Katherine Addington Claims Golden Ocala Hunter Derby Victory

Friday’s hunter action reached a high point with the $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”–3’9” Hunter Derby, where Katherine Addington delivered two composed performances to secure the win aboard No Doubt Van Het Vlierhof, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding.

The derby drew a competitive field, and Addington set the tone early with a fluid and methodical first-round effort. Showing an even rhythm and careful jumping style throughout the course, the pair earned a score of 86, placing them third as the class headed into the handy round.

Addington opened the class with a confident first round that highlighted the gelding’s reliability. The pair navigated the course without interruption, earning a score of 86 and positioning themselves within striking distance of the lead heading into the handy round.

With the pressure on in the second round, Addington returned to the ring focused on maintaining the same quality and flow. Her plan paid off, as the duo delivered another solid effort over the handy track to earn an 88 from the judges.

Their combined score of 174 proved enough to move them to the top of the standings and ultimately claim the win. The result capped off a strong showing in the featured hunter derby of the day and reinforced Addington’s ability to capitalize on consistency when it counts.

The Golden Ocala Hunter Derby once again provided a competitive stage, and Addington and No Doubt Van Het Vlierhof set themselves apart with two solid, mistake-free performances that held up through the final results.

Photo by Andrew Ryback photography