Leslie Howard rode her husband Peter Howard's Gentille Van Spieveld to victory in the $35,000 CSI2* Hollow Creek Farm 1.45m Welcome Stake at the Split Rock Farm Jumping Tour Columbus International.

The 11-year-old bay gelding was one of ten, out of a starting field of 77, to advance to contest the jump-off over an Alan Wade designed course.  Howard was 74th in the original order, and was witness to many before her taking down rails and incurring time penalties, and knew the task ahead.  She and Gentille Van Spieveld proved up to the task and posted a clear round to advance to the next round.

While warming up for their jump-off effort, the horse pulled a shoe off and needed the services of the farrier to put the shoe back on, making Howard the last to enter the ring, a position that Howard was able to put to her advantage.  Howard had seen every other horse and rider combination complete the course and knew exactly what was necessary to win, and 40.95 seconds later crossed through the timers leaving all the rails intact for the win.

"When we were half way through the class and there were only three clear, you had to think that maybe it was a little harder than it looked," said Howard after her win.  "There were a lot of related distances and options.  I got the luck of the draw in the jump off, getting to see most of the other rounds, and then with the lost shoe I really got lucky because I got to see everyone go. 

I fell off of this horse at Spruce Meadows in the victory gallop," continued Howard with a chuckle.  "So I am a little bit leery of them but he was good today, maybe because he was at the front of the pack and not at the back.  Maybe it will be an incentive for him to keep winning."

Emanuel Andrade, riding for Venezuela, had two horses in the jump-off, Ricore Courcelle, who finished the course fault free in a time of 41.42 for second place and Reus De La Nutra who also completed without penalty in 42.4, placing fourth.

Third Place honors went to New Zealand Olympic veteran Sharn Wordley and his Caiman Des Sequoias who finished their jump-off round with no penalties in 41.9 seconds.