Omaha, Nebraska – April 6, 2019 – Mathis Schwentker (GER) made it two nights in a row, riding NKH Caruso to victory before a crowd of 4,549 in the $100,000 International Omaha Grand Prix at the 2019 Burlington Capital International Omaha. Schwentker had also ridden the 15-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding (Cash And Carry x Starlight)  to victory last Friday night in the $100,000 RFD-TV InIt2Winit Speed Jumping Series Championship.

Schwentker was one of six from the field of 29 to reach the jump-off by riding fault-free over the 15-jump, first-round course designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR). He was third to return for the 8-jump tiebreaker and he turned in another clean round and a time of 31.730 seconds to take the lead from his stable-mate, Erin Davis-Heineking, who was clean in 32.640 seconds on Leonie.

Erin Davis-Heineking (USA) & Cento Blue

Davis-Heineking had the only other clean ride in the jump-off, finishing in 36.823 seconds on Cento Blue, to take third place and make it sweep of the top three places for Heineking Show Stables. Christian Heineking, Davis-Heineking’s husband, has won the International Omaha Grand Prix a record four times in addition to winning last year’s $100,000 InIt2WinitChampionship.

“I was able to watch Erin’s ride and she was super fast,” Schwentker said. “I knew I had a fast horse so I thought I could be a little bit faster. Coming to the last fence, though, Caruso saw it a little late so I had to settle him a bit but it turned our time was still fast enough.

Mathis Schwentker (GER) & NKH Caruso during the awards ceremony

“I am really fortunate to ride with Christian and Erin and have the support of the Davis family. It’s a super team and I am so happy to be part of it.”

The two fastest jump-off times were actually turned in by the class’s defending champion, Hunter Holloway (USA), but she had one rail down on both Lucky Strike and Eastern Jam to take fourth and fifth place respectively. Sixth place went to the only other combination to make it to the jump-off, Frank Owens and Ambienta S.

The 2019 Burlington Capital International Omaha, the ‘Midwest’s Largest Horse Event,’ concluded last Sunday at the CHI Health Center arena in Omaha, Nebraska, home of the highly successful 2017 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Finals. Now in its seventh year, the Burlington Capital International Omaha hosts everything under one roof – stabling, warm-up, competition arena, educational and exhibit area, demonstrations, dining venues and shopping for both the horse aficionado or anyone just looking for a unique gift.

Featuring the Baird Holm Tailgate Lounge and food service area, the Boutique Shopping Village encourages shoppers to shop, eat, and then shop some more as they peruse the boutiques and shops while watching the top caliber horses and riders prepare for the competition. Grown-ups and children alike can wander through the Triple Crown Horse Discovery Zone (Education Expo) free of charge all weekend long to learn about the equine industry, health and science of horse management, and the unique aspects of various breeds in International Omaha’s Gallery of Breeds exhibit.

Further information is available at www.internationalomaha.com.

Source: Press release by Marty Bauman / Classic Communications for Burlington Capital – International Omaha 

Photos: © Lili Weik Photography