Lexington, KY – May 10, 2026 – Show Jumping action came to a close on Sunday afternoon at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show as Luxembourg’s Charlotte Bettendorf scored a one-two victory in the $35,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix, presented by Sterling Equestrian and Forest Hill. She led the way with two brilliant double clears in the three-horse jump-off, claiming the win with Vivante Grafinia PS and placing second aboard Kalliope. Erynn Ballard also competed in the jump-off, but one rail down would rank her third aboard Coline De Wil.
“It’s really amazing,” smiled Bettendorf after earning the top two awards. “I love the facilities, the course designer, the atmosphere. I have a really amazing string of horses thanks to JFK Farms. I tested them out a little bit this week and they are even better than I thought. I’m very grateful – all four horses that brought here did amazingly.”
Charlotte Bettendorf & Vivante Grafinia PS
The Guilherme Jorge and Jason Shelley-designed track featured a technical course of jumps starting with a bending line towards the ingate, followed by a vertical-oxer-vertical double combination. The course continued over the expansive Rolex Stadium, finishing with an oxer-vertical double combination before turning towards home over the final line. Three combinations advanced to the jump-off, where they had to begin with a single vertical before galloping to a bending line and rolling back to an oxer followed by the first part of the triple combination. Then they galloped across the ring again to an oxer before a final rollback to the final delicate vertical going away from the gate.
Charlotte Bettendorf & Kalliope
Bettendorf returned first with Vivante Grafinia PS, and despite an error in the first line the duo left all the rails intact to set the pace. Ballard was next with Coline De Will, and a single knock down would prove costly as they took home third place despite having the faster time. Bettendorf returned one more time with Kalliope, knowing she had the win in hand. She still galloped quickly, but took a more constervative track that would rank second for the day.
Erynn Ballard & Coline De Will
“Vivante Grafinia PS is very sensitive, very careful,” explained Bettendorf. “Ohio was my first show with her and I love her more every day – she’s unbelievable. We jumped her Wednesday, in the 1.40m and we had one down. Then we were sixth in the 1.45m on Friday and then she did the Grand Prix double clean. I’m very impressed with her – I really love her.”
Bettendorf concluded, “I just wanted to thank my trainer Mark Hayes and my owner John Kimmel. Mark has been helping me a lot and trusting me, and John also trusts me and that means a lot. Mark gives me a lot of confidence and I think it’s great to have people like that around you – owners and trainers like that make everything much easier.”
Show jumping will continue next week during the Kentucky Spring Classic, which will feature another $62,500 Spring Classic CSI3* on Thursday, as well as the $125,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Riders can also compete each Sunday during the $35,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix, presented by Sterling Equestrian/Forest Hill and the $15,000 U25 Grand Prix.
For more information on the Kentucky Spring Series please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
