Lacey Gilbertson and Holliewood are presented as winners by (left to right) Jeff Bussey and Nate Ghering of Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
Press release from Traverse City Horse Shows
Opening week of the 2024 Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, came to a close with Lacey Gilbertson (USA) leading the victory gallop aboard Holliewood in the $120,000 Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel CSI3* Grand Prix.
The 30-year-old Chicago, IL, native guided her Seabrook, LLC-owned 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Nabab de Reve to the top of a three-way jump-off for top call. Navigating courses set by Peter Grant (CAN), Gilbertson posted the first clear round of the day and was the pace-setter in the jump-off. She stopped the clock at 39.77 seconds with fellow U.S. riders Eve Jobs and Spencer Smith to follow.
Jobs piloted her own High Point VDL to a respectable double-clear in 40.64 seconds to claim the runner-up spot. Smith had the winning time in hand riding Quibelle, owned by Georgina Bloomberg’s Gotham Enterprizes, but pulled two rails to round out the podium in 38.95 seconds.
“I had nothing to lose; I knew I was going to get a good result because there were only three in the jump-off, so I gave it a go,” said Gilbertson, who hasn’t had much experience with Holliewood in jump-offs after adding the mount to her string of mares a year ago. “The jump-off suited us because her left lead is easier for me, and all the tight turns were off the left lead so I knew I could keep coming.”
Lacey Gilbertson and Holliewood. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
Getting to know Holliewood was easy for Gilbertson after watching her trainer and Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam campaign the horse.
“We didn’t push any of the horses too hard in Wellington so they would be ready for the summer season and that plan is working so far,” said Gilbertson.
Of Holliewood’s personality, Gilbertson noted, “She’s a typical chestnut mare, but once you have her on your side she fights so hard. Even if I’m a little wrong, she wants to clear the jumps as much as I do.
Traverse City Horse Shows is only five hours from Gilbertson’s home in Chicago, and her family can often be spotted ringside cheering her on at Flintfields Horse Park. “It doesn’t get better than spending summer on the lake in Northern Michigan weather,” concluded Gilbertson.
International show jumping returns to Flintfields Horse Park next week, highlighted by the $182,000 Southern Arches CSI4* Grand Prix in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring on Sunday, June 16.
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