Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 24, 1995 TAG: 9506260068
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Forget the satisfaction and never mind the glory.
Although acclaim and accolades were pleasant byproducts of Aaron Vale's victory Friday night atop Mafito in the $10,000 Open Jumper Stake at the Roanoke Valley Horse Show, there was yet another key benefit for the South Carolina rider.
It will give him something to do Sunday afternoon.
``We won some money tonight, so now we can afford to enter the Grand Prix,'' said Vale, 26.
Vale won first-place prize money of $2,400 on Friday at Salem Civic Center and immediately made plans to spend $1,500 of it to enter the $50,000 Rolex Grand Prix of Roanoke, the show's closing event.
Vale planned to enter Mafito, as well as Alfredo, in the Grand Prix, he said. The cost of entering two horses amounted to $1,200 in entry fees and $300 in nominating fees.
Mafito was the 26th of 27 horses to jump Friday. Alfredo jumped third and did not finish in the money.
The rest of the top eight included Kit N Kaboodle, ridden by Hugh Mutch ($2,000); Catch A Wave, Vicky Miller ($1,400); Valdiva, Kimberly Prince ($1,000); Elfin, William Simpson ($900); Low Rider, Mutch ($800); Talisman de Boheme, Maryann Charles ($800); and The Riddler, Jimmy Torano ($700).
Coming out late in the order of appearance can be good and bad, Vale said.
``It's an advantage in that you know what you have to beat,'' he said. ``But then, you also have the pressure of knowing what you have to do.''
Vale toured the tight course in a faultless and swift 47.540 seconds. The time to beat was Mutch's 47.980 on Kit N Kaboodle. Mutch had overhauled Miller, who had been the first to break 50 seconds (she finished in 49.219) in a perfect run.
Mafito, an 18-year-old male, has been with Vale since March.
``He's an old horse with some arthritis and we try to keep him feeling good as we can,'' Vale said.
This is the fifth show in which Vale has entered Mafito. He won a $10,000 jumper class in Camden, S.C., this year.
``The course was good tonight,'' Vale said. ``The footing wasn't as good, but they do the best they can with what they have here.
``But it was a fair course. Everybody in it had an even chance.''
Aside from winning the class, Vale was separated from his fellow competitors in one other respect.
``Some of these riders have sponsors and they could afford to come out and just try to prepare for the Grand Prix. My partner [Andrea King] and I aren't financially independent. We're competitive most places, but our checkbook can't take not winning.''
NOTES: Two charter members of the Roanoke Valley Horse Show were inducted the new Roanoke Valley Horse Show Hall of Fame. Dr. A.W. Rice and Curtis Turner, both of Roanoke, were the inductees. Rice was one of the show's original organizers and its first chairman, and Turner has been the ring consultant in each of the 24 years of the show. ... Jakki Bailey, 12, of Hot Springs, was on the way to the show Friday when the car in which she was riding was involved in a crash in Botetourt County. The car was a total loss, but the day was not. Bailey arrived at the show and won the Grand Pony Championship.
by CNB