American Grand Prix Association Awards Dinner Celebrates Champions
Equestrian News Release
WELLINGTON, FL – December 4, 2005 – The annual American Grand Prix Association (AGA) Dinner was held at the elegant Palm Beach Polo Golf House in Wellington, Florida, on Saturday night, December 3, to honor the accomplishments of the AGA riders. The event is an invitation-only cocktails and dinner party for 150 of the sport’s top riders, trainers, horse owners, sponsors, and officials. Awards were presented to: Margie Engle, Rider of the Year; Madison, Horse of the Year; Kent Farrington, Trainer of the Year; and Ellen Whitaker, Rookie of the Year.
Peter Doubleday, one of the industry’s foremost horse show announcers and show managers, served as the night’s emcee, introducing the speakers and announcing the awards presentations.
Eugene R. Mische, founder of the AGA, delivered a welcoming speech, joking that tonight’s event could be called the “AGA/MGE Dinner” as Margie Goldstein Engle was being honored for the ninth time as the AGA Rider of the Year. Mische also paid special tribute to the horse owners, noting that the dinner was in honor of them also. “Special, special thanks to you,” emphasized Mische. “Thank you.”
Doubleday asked for and received a round of applause for the sponsors of the AGA awards dinner, who generously made donations for the 2005 AGA Champions: Beval Saddlery, Ltd., Budweiser, C.M. Hadfield’s, Charles Owen, Chesapeake Petroleum, Cosequin, Ellen Gavin, English Riding Supply, Equifit, Inc., Heidi Brath, James Leslie Parker, Kocher Tack Shop, Kodak Cameras, L’Annee Hippique, Oster Professional Products, Personalized Products, Show Circuit Magazine, Sidelines Magazine, SSG Riding Gloves, Summit Dynamics, Stadium Jumping, Inc., The Snap Foundation, Veredus Jumping Boots, Veuve Clicquot Champagne, WEF Wear, and Zest.
The first award presentation was to Margie Engle, Rider of the Year. Engle declined to tell one of her signature jokes, but noted “Half the people are scared to death when I ride” – which garnered a laugh from the roomful of colleagues. Engle thanked her husband, Dr. Steve Engle, and her parents, Mona and Herb Goldstein, who were present, for their help. Engle also thanked Kim Tudor, her sports agent, for helping her mother Mona with a book project entitled No Hurdle Too High, a recently published book about Margie’s life and career authored by Mrs. Goldstein. Engle also thanked Gene Mische of Stadium Jumping, Inc. for bringing European riders to the U.S. to compete. Engle saved her biggest thank-you for Mike Polaski, owner of Hidden Creek Farm, for his years of support and her string of world-class mounts.
The Horse of the Year trophy and special awards went to “Madison,” owned by Alexa Weeks, and were presented to the Weeks Family. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Weeks and their two daughters, Olivia and Whitney, accepted the awards on behalf of Alexa, who could not attend because she was studying for exams at Rollins University in Winter Park, Florida.
Madison’s rider and trainer, Kent Farrington, received the Trainer of the Year award for his accomplishments with Madison. Farrington thanked the Weeks family and also expressed his thanks to Madison’s grooms and “all the other riders who have taught me and helped make this a reality.” Madison’s grooms, Alex Warner and Jose Lopez, were awarded a motorized scooter donated by Alan “Waz” Cherney of Clothesline Laundry.
The Rookie of the Year award went to 19-year-old rider Ellen Whitaker of Great Britain, who was in England competing and unable to attend the event. Whitaker’s good friend Jane Shields came to the podium and spoke for the honoree, “On behalf of Ellen, thank you.”
Kim Tudor, Director of Sponsor Relations for Stadium Jumping and the AGA, presented several special gifts including original paintings: the Weeks family received a portrait of Madison to be painted by artist Heidi Brath; and Margie Engle received a portrait of herself to be painted by artist Ellen Gavin.
Peter Doubleday wrapped up the awards presentation noting to the riders, “You keep us at the top of the world. Congratulations to all of you.”
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