Hillary Dobbs and Marengo won the $10,000 Polo/Ralph Lauren Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Friday, August 13, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. Photo by David Mullinix Photography

August 13, 2010 – East Dorset, Vermont – Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, and Marengo won the $10,000 Polo/Ralph Lauren Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, for the third year in a row on Friday, August 13, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT.

Fourteen of the original 23-horse starting field successfully navigated the track designed by Canada’s Chris Brandt to advance to the jump-off. Of those 14, nine once again turned in clear rounds in the jump-off.

Irishman Darragh Kenny held the lead with Missy Clark and North Run’s Gael Force when Dobbs and Marengo entered the ring. History repeated itself for the third time during the six-week Vermont Summer Festival when Dobbs relegated Kenny to second place. The scenario had played out twice earlier, when Dobbs took the lead from her stable mate in the $30,000 Battenkill Grand Prix and the $30,000 Manchester & The Mountains Grand Prix. Luckily for Dobbs, the $10,000 Polo/Ralph Lauren Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, is one of her favorites to win – she and Marengo also took the victory in 2008 and 2009.

“I always win this one,” said Dobbs, 22, in reference to the Polo/Ralph Lauren sponsored class. “I am going shopping thanks to Marengo! I really appreciate the commitment Polo/Ralph Lauren has made to the horse show. Their sponsorship and generosity allows the horse show to operate, which is so appreciated by the riders and owners of these horses.”

A recent Harvard graduate, Dobbs has enjoyed great success with Marengo over the years, noting, “He is so fast. We have such a fun time out there. I know that he is going to perform above and beyond. No matter what I ask of him, he gives me more. This is really his forte. Marengo is always trying his hardest and I can always count on him. He has been my go-to horse for so many years, he is really remarkable. I am so lucky to have him.”

While Kenny was once again the bridesmaid, last week’s winners, Ian Silitch of Ocala, FL, and Spencer Ranch’s Rivano, had to settle for third place this time around.

The sixth and final week of the Vermont Summer Festival is now underway, and culminates with the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix, presented by Purina, on Sunday, August 15. Vermont Governor Jim Douglas will be in attendance, and will present the awards to the winner.

Located at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children Wednesday through Saturday. On Grand Prix Sunday, admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children. All gate proceeds benefit Manchester Elementary-Middle School (MEMS).

Running July 7 through August 15, 2010, the Vermont Summer Festival offers more than $750,000 in prize money, making it the richest sporting event based on purse in the state. The Vermont Summer Festival is a proud member event of the Show Jumping Hall Of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). For more information about the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail: info@vt-summerfestival.com or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.

    Rider/Horse/Faults/Time
1     Hillary Dobbs     Marengo     0:0     30.667
2     Darragh Kenny     Gael Force     0:0     30.775
3     Ian Silitch     Rivano     0:0     31.892
4     Caitlin Venezia     Calmiro     0:0     32.397
5     Tracey Fenney     MTM Timon     0:0     32.599
6     Mike McCormick     MTM Remington     0:0     33.073
7     Tracy Magness     Tarco Van Ter Moude     0:0     34.993
8     Agatha D’Ambra     Airbus     0:0     35.713