We have arrived on site at this year’s $100,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services, and tomorrow marks the start of this great highlight event’s lucky number seventh year of competition. The significant prize purse stands as the best non-FEI prize pool in our sport here in the U.S., and despite its early season location on the calendar, we always see a fully competitive field here with several horses and riders planning to make a real run at the top of the podium.
Other new changes this year include the addition of new cross country course designer Jay Hambly (CAN), who takes the reins from Capt. Mark Phillips, who’s here this year as an advisor because full retirement is really never an option for any eventer. Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) returns to make his mark on Friday’s show jumping track, and Christian Steiner (AUT) and Sara Miller Leary (USA).
29 horses and riders have entered for their chance at the prize this week, including last year’s winning rider Will Coleman (who’s left his former winners at home but this year debuts the very exciting Team Rebecca-owned Fahrenheit Addict), and 2022 winner Boyd Martin, who has three chances to win with Commando 3 (owned by Yankee Creek Ranch LLC), Shanroe Cooley (owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Dallas LLC) and Miss Lulu Herself (owned by Bonnie Stedt).
EquiRatings has tapped Sydney Elliott and Carol Stephens’ QC Diamantaire for the best chance to win (set at 19% in the early going) in their prediction center, which can be viewed here. You can also peruse EquiRatings’ newly-designed Fan Guide to the event and the field here.
What’s Happening On Site
Boyd Martin leads a cross country course walk at GPE. Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.
There is something for the entire family, horsey or not, this weekend! If you want to learn a little about each phase, you’re in for a treat. Here is a list of the course previews and other opportunities for each phase of competition:
- Friday – 10:30 a.m.: Meet us by Vendor Booth #2 (the Aiken Horse Park and Eventing Nation booth) for a Win the Warm-up session with Grand Prix dressage rider Silva Martin, with special appearances by Ryan Wood and Allison Springer after they perform their tests. Silva will be talking the group of attendees about how the top riders use their warm-up to prepare, and what we can all take away to our own riding. This session is free but does require advance registration due to limited space. Click here to sign up! This session is hosted by Eventing Nation and Optimum Time.
- Saturday – approximately 2:00 p.m.: Meet at the Show Jumping ring for a preview of Michel Vaillancourt’s track, led by Michel himself as well as Phillip Dutton. This course walk is supported by Triple Crown.
- Sunday – 10:00 a.m.: Meet Boyd Martin at the start box for a preview of the refreshed cross country course designed by Jay Hambly! This Purina-sponsored course walk has been likened to a Taylor Swift concert in terms of attendance (and we know Boyd’s a bit of a Swiftie himself, even if he doesn’t want to admit it).
Also on the docket is the first-ever Autograph Signing with athletes like Will Coleman, Sydney Elliott, Ryan Wood and Phillip Dutton at the Dressage Hospitality Tent on Saturday starting around 11:00 a.m.
We typically also have an in-house demo of another equestrian sport here at the Showcase, and this year’s exhibitors come to use from Falconwood Vaulting! You can join us at the Show Jumping ring around 11:45 a.m.
And just around the same time, at noon in the Vendor Village, there will be a Dog Agility demonstration all afternoon led by Maria Duthie. Also in the Vendor Village, alongside the many shopping opportunities, Frank’s Kid’s Corner and Pearl’s Bounce Houses.
Lastly, throughout the weekend, fans are invited to do more than cheer from the sidelines. You can actively support your favorite teams through the Ride For Charity Popular Vote. For $5 per vote, supporters may cast as many votes as they wish online, with every dollar going directly back to the team’s nonprofit organization. In addition to a special “Fan Favorite” recognition, the final team standings in competition determine how the charities share in $10,000 in prize money, creating a powerful connection between sport, spectatorship, and meaningful community impact. Six teams will be vying for the top prize this weekend, and you can start the ball rolling with your votes and donations here.
The Schedule
Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Friday, February 27
8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Dressage
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Show Jumping
Saturday, February 28
12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Cross Country
The Field
Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Here is a look at the early predictions from EquiRatings, which are based on each combination’s past performance statistics.
It’s frankly somewhat of a hard event to handicap. While the entry list usually features at least a few bonafide 5* horses that are supremely competitive, handicapping is complicated by the fact it’s early in the season, fitness and finesse are still “in progress” in many ways, and not every rider is coming to compete for the win. Many will use it just as a Combined Test and opt not to do cross country, and others will find the uniquely twisting and turning nature of this cross country course to be a different sort of challenge that may prevent them from pushing for or catching the time.
All of that to say, this event is truly one of a kind — #AnEventLikeNoOther, if you will — and we truly hope you come out and enjoy it for yourself! You can view the full field here.
How to Follow
Will Coleman gets a champagne bath from his fellow podium mates in 2025. Photo by Shelby Allen.
This year, the Showcase will welcome ClipMyHorse.TV as their new live stream provider. You will need a membership or a one-time pass to view the action live, and you can access the stream for all phases here. Annie Bishop is here to do interviews on site, and Frankie Thieriot-Stutes will be joined by Sinead Halpin Maynard for commentary.
You can also follow the event on Facebook here and Instagram here. EN will also have some content coming on our Instagram, which can be found here.
We’ll have much more coming your way here on EN all weekend, so stay tuned for much more. EN’s reporting is supported this weekend by Deirdre Vaillancourt Real Estate, your source for all things Aiken.
$100,000 LiftMaster Grand Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field (SC): [Website] [Tickets] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [Ride for Charity Team Vote] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
