Eric Lamaze receives his fifth SSG Gloves bonus from promotion manager Jennifer Ward, bringing his total bonus money won to $15,000 so far this season in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion. Photo by Lauren Fisher, Jennifer Wood Media

March 19, 2015 – Wellington, FL – With a total of $15,000 in bonus money won to date, 2008 Canadian Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze has now won more SSG Gloves bonus money in a single season than any other rider. Following his fifth win in the WEF Challenge Cup, Lamaze was presented with his fifth $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion.

Now in its fifth year, the SSG Gloves promotion runs throughout the duration of the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival, held January 7 through March 29 in Wellington, FL. Each week, a $3,000 bonus is on offer to the winning rider of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ riding gloves. For the fifth time, Lamaze claimed that bonus after topping a 61-horse starting field in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round XI riding Fine Lady 5 for owner Artisan Farms LLC.

For Lamaze, the bonus money truly is a bonus, as he rides exclusively in SSG ‘Digital’ riding gloves.

“Fifteen thousand dollars just for wearing great gloves? That’s pretty cool!” said Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, when he was presented with his fifth SSG Gloves bonus of $3,000. “It’s a great added bonus. The WEF has great prize money throughout the season, and to have this bonus on top of it just makes it better, plus it’s great to wear the gloves. Like I said from the beginning, I don’t see why somebody wouldn’t wear them.”

What makes SSG ‘Digitals’ Lamaze’s glove of choice?

“I find them very comfortable, and they grip well,” explained Lamaze. “I don’t find the reins slip, even in hot weather conditions. You don’t feel them, they are light, and they seem to last for quite some time.

“When I am on a lucky streak, I wear the same ones for a long time and they last. We know they can last through four WEF’s!” laughed Lamaze, referring to his four consecutive wins in the WEF Challenge Cup at the beginning of this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival.

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.