For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Marty Bauman – 508-878-2394, Marty@Classic-Communications.com
McLain Ward Wins $25,000 Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) 1.45m Jumper Classic to Highlight Community Appreciation Day Sponsored by Uihlein Foundation
Lake Placid, NY – June 27, 2026 – JJ Torano (USA) rode Lyon 50 to victory in the $32,000 Purina Animal Nutrition FEI 3* Speed Class Saturday at the 2026 Lake Placid Horse Shows (LPHS), Sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies and Presented by Sea Shore Stables. Torano topped a field of 31 horses at the North Elba Showgrounds. The horse shows feature two weeks of world-class competition, June 23-July 5, sanctioned by the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) and International Equestrian Federation (FEI).
Philip McGuane (IRL) took an early lead in the class on Donvier, finishing clean in 67.20 seconds over the 14-effort, one-round course designed by Nick Granat. The lead held for most of the class before Torano blazed over the course, finishing clean in 63.53 seconds, more than three-and-a-half seconds faster than McGuane. None of the others could catch Torano’s time, giving the 16-year-old rider the win.
“I didn’t see Philip go so I didn’t know what I had to do,” Torano said, “so I just went with the horse’s pace which is very fast. He’s a real trier, he wants to win every class, so I just went with his pace. He’s very quick and competitive and I can’t thank him enough.”
McGuane’s time held up for second place with Jordan Coyle (IRL) taking third on Dexterity Z with a clean ride in 69.09 seconds.
JJ Torano with Lyon 50 © Kind Media
Six-time U.S. Olympic veteran McLain Ward rode Supersox Ter Leydonck to the win in the $25,000 Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) 1.45m Jumper Classic. After seven of 33 went clean over the 16-effort, first-round course, Ward turned in the fastest clean ride over the eight-effort jump-off course, finishing in 35.726 seconds to claim the win. Placing second was Molly Ashe Cawley with a clean ride in 36.513 seconds on La Rosso Lady and third went to Alex Matz who finished clean in 37.272 seconds on Million One.
McLain Ward and Supersox Ter Leydonck © Kind Media
Other Saturday winners include Avery Johnson on Japardie in the $5,000 Alorian Saddlery 1.35m Jumper Stake; Shane Radimer on JT Adore Riverland in the $5,000 Lukens Horse Transportation 1.20m Junior Jumper Classic; and Christian Currey on A Lil Evil in the $5,000 1.20m Amateur Jumper Classic. Currey also placed second on Unesco Du Rouet.
Avery Johnson on Japardie
Shane Radimer on JT Adore Riverland
Christian Currey on A Lil Evil
© Kind Media
Saturday was Community Appreciation Day Sponsored by Uihlein Foundation at the horse show with free admission and lots of family fun attractions including the horse show’s 33rd annual Doggie Costume Contest Sponsored by Man and Beast, won by a Lake Placid dog, Royce, dressed as a “senior golfer.” Kids and adults enjoyed airbrush tattoos, balloon animals, spin art, a horseless horse show course, cornhole and other games.
Royce, dressed as a senior golfer.
Kids enjoyed balloon animals
Horseless horse show course
© Kind Media
Located in the historic Olympic town of Lake Placid, NY, the annual Lake Placid Horse Shows offer two weeks of exciting equestrian competition in a setting no other horse show can match that helps make the Lake Placid Horse Shows, “The Best Two Weeks of a Horseman’s Summer!” LPHS hosts competitions for riders of all levels and ages ranging from young children on polished ponies, to glistening hunters and Olympic veterans aboard their grand prix mounts. Competition starts at 8:00 a.m. daily and features classes running simultaneously in four spectacular show rings.
Tickets for the horse shows are available at the gate. Admission is free each Tuesday, $8 each Wednesday-Friday, and $12 each Saturday-Sunday, except for Community Appreciation Day on June 27 which is free. Veterans get 1/2 off daily, and children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.
