Lexington, KY – May 17, 2025 – Luis Pedro Biraben and Chacco Bumpy ruled the ring as international show jumping action at the Kentucky Horse Park concluded on Saturday with the $125,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute during the Kentucky Spring Classic. In a speedy jump-off that came down to the wire, Biraben and Chacco Bumpy galloped home with the winning prize. Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz placed second, while Rene Dittmer and Cody 139 took home the third-place prize as one of the night’s early pathfinders.
The grand prix was held in memory of the late Mary Rena Murphy, one of the horse industry’s most influential people. She worked diligently to promote the Kentucky Horse Park and was a major influence for the first hunter/jumper shows at the venue. Her vision for an exhibitor-friendly competition at a world-class facility helped shape the Kentucky Horse Park into what it has become today. Four generations of her family gathered for the presentation during Saturday’s highlight event.
After leading the night’s lap of honor, Biraben credited his partnership with Chacco Bumpy, a 15-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Miguel Madero and Luis Biraben, for their success. “It feels great, this mare is amazing, and it feels extra special because we won the class in 2022,” he smiled.
Anderson Lima and Jason Shelley set a technical track that kept horses and riders focused from start to finish for the final FEI event of the week. After an opening bending line, riders had to jump a short single oxer line in the middle of the ring before continuing to a combination of an oxer to a delicate one stride. They finished over a triple combination to an oxer line towards the ingate. Fifteen athletes completed the course without error and advanced to the tiebreaker. The jump-off included multiple rollbacks and a bending gallop to the last fence towards the ingate.
Rene Dittmer & Cody 139
The winning time increased until the end during the tiebreaker. Dittmer and Cody 139 were the first to clear the course in under 36 seconds, finishing in time of 35.78 seconds, which put him in the lead early on. Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz upped the time to win by putting in a clear round in 35.08 seconds, but they were soon beaten by Biraben and Chacco Bumpy, who were fault-free with a time of 34.84 seconds, earning the win by just 2/10ths of a second.
Shane Sweetnam & James Kann Cruz
“I knew I could trust her to handle the turns and cover the ground – she’s a very fast mare.” explained Biraben. “I’ve had Chacco Bumpy for almost seven years now, and we’ve developed a special partnership. She’s a great horse.”
As the Kentucky Spring Series begins to wind down, Biraben concluded, “Kentucky is great, I love everything about it. The facilities, the jumps, the competition, everything.”
Luis Pedro Biraben & Chacco Bumpy
Sunday marks the conclusion of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park. The final day of competition will feature the $15,000 U25 Grand Prix, followed by the $35,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix, presented by Sterling Equestrian/Forest Hill. For more information on the Kentucky Spring Series please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.