Brooke Hagerty and Casino Cash held all the cards at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Friday afternoon, October 10, as they were crowned the 3’6” Junior Hunter Grand Champions after also taking home the division championship in the 3’6” Large Junior Hunters 16-17.

In 2024, Hagerty and Casino Cash were reserve champions in the competitive division, but this year, two firsts, a second and a seventh catapulted them to the top honor.

“It feels amazing, especially on this horse,” Hagerty said. “I really wanted to be consistent through all three rounds and then to be grand [champion] on top of that was so fun.”

Hagerty has had the ride on Casino Cash, owned by the Hagerty Family, for the last four years. “I can really trust him,” Hagerty said simply. “He’s the best. He knows his job, and he’s perfect. I know that we can put in those good rounds. He really likes the environment of the indoors. So, it’s fun to watch him really jump out there.”

Winning grand champion is the cherry on top of a full circle moment for Hagerty, who is currently riding with John French. The Hagerty family purchased Casino Cash from French and the Marnells four years ago. “I started with [John French] in the summer, and it’s just been so great,” Hagerty said. “He’s just the best. He’s so smart, and it’s so fun to do the hunters with him.”

In the 3’6” Small Junior Hunters 16-17, sponsored by Hesslink.Williams, Paige Walkenbach and Babylon were crowned champions after closing out the division with a win.

“It was a little bit of a rough day with all my horses, just a little unlucky yesterday,” Walkenbach said. “I had some rails and some spooks, but I just wanted to have a nice, smooth day today. And Crumbles was perfect. He gave it his best shot, and I’m proud of him.”

2025 marks Walkenbach’s last year as a junior with Babylon, but she is undaunted as she looks ahead to the amateur hunters. “I just have Kentucky and the National left, which is crazy, but yeah, I think we’re both ready to take on the amateurs!”

JJ Torano and Tiara have added another crown to their collection after winning the 3’6” Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division championship. Despite Torano’s usual affinity for the jumper ring, he and Tiara pulled off a championship performance over October 9 and 10.

“She’s really my type of ride,” Torano said. “We kind of flow. She’s not too cold to the leg. I really like her. I’m a big jumper rider; I like that the most, but I feel like she makes the hunters fun for me. I really like doing the derbies on her.”

Owned by VBK Equine LLC, Tiara is a versatile horse, able to go from 2’6” rounds straight up to derbies. “I was partnered with her midway through this Wellington season,” Torano said. “She’s been an amazing horse. Her owner Val jumps her in the 2’6”. The next week, I go ride with her, and we’ll jump the biggest derby. So, it’s really cool to have a horse like that with such a good brain.”

There must have been some magic in the air tonight for Disney and Alice Goodwin, who claimed the championship title in the 3’6” Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division. At 16 years old, Goodwin has only been competing at the A-rated shows for the last three years, having done local events prior to that.

“It means a lot to me [to win at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show],” Goodwin said. “This is a bigger championship. It’s one of the bigger indoors. I just came off a championship at Capital Challenge with my other small junior hunters, so it’s a good feeling to do it here, too. I just felt really confident in myself and my horse, and it was a great experience for both of us.”

Disney has a unique background for a junior hunter champion. “He was a cross-country horse, so he has a little bit of a different feel,” Goodwin said. “It’s really fun, though. It feels like you’re just bouncing over the jump.”

Taking home the win in the $10,000 3’6″ Junior Hunter Winners Stake, sponsored by Don Stewart Stables, were Elizabeth Rinehart and Moonlight.

Additional special awards presented on Friday afternoon following the conclusion of the 3’6” junior hunter divisions included the following:

• BioStar Happy Horse Award – Ever So Often, ridden by Paige Walkenbach

• High Point 3’6” Small Junior Hunter – Babylon, ridden by Paige Walkenbach
• High Point 3’6” Large Junior Hunter – Casino Cash, ridden by Brooke Hagerty
• Best Junior Rider on a Horse 3’6” – JJ Torano
• PNHS Junior Hunter Rider 3’6” Sportsmanship Award, sponsored by Capital Hill/Frank Madden – Elizabeth Rinehart and Luke Rinehart

• Marshall+Sterling Junior Hunter 3’6” High Five Award – JJ Torano
• Hollow Brook Wealth Management Sportsmanship Award – Lilly Herzog

For full results from the 3’6” Junior Hunters, click here.

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