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Chris Payne and Gracious Secure the Baby Green Hunter Championship at 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival

March 25, 2010

Wellington, FL --- Chris Payne earned another young hunter championship today when he piloted Gracious, owned by MK Equine Holdings LLC, to the Draper Therapies Baby Green Hunter Championship at the South Grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The reserve championship ribbon was awarded to Ken Smith and Charlestown, owned by Jennifer Smith.

Gracious is a four-year-old gelding that Payne bred himself, and is by the famous show hunter Saint Nick, owned by Caroline Moran. "He just started showing down here. He hasn't done a lot before this year. He's shown five times down here and has been champion several times," Payne explained.

Payne is impressed with his mount's attitude and behavior at such a young age, and noted, "He's very naturally well-behaved. For a baby he's very straight and direct to the jumps. He does natural lead changes, and just naturally wants to do all the right things."

Gracious is owned by Maggie Little, who currently rides him at home, and will eventually compete with the grey gelding. Payne also hopes to show Gracious in the Pre-Green division in the near future. "He'll move up to the Pre-Greens and Maggie will start doing him in the Pre Adult Amateurs, and hopefully move up to the Adult Amateurs soon after that," Payne said.

After the 2010 FTI WEF, Payne will return to his home of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he and David Belford own New Hope Farm.

For full results and more information please visit www.equestriansport.com or www.shownet.biz.

The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 13 through April 4. WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are "AA" rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $5.5 million in prize money will be awarded.

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