The Lamplight Spring Classic I on May 6-10, 2026, marked an exciting start to what promises to be a thrilling 13-week season of competition at HITS Chicago, hosted at the prestigious Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois. Known for its charm, top-tier footing, and scenic grounds, Lamplight welcomed riders from across the country for the first week of the three-week Spring Series. Highlights from the opening week spanned both the hunter and jumper arenas, including the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby and the $24,500 HITS Grand Prix.
In the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, Joshua Graves and Unbreakable Z dominated, claiming top honors. Riders tackled a thoughtfully designed course by Tom Urban, with rounds judged by Kristen Chance and Amanda Flint. The competition featured a strong field of 21 junior, amateur, and professional athletes, each demonstrating their skill and style in a classic first round. The top 12 then returned for the all-important handy round, where precision and strategy were put to the test.
Graves, the professional who trains out of Dandelion Farm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has produced Unbreakable Z over the years, impressed the judges in both rounds, ultimately securing the lion’s share of the prize money.
“He is just a seasoned, reliable, and trustworthy horse, and I’ve really enjoyed showing him,” said Graves of the 15-year-old Warmblood gelding (Untouched x Centauer Z) owned by John Graves. “I knew I could trust him, so I tried to be really bold in round one to set me apart. Coming back on top, I wanted to be pretty handy to secure the win. He turns super tight, so I could cut the jumps on slices and angles, and he’s just always there for you every step of the way.”
Unbreakable Z has been a staple at Dandelion Farm for a while now. The gelding doubles up to compete in the professional divisions as well as the Amateur-Owner Hunter division with his owner, John Puckett.
“He never lets us down,” shared Graves. “I think my favorite thing about this horse is that it doesn’t matter the ring, the venue, or what class it is. This horse just always rises to the occasion.”
A long-time supporter of HITS Chicago, Graves and his team at Dandelion Farm make Lamplight a key part of their summer schedule.
“It’s such a local show for us,” explained Graves. “We love coming here. The grounds are beautiful. The staff does a great job, and the competition is good. We’re lucky to have derbies like this, where we can pull our good horses out and get some practice in. This show was our prep for Devon in a couple of weeks, so we feel really lucky to have this horse show so close to us.”
Professional rider Melanie Wright claimed the runner-up spot aboard Game Day, a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding by Cyrano VDV Z owned by Wynmore Farm LLC. Professional rider Erin Hughes rounded out the top three with her own Entourage, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Fly Over OMHG x Libero H).
In the $24,500 HITS Grand Prix, jumper riders got to shine in their featured class of the week in the Grand Prix Ring. Out of a competitive field, ultimately, it was Tiffany Hammack and Clarisall Junior that claimed the win with the only double-clear effort of the day. Hammack piloted Foxwood Farm’s nine-year-old Anglo European stallion (Clarisall x Quidam’s Rubin) to the win in a time of 42.964 seconds. Lisa Goldman-Smolen claimed second aboard Solomon B, Barbara Disko’s eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Cumano BD x Thunder van de Zuuthoeve). Shannon Sullivan rounded out the podium with Downtown’s Main Event, her own 19-year-old Polish Warmblood gelding.
As the premier week of the 2026 HITS Chicago Show Series comes to a close, riders and spectators now look ahead to even more excitement as the Lamplight Spring Series II kicks off on May 13. For complete results, visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.
