Luis Pedro Biraben and Chacco Bumpy won the CSI3* $125,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute during the Kentucky Spring Classic. Photo © Kentucky Horse Shows.
Edited press release from Kentucky Horse Shows
Luis Pedro Biraben (ARG) and Chacco Bumpy (Chacco-Blue x Toulon) ruled the ring as international show jumping action at the Kentucky Horse Park concluded on Saturday with the CSI3* $125,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute during the Kentucky Spring Classic. In a speedy jump-off that came down to the wire, Biraben and Chacco Bumpy galloped home with the winning prize. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising) placed second, while Rene Dittmer (GER) and Cody 139 (Casall x Quidam de Revel) took home the third-place prize as one of the night’s early pathfinders.
The grand prix was held in memory of the late Mary Rena Murphy, one of the horse industry’s most influential people. She worked diligently to promote the Kentucky Horse Park and was a major influence for the first hunter/jumper shows at the venue. Her vision for an exhibitor-friendly competition at a world-class facility helped shape the Kentucky Horse Park into what it has become today. Four generations of her family gathered for the presentation during Saturday’s highlight event.
Four generations of the late Mary Rena Murphy's family gathered for the presentation during Saturday’s highlight event. Photo © Kentucky Horse Shows.
After leading the night’s lap of honor, Biraben credited his partnership with Chacco Bumpy, a 15-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Miguel Madero and Luis Biraben, for their success. “It feels great, this mare is amazing, and it feels extra special because we won the class in 2022,” he smiled.
In the jump-off, Dittmer and Cody 139 were the first to clear the course in under 36 seconds, finishing in time of 35.78 seconds, which put him in the lead early on. Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz upped the time to win by putting in a clear round in 35.08 seconds, but they were soon beaten by Biraben and Chacco Bumpy, who were fault-free with a time of 34.84 seconds, earning the win by just 2/10ths of a second.
“I knew I could trust her to handle the turns and cover the ground – she’s a very fast mare.” explained Biraben. “I’ve had Chacco Bumpy for almost seven years now, and we’ve developed a special partnership. She’s a great horse.”
As the Kentucky Spring Series begins to wind down, Biraben concluded, “Kentucky is great, I love everything about it. The facilities, the jumps, the competition, everything.”
Then