November 13, 2025 – Mill Spring, NC – Fernando Cardenas (New Hill, NC) ended Thursday night two-for-two with $25,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake wins, once again claiming the victory with Balou’s Honora Car (Balou Du Rouet x Ursula Car). Riding for Fernando Cardenas Sr., the team landed on a jump off time of 37.16 seconds, topping a field of 29 competitors. Holding the lead until Cardenas’ clear round, Ciaran Flynn (Apex, NC) slotted into second place aboard Apex Equestrian Center’s Calvin Harris 3 (Calatos x Stutbuch 1), marking 76.09 seconds with the 2014 Oldenburg gelding. Brooke Kemper (Reddick, FL) rode Arpeggi, the 2010 Westphalian gelding owned by The Arpeggi Group, to third place on a 37.44 second jump off time. 

November 6, 2025 - Fernando Cardens (New Hill, NC) qualified his three entries for the jump off in Thursday’s $25,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake, and came out on top with Balou’s Honora Car (Balou Du Rouet x Ursula Car). Michael Kocher (Lynn, NC) and his 2017 Zangersheide gelding Dexterity Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Can Can Of Windsor Z) stopped the timers at 38.33 seconds for the second place position. Doug Payne (Rougemont, NC) also qualified his three entries for the speed round, and secured third place just behind Michael with 38.546 seconds aboard the Payne Equestrian 2011 Holsteiner gelding Quintessence (Quinar x Victoria's Secret).

Riding the Ken Krome-designed course with three of his mounts, Fernando Cardenas (COL) took over the top two spots in Thursday’s $32,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake CSI 3*. The 2017 Hanoverian mare, Balou's Honora Car (Balou Du Rouet x Galiani CH), produced the winning jump off round in a time of 40.69 seconds. Fano Car (K Diamant D'heure ABF x Galiani CH) 2015 North American Sport Horse gelding, was the runner up, clearing the course in 41.50 seconds. Rounding out the podium, Emma Irwin (CAN) rode Las Vegas (Arezzo VDL x Otangelo), Rosalie Midyette’s 2016 Dutch Warmblood stallion, to a time of 42.17 seconds.

Hunter Kay (Columbia, SC) and Galileo (Unknown x Unknown) took charge in the $10,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby, winning the first of three Hunter Derbies hosted Friday during Tryon Spring 6 and Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show. The team dominated over 13 contestants on the Derby Field, scoring 182 points. Riding Meredith Huddle’s Bluewater (Unknown x Unknown), the 2017 Dutch Warmblood gelding, Liza Boyd (Camden, SC) secured the reserve rosette on 176 points. Jennifer Bliss (Wellington, FL) took Wailea, the 2014 Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Ohana Equine LLC, to third place with 173 points on the board.