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The winners; Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One. Photo by © The Book LLC.The $25,000 New York Welcome Stake, presented by The Hakim Family, was the highlight event today at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show. Held on the stunning grass Grand Prix Field, the class featured top show jumping talent. Pan American Games double gold medalists Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One, owned by Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables, sped to the win in the class. The first week of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows continues through Sunday, May 12, and the second week runs May 14-19.

Pius Schwizer with Rafale des Forets. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.Pius Schwizer and Rafale des Forets (by l'Arc de Triomphe) ended up on top in Friday's Youngster Cup in Hamburg. 65 horse and rider combinations lined up for the second qualification for the Edsor Youngster Cup. It was the Swiss rider that took home the first prize though, after a clear round in 65,66 seconds. Second went to Denis Lynch with Anyway II (No Limit x Farmer) who was one second slower than the winner.

Emanuele Gaudiano won the second qualification for Sunday's Hamburg Derby after a great and fast round on Chicago (Chambertin x Quinar). All photos by Jenny Abrahamsson.

Daniel Deusser and Mouse couldn't be beat today! Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.Daniel Deusser and Mouse (Limbus x Grundyman xx) won the NFR Trophy in Hamburg on Friday. The class was set at 1,50 m and was against the clock. It was a track with eleven fences, thirteen jumps and a lot of space to let the horses gallop on the big grass arena. Daniel and Mouse - known for being very fast - were more than a second quicker than runner-up Denis Lynch on Quintus (Quick Star x Grannus).

Pablo Barrios and Zara Leandra.The 2013 Hagyard Challenge Series kicked off with a big win for Venezuela's Pablo Barrios and Zara Leandra during the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. Topping an 11-horse jump-off at the Kentucky Horse Park during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, the duo made a dash for the cash that was uncatchable with a double clear effort in 38.258 seconds. Ireland's Richie Moloney was right on his heels with Slieveanorra to claim second, while Margie Engle and Indigo took home the third place award.

Ignace Philips and Swing de Riverland. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.Yesterday's first Edsor Youngster Tour qualification in Hamburg was won by the Belgian rider Ignace Philips and Swing de Riverland (Diamant de Semilly x Saphir Rouge). The Yougster Tour was a 1,35 m class against the clock for seven and eight year olds.

65 pairs entered the ring and 30 were clear over the eleven jumps. Philips was the fastest one of them all, with about a second down to Christian Ahlmann on Cocktail (Calato x Exorbitant). Third place went to Patrick Stühlmeyer with Chasmo (Chin Chin x VDL Indoctro) and fourth to Emanuele Gaudiano with Caspar (Casper x Padarco).

Uppity getting some well deserved treats from Madeleine. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson."I thought about the car already yesterday and that I would try to buy it from the winner, as we really need a new car and I like this one. Now I only have to buy half of the car from our sponsor, so of course I'm very happy. It is a fantastic car," Marc Houtzager said happily after winning a Mercedes CLA.

Marc also shared a little info about his horse Sterrehof's Uppity: "Uppity has mostly been going to shows as my second horse. It was only in Den Bosch that I took him with as a first horse and let him do the World Cup, as I wanted to ride him in the speed class in the final. He has a fantastic attitude, he is naturally fast and he always does his best."

Christian Ahlmann ended second with Lorena and said this on the press conference: "I'm really pleased with Lorena, it is the second time she jumps outdoors and she did it really great. Normally I would have been happy with being second, but today I'm a bit upset as I had the same thoughts as Marc about the car - but with me it will stay as a thought," Christian laughed. "But I believe that the audience got to see great sport and a really good jump-off."

The winners: Marc Houtzager and Sterrehof's Uppity. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.After a speedy jump-off Marc Houtzager took home the Mercedes-Benz Championat of Hamburg with Sterrehof's Uppity (Guidam x Epilot). It was a 1,55 m class and course designer Frank Rothenberger really gave the horses and riders a challenge. The triple combination as number three caused plenty of mistakes as several horses had problems with the plank on top of the a-element. But also the line from fence eight to the combination at nine a and b gave the riders a headache, with six or seven strides to the combination and then two really short strides between a triple bar and an oxer.

Reed Kessler with Mika. Photo by Phelps Media Group, Inc. The top horses and riders from across the country have returned to the Kentucky Horse Park this week for the start of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. The first day of competition kicked off with the Open Jumper divisions in the Rolex Stadium. Olympian Reed Kessler led the way in the 1.45m Open Jumper class aboard Mika with a double clear effort, while the victory in the 1.40m Open Jumper speed class went to Pablo Barrios riding Colgate.