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CATIE’S COMMENTARY
by Catie Staszak photos courtesy of Catie Staszak C A T I E’S commentary
the royal winter fair
Growing up, I never dressed up as a princess for Halloween. I didn’t go to my senior prom in high school – or any of the sorority and fraternity formals in college, for that matter. In all honesty, the first time I wore a gown was at a horse show.
Toronto’s Royal Winter Agricultural Fair is one of the most unique events on the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League, where each season, I take a trip back in time. Started in 1922, “the Royal” is the largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international horse show in the world. Nearly 100 years later, the attire in the arena and on the Royal Terrace remains black tie, a nod to the venue’s storied tradition and reverence toward the sport.
· winter 19/20 Catie Staszak and Harlan Zeerip
be stressful. But nothing is more stressful than finding a dress worthy of the Royal. This year, I finally found one – a stunning lace floor-length sequined ball gown by Marina – and I don’t know if I’ve ever felt more beautiful.
There’s nothing quite like the Royal. On one side of Exhibition Place, a trade show hosts seemingly endless rows of vendors, selling everything from locally sourced cheeses to fall fashion, jewelry, riding apparel and tack. A turn to one’s left reveals pumpkins weighing in excess of 1,000 lbs and a collection of hand-carved butter sculptures on display for judging. Pass through an entryway, and you might come in contact with a Flemish Giant rabbit if you aren’t too distracted by the sheep, dairy and beef cattle, goats, and poultry occupying the area. The Royal features more than 50 agriculture competitions that showcase nearly 6,000 animals. There’s also international show jumping, at its finest. Just 24 athletes are accepted to compete at the prestigious event, and this year’s group included five of the top 15 ranked riders in the world at the time: Ben Maher (GBR), Beezie Madden (USA), McLain Ward (USA), Kent Farrington (USA) and Jos Verlooy (BEL).
Also among the group was Canada’s own individual Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze, who returned to the Royal for the first time since 2011 and added a very emotional component to the 2019 competition. Lamaze has been undergoing a public battle with cancer, but he rode with an unimaginable amount of strength, finishing no worse than sixth in six FEI competitions. A win in the McKee Family International Challenge with Fine Lady, and three other podium placings earned him both the Leading International Rider and Leading Canadian Rider
titles. To watch Lamaze ride with such strength, knowing his health was far from 100 percent, was simply awe inspiring. The only feeling to match it was having experienced the response from the crowd on hand when he rode the most skillful of rounds in the World Cup™, only to have a rail at the final fence, a dauntingly wide oxer. Elation turned to disappointment before finally, pride and respect took over. In a class that saw just four clear rounds, Lamaze still finished sixth as the secondfastest 4-faulter.
Canada might be in the midst of a changing of the guard. Lamaze gave a profound speech to honor “Captain Canada” Ian Millar, who announced his retirement from international competition in May after representing Canada in a record 10 Olympic Games. Millar has long been a fixture at the Royal, having won the Canadian Show Jumping Championship 12 times. The 17-year-old Sam Walker, meanwhile, made his Royal debut in the international division. While unable to jump in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto due to his age, he finished sixth in the Canadian Open and was third in the Canadian Show Jumping Championship. The 2018 ASPCA Maclay National Champion, Walker also won the 2018 CET Medal Final at the Royal and added the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Final in October.
U.S. rider Brian Moggre, just a year Walker’s elder, also left quite the impression on the Canadian crowd. He finished fourth in the World Cup™, behind only Maher, Verlooy, and the winner, Ireland’s Bertram Allen. At the time of writing, Moggre leads the East Coast sub league standings of the World Cup™ North American League, with seven more points than two-time World Cup™ Final Champion Beezie Madden.
Seeing a completely sold-out crowd full of educated North American show jumping fans, many dressed in tuxedos and gowns, brings the biggest smile to my face; I always take a moment to take it all in. As evidenced by the caliber of the field and the seven nations represented, riders from all over the world want to ride at the Royal, and it’s easy to see why. The Royal achieves what so many events strive to do: put on a state-of-the-art production while also embracing and preserving the all-important tradition in our sport.
I’d say that’s a heck of a lot better than any prom.
catiestaszak.com @catiestaszakmedia @catiestaszak @catiestaszak
Catie Staszak with Brian Burke and Moose
you can play project
The Royal holds special meaning that extends beyond show jumping. When I go live for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto broadcast, I am on the call from the Toronto Marlies’ American Hockey League broadcast booth, a nod to my hockey roots. My father played for the Detroit Red Wings in the mid-1980s, and the Calder Cup, which he won in 1986, is housed just a few blocks from the venue at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
My dad’s former agent, Brian Burke (known to many as “Burkie”), is now a hockey analyst for Toronto’s Sportsnet. This year, Burkie donated a horse to the Toronto mounted police and named him “Moose,” in honor of his late son, Brendan. Moose wears a saddle pad with a rainbow emblem in support of Brendan and the “You Can Play Project,” (youcanplayproject.org) which works to eliminate homophobia in sports. Burkie started this organization with his other son, Patrick.
Burkie paid a special visit to the Royal to introduce me to Moose, and in that moment, my hockey and horse backgrounds converged in the most heartwarming way.
THE ROYAL HORSE SHOW, 97 T H R OYA L AG R I C U LT U R A L WINTER FAIR – TORONTO, ON, CANADA 1. 4.
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1. Bertram Allen (IRE) aboard GK Casper celebrates after topping a four-horse jump-off to win the $210,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto 2. The iconic Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Musical Ride is a highlight of The Royal Horse Show’s opening weekend 3. Brian Moggre (USA), 18, making his final junior year count by placing 3 rd in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto riding MTM Vivre le Reve 4. Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill and Count Me In enjoy their victory gallop after topping the $125,000 Henry Equestrian Canadian Show Jumping Championship 5. U.S. Olympian Margie Engle (center) claimed the inaugural Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award from the Wellington, FL-based Realtor and her fiancé, Dr. Stephen Norton 6. Eric Lamaze’s Fine Lady 5, recipient of the Leading Canadian Horse Award, pictured with groom Kaytlyn Brown 7. Artisan Farm’s Carlene Ziegler, owner of Fine Lady 5, with rider Eric Lamaze, recipient of the Leading International Rider and Leading Canadian Rider titles
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8. Course designer for this year’s Royal Horse Show, Michel Vaillancourt (right) has a little fun seeing how fellow Canadian course designer Dave Ballard measures up! 9. Reigning European Championship team gold and individual bronze medalist Jos Verlooy of Belgium finishes runner-up in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto aboard Igor 10. The impressive line-up of finalists in the Royal Championship Six Horse Hitch, won by Ross Honsberger of Jackson Fork Ranch Percherons in Wyoming 11. Eric Lamaze addresses the crowd during a special retirement ceremony for 10-time Canadian Olympian Ian Millar prior to the $85,000 Big Ben International Challenge, named for Millar’s most famous mount 12. Georgina Bloomberg of the U.S. competes with Chameur 137 in front of a soldout Coca-Cola Coliseum in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto
