HUNTERS COURT STABLE

Step Right Up and Campari
Honored in Retirement Ceremony

The two partners of Grand Prix rider David Q. Wright, Step Right Up (also known as “Teddy” by his followers) and Campari, were honored in an official but albeit bittersweet retirement ceremony before the Music Country Grand Prix on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at Brownland Farm.

Including USEF & Non-USEF competitions, the now 20-year old Step Right Up earned over $1.2M over his lifetime career.  Highlights include winning 3 Grand Prix’s in succession in 2 different years, as recently as 2006 which included a win at the $25,000 Music Country Grand Prix.  In 2003 he had higher earnings in the United States than any other show jumper!  David Wright started the 16:1 h. dark bay Thoroughbred gelding for the Jim Arthur family of Germantown, Tennessee (who were in attendance for the ceremony) and purchased Teddy from them during his 2nd Grand Prix year.

Although aware of a previous broken neck and hock, which apparently happened during an airplane shipping accident, David purchased the chestnut Oldenburg gelding Campari and the partnership went on to a short but very successful 3-year show career with earnings of over $250,000 in USEF & Non-USEF competitions, until he reinjured his hock at the age of 18. And no one will ever forget his victory gallop in Germantown, TN where he celebrated by dismounting  David after winning the Germantown Charity Grand Prix! Campari is currently 21 years of age.

As Hunters Court Stable's riders flanked the ingate, Campari and Step Right Up were paraded around the Grand Prix Ring one last time by owner/rider David Wright and groom, Manuel Arregeuin, while "Simply The Best" played over the loudspeaker. They were unsaddled for the last time and each presented with a Hunters Court cooler and a garland of roses.

Teddy and Campari will live in retirement in Murfreesboro, TN.