U.S. 2024 Olympic Equestrian Silver Medal-Winning Team, Jessica Springsteen And More Compete In The Inaugural Santa Anita CSI5*-W

U.S. 2024 OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN SILVER MEDAL-WINNING TEAM, JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN AND MORE COMPETE IN THE INAUGURAL SANTA ANITA CSI5*-W

OLYMPIAN KARL COOK AND CARACOLE DE LA ROQUE WIN THE $400,000 LONGINES FEI JUMPING WORLD CUP™ LOS ANGELES CSI5*-W

Compton Cowboys and VIP Guests Enjoy Hospitality by The h.wood Group’s Deliah

ARCADIA, CA (November 27, 2024) - 1/ST, the innovative brand behind North America’s leading Thoroughbred horse racing, entertainment and wagering events, in partnership with the prestigious Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT), has concluded the inaugural Los Angeles National and Santa Anita CSI5*-W, continuing 1/ST’s commitment to excellence at the intersection of sports, entertainment and luxury lifestyle.

1/ST’s iconic Santa Anita Park hosted two weeks of world-class equestrian competitions beginning with the Los Angeles National from November 13-17, followed by the Santa Anita CSI5*-W from November 20-24, featuring the $400,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Los Angeles CSI5*-W qualifying event presented by Lugano Diamonds - one of only eight events in the 2024 FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League (NAL).

With a focus on the comfort, safety and excellence of horses and riders, 1/ST made significant investments to transform the Santa Anita Park infield into a premier showjumping venue. The installation of two premier horse show arenas, two schooling areas, 400 dedicated stalls with enhanced security and a grazing area grown especially for equine athletes provided the attention to detail required to ensure every rider could compete at the highest level of sportsmanship.

To complement the competition, 1/ST curated an elevated hospitality and entertainment experience featuring a boutique VIP pop-up lounge presented by The h.wood Group’s Delilah and dynamic brand activations that captivated equestrian and luxury lifestyle enthusiasts alike. Belinda Stronach, Chairman and CEO, 1/ST and Nicole Walker, Vice President, The Stronach Group welcomed some of the world’s most notable figures in showjumping, including Robert Ridland (Chef d’Equipe, USA) and Éric Navet (Olympian, FRA) and Gerry Mullins (Olympian, IRL) who both returned to Santa Anita Park for the first time since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Accomplished showjumping athletes included Kent Farrington (USA), Laura Kraut (USA), McLain Ward (USA), Karl Cook (USA), Jessica Springsteen (USA), Lillie Keenan (USA), Cian O’Connor (IRE), Richard Vogel (GER), Harry Charles (GBR), Daniel Bluman (ISR), Ashlee Bond (ISR), Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Tiffany Foster (CAN), to name just a few. Notable guests included DINER, Jordan Wiseley, The Compton Cowboys and more.

“The return of showjumping to Santa Anita Park was everything we had hoped for and more. To host an inaugural event of this caliber in partnership with the Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour speaks to 1/ST’s reputation for excellence and innovation in sports and entertainment. Thank you to the competitors and their teams, our partners and sponsors and the community - we look forward to welcoming you back next year!” said Belinda Stronach, Chairman and CEO, 1/ST.

“To be part of this event both as a competitor and a host was truly special,” said Nicole Walker, Vice President, The Stronach Group and professional equestrian. “The feedback from riders, grooms, spectators and owners has been very exciting. I am exceptionally proud of the 1/ST Team for all their hard work and the Split Rock Jumping Tour for bringing their expertise! It has been a real team effort!

As an all-star packed lineup of athletes and horses returned to the California venue for the first time for showjumping since the 1984 Olympic Games, the first weekend at Santa Anita Park opened with the $35,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Two Phase CSI5*, where Jessica Springsteen catapulted through the impressive 69 horse-and-rider combinations to earn the series’ first FEI victory. Opening weekend also introduced the dynamic Vendor Village, offering both competitors and attendees the opportunity to engage with luxury equestrian brands, discover local artisans and explore a wide variety of unique products from brands like Voltaire Design, Brainjuice, Archer Roose and more.

“It’s such an incredible venue,” said Jessica Springsteen. “It’s my first time competing in California. I started riding out here when I was really little, but I’ve never competed here so I’m excited to be out here – the view is incredible.”

In partnership with beloved Los Angeles-based luxury hospitality group, The h.wood Group and SirDavis American Whisky, the second weekend brought a first-of-its-kind luxury hospitality offering to the world of showjumping through exclusive VIP experiences that included live performances, carefully curated cocktails, gourmet cuisine and activations from some of the most prestigious brands in the industry. The inaugural Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Los Angeles CSI5*-W, presented by Lugano Diamonds kicked off with a star-studded opening ceremony on Saturday, November 23, with presentations from The Compton Cowboys and the 2024 USA Olympic Showjumping Team, as well as performances from DINER and Crystal Starr.

As thirty-nine of the world’s top international showjumping athletes delighted the audience, including 18 Olympians from across the globe, guests were immersed in a world of luxury carefully curated by The h.wood Group and SirDavis American Whisky. The exhilarating competition was paired with SirDavis American Whisky’s signature cocktail The HoneyBee, the world-famous chicken tenders from The h.wood Group’s Delilah outpost, and the event’s signature All Night Long espresso martini, curated by 1/ST’s in-house mixologist. Following the thrilling competition guests were invited to B’s Saloon, where they’d trade their breeches and helmets for cowboy hats and western boots at the wild-west, cowboy themed bar, complete with a mechanical bull, custom cocktail offerings and performances from DJ Short Shorts, Chloè Kat, Allstar Band and more.

“We were thrilled to bring Delilah back to Santa Anita Park for the Split Rock Show Jumping Tour following the massive success of The California Crown.” said John Terzian, Co-Founder of The h.wood Group. “1/ST is truly redefining the world of sports, entertainment and culture in Los Angeles and we are proud to be a part of these exhilarating experiences alongside some of the best-in-class of LA.”

The adrenaline-filled $400,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Los Angeles CSI5*-W saw just eight of 39 riders clear the 16-jump course designed by Anderson Lima, setting the stage for a fierce jump-off between Ashlee Bond (ISR), Harry Charles (GBR), Shawn Casady (USA), Kaitlin Campbell (USA), Vanessa Mannix (CAN), Daniel Bluman (ISR), Cian O’Connor (IRL), and Karl Cook (USA). The jump-off kept fans on their feet as each of the eight finalists went full-throttle through the course, but it was the USA’s Karl Cook who took first place as last-to-go with a breathtaking double-clear at just 41.19 seconds atop Caracole de la Roque, owned by Éric Navet and Signe Ostby.

“Everyone that put the show together – to have the vision for this show, the facility, it’s awesome. It’s a great, complete show – from the tiniest things like you can walk to the hotel, we have a lot of room to ride in the back, a very good size warmup ring, the atmosphere is really great,” said Karl Cook as he reflected on his time at Santa Anita Park after taking the title as the first Santa Anita CSI5*-W winner. “It’s a wonderful and historic setting – one that deserves showjumping. I’ve wanted this type of investment both in time, people and money into California for so long.”

The Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour at Santa Anita Park arrived hot on the heels of the inaugural California Crown – which was attended by Beyonce, Jay Z, Cher, Sharon Stone, and more. To stay connected on 1/ST and the Split Rock Jumping Tour, visit @1stracing and @splitrockjumpingtour on Instagram.

LINKS TO IMAGERY: ● Hero Images ● Getty Images