North Salem, United States – September 20, 2026 – Friday’s $32,000 Old Salem Farm Welcome Stake CSI 2* winners Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Pearl Gem VDM returned to the International Arena on Sunday for another title, this time claiming top honors in the $40,000 Old Salem Farm 2* Grand Prix presented by J.P. Morgan Private Bank. The new partnership proved the fastest once again with their double-clear time of 38.94 seconds.
Course designer Ken Krome tested the 31 entries representing six countries in Sunday’s 2* Grand Prix with a technical 1.45m course over 16 jumping efforts. Despite the misty weather and the faults scattered around the track, 11 advanced to the jump-off, where Kenny and Oakland Training & Sales’ 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding launched to the top of the leaderboard in 38.94 seconds.
“We’ve had this horse in the stable for about two years now, but this is my first week showing him,” Kenny said. “I was just trying to get to know him. Friday of course helped with that; in the jump-off today, I could really test how fast we could go. He felt great. He doesn’t like much pressure at all. He has a lot of blood, and you kind of have to sit there and just hold on.
“Today’s course was a very good course,” he continued. “Obviously, the rain coming in had a bit of an effect, but I knew the footing would hold and the jump-off would be quick enough. He’s a very fast horse and very, very careful. He’s very fun to ride. He’ll probably do Silo Ridge and Tryon for Major League (Show Jumping) and try some of those team classes. He seems like he’ll be a perfect horse for that, so that’s what we’ll aim for next.”
Uma O’Neill (NZL) earned second place in 40.23 seconds with Dirty Paws’s 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Miro NS.
Third went to Taylor Boddy (USA) for her 40.94-second time aboard Harris Equestrian’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Lambiek.
With the beautiful backdrop of Westchester County’s surrounding horse country, the Old Salem Farm September Horse Shows feature world-class competition on par with what everyone has come to expect from Old Salem Farm. The 2026 Shows hosted a CSI 4* & 2*, September 8-13, and a CSI 2*, September 15-20, with both weeks rated USEF ‘National’ for hunters. Additionally, Old Salem’s September schedule will include a USEF National/Level 2 event, September 24-27, featuring the $10,000 Old Salem Farm Jumper Classic.
Final Results – $32,000 Old Salem Farm Welcome Stake CSI 2*
1) Darragh Kenny (IRL) & Pearl Gem VDM – 0 / 0 – 38.94
2) Uma O’Neill (NZL) & Miro NS – 0 / 0 – 40.23
3) Taylor Boddy (USA) & Lambiek– 0 / 0 – 40.94
Source: Press Release by Old Salem Farm Horse Shows
Photos: © OSF / SEL Photography
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Categories: CSI 2*, English, Jumper News Ireland
