Francesca Bolfo is awarded a $2,000 bonus for wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves while winning the $10,000 Amateur-Owner Low Classic on Sunday, February 6. Photo by Sportfot

February 7, 2011 – Wellington, FL – Francesca Bolfo claimed a $2,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves for winning the $10,000 Amateur-Owner Low Classic on Sunday, February 6, while wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Gloves. The SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion is being held throughout the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

As the $1,000 bonus had not been awarded the previous week, the bonus increased to $2,000 for Sunday’s competition. A large field of 75 horses attempted to win the $10,000 Amateur-Owner Low Classic and it was one of the final riders on course, 21-year-old Bolfo, who stopped the clock in the fastest jump-off time. In addition to her victory, Bolfo was awarded the $2,000 bonus for winning while wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Gloves.

“I bought the gloves for the promotion, and they are wonderful,” said Bolfo of New York City, NY, following the presentation. “The promotion is a great opportunity to add another level of competition to the class, plus the gloves are great!”

Bolfo, 21, attends school in Pennsylvania and commutes to Florida on the weekends to compete. She trains with Olympic Gold Medalist, Chris Kappler, and said of Venus TR, her horse of four years, “She’s quick, careful and incredibly smart. She’s a dream come true.”

While Bolfo was wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves during the fourth week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, the winners of Thursday’s $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series Round IV and Saturday’s $15,000 Amateur-Owner High Classic were not. That means that a $6,000 bonus will be on offer for the WEF Challenge Cup Series Round V on Thursday, February 10, while a $2,000 bonus will be up for grabs in the Amateur-Owner High Classic on Saturday, February 12.

SSG Riding Gloves is offering a total of $57,000 in cash bonuses for riders competing at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival running January 12 through April 3 in Wellington, FL. The SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion is offered in the weekly WEF Challenge Cup Series, the Amateur-Owner Jumper Low Classic, and the Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic competitions.

Cash bonuses are given directly to the rider during the award presentations in front of the SSG Riding Gloves signature jump by either Ed James of SSG Riding Gloves or Jennifer Ward of Starting Gate Communications, who manages and handles publicity for the ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion.

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

Please refer to the 2011 WEF Prize List for complete details. For further information, contact Jennifer Ward, Starting Gate Communications, at cell: 613 292-5439 or jward@startinggate.ca.