The horse show concludes its first week on Sunday before an off day on Monday and the opening of the second week of Tuesday. Sunday’s schedule includes the $10,000 Mirror Lake Inn/The Cottage Café 1.35m SJHOF Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, $15,000 FarmVet 1.45m SJHOF Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, The Hooker Family 1.15m Junior Jumper Classic, Higher Ground Farm 1.15m Amateur Jumper Classic, NAL Adult Amateur Hunter Classic presented by Northland, NEHC Junior 3’3” Hunter Seat Medal, Lead Line Class presented by McLain Ward, Inc. (12:30 PM), Saratoga Horseworks Parade of Champions (12:40 PM), and the main event of the week, the $100,000 FEI 3* Grand Prix of Lake Placid.
The I Love New York Horse Show follows, June 30-July 5, and features Wednesday’s $5,000 CSI3* Two-Phase presented by North Star Equine Sports Medicine, Thursday’s $45,000 CSI3* Welcome Stake presented by Brianne Goutal LLC, Friday’s $32,000 CSI3* Speed Derby presented by Purina Animal Nutrition and $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Perfect Products, and Saturday’s The Clothes Horse Parade of Champions leading up to the main event, the $100,000 CSI3* Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix presented by Friends of the Lake Placid Horse Shows. More hunter and jumper classics also take place on Sunday, including the $25,000 Knockers Field 1.45m Jumper Classic presented by the Postage Stamp Farm Foundation.
The Lake Placid Horse Shows can be watched via live streaming available at ClipMyHorse.TV. The live streaming is sponsored by Hollow Brook Wealth Management, who is also sponsoring the Hollow Brook Wealth Management Junior Sportsmanship Award. This award recognizes the junior rider who best personifies the highest standards of integrity, sportsmanship, honor, kindness and generosity throughout the 2026 Lake Placid Horse Shows.
LPHSA, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that runs the Lake Placid Horse Show, a hallmark of the summer equestrian season which presents two weeks of world-class competition at the historic North Elba Showgrounds in Lake Placid, New York. Attracting top riders and horses from across the globe, the shows feature prestigious hunter, jumper, and equitation classes, including FEI-rated events. Steeped in tradition and set against the stunning backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains, the Lake Placid Horse Show, a USEF Heritage competition, offers a unique blend of high-level equestrian sport and family-friendly entertainment, contributing significantly to the region’s economy and community spirit. All donations are tax-deductible (TIN: 82-5074078). Further information for exhibitors, spectators, sponsors, and donors is available at www.lakeplacidhorseshows.org or by calling 518-523-9625.
Thank you to our 2026 sponsors!
Many sponsors and supporters have joined with the Lake Placid Horse Shows (LPHS) to undertake this significant effort to upgrade the showgrounds and invest in the future of the LPHS. This joint effort of dedicated equestrians, the Town of North Elba, and local Lake Placid supporters will continue to foster equestrian excellence, family fun and community bonds in the heart of the picturesque Adirondacks. LPHS would like to thank our partners who have joined us in this effort, including The Bainbridge Companies LLC, Sea Shore Stables LLC, 1800 Tequila/Empire Merchants North, Alorian Saddlery, AS Stables, Brianne Goutal LLC, Camp Treetops, Charles Ancona, Dalman Jump Co., Eastern Hay Corp., Essex Classics, FarmVet, Grandview Lake Placid, Great American Insurance Group, Hampton Inn, High Peaks Resort, Higher Ground Farm, Highport Stables, Hollow Brook Wealth Management, Horseflight, IGEA, Lukens Horse Transportation, Lutz Manfredi, McLain Ward, Inc., Merrill L. Thomas, Inc., Mirror Lake Inn/The Cottage Café, Mobile Tack, Mrs. Pastures Cookies, NGP Future’s Program, North Country School, North Star Equine Sports Medicine, Northland, Pepsico, Perfect Products, Postage Stamp Farm Foundation, Purina Animal Nutrition, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), Rood & Riddle, Saratoga Horseworks, Stonehenge Stables, The Caristo Family, The Clothes Horse, The Hooker Family, Trelawny Farm, Whipstick Farm, Whiteface Lodge, Wölffer Estate Vineyard, and Wolfstone Stables.
Media Partners
ClipMyHorse.TV, Chronicle of the Horse, East Coast Equestrian, Elite Equestrian, The Plaid Horse, and Sidelines.