‘Digitals’. Lamaze has now claimed a total of $9,000 in bonus money for his three consecutive wins.

“Like I said the first week, you have to be crazy not to wear them with the bonus!” said Lamaze of his SSG ‘Digitals’. “It all adds up. Three WEF’s, and I’ve won $9,000. I saw last year, when the bonus was up for grabs, there were three winners without the gloves. That was kind of crazy! The promotion is great. Everything helps, and it makes the event even more valuable.”

SSG Gloves will continue to offer a $3,000 bonus in each of the weekly Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series events, as well as a $1,000 bonus in the High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic and the Sleepy P Ranch High Junior Jumper Classic competitions. If the winning rider in any of these three competitions is wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style gloves with the SSG horse head logo clearly visible, they will be presented with the SSG Gloves bonus during the awards presentation. A total of $60,000 in bonus money is on offer from SSG Gloves at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival.

SSG ‘Digital’ riding gloves are available for purchase at numerous Wellington locations including Tackeria and Dover Saddlery, as well as on-site at the Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds at various retailers including Running Fox and Hadfield’s Saddlery.

Please refer to the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival Prize List for complete promotion details on the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion. For further information, please contact promotion manager Jennifer Ward, Starting Gate Communications Inc., at cell: 613 292-5439 or jward@startinggate.ca.