Heartfelt Victory for Adam Edgar and Black Rock in $5,000 National Hunter Derby
Lexington, VA – August 8, 2025 – The $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby saw Adam Edgar and Black Rock rise to the top with a combined score of 182 on Friday morning during the Lexington National Horse Show, presented by Attwood Equestrian. Just one point behind, Julia Babington and Cesandro claimed second with 181, while Tiffany Cambria and Not To Worry rounded out the podium in third with 176 on Derby Day, sponsored by Triple Crown.
After walking the course, Edgar felt confident in its inviting and open design. “I had actually walked a couple of numbers in the bending lines, but overall I just wanted to go out there today and have fun,” he explained. “I had two really good horses in the class, so I just focused on the basics: straightness, pace, rhythm. I thought the course rode beautifully.”
Saturday’s Hunt & Go format featured 3’ fences with high options set at 3’5″, challenging riders to display both classic style and handy precision. The hunt phase opened with a single diagonal home, followed by an oxer on the quarter line and a swooping bending line that ended in a high-option oxer. From there, riders navigated a diagonal line to a vertical high option, seamlessly transitioning into the go phase. The handy portion began with a bending oxer high option, then turned toward a long-approach single oxer before tackling a trot fence that rolled back to an oxer. Riders could opt for a bold, extremely tight turn in the rollback before riding home to finish over a final high-option oxer.
Edgar’s winning mount, Black Rock, known in the barn as “Blue,” holds a special place in Edgar’s heart. “He’s really, really special to me. He brought me back to the sport and has all the right pieces – he just wants to be loved and believed in,” Edgar said, crediting Rachel Kennedy for her role in the gelding’s development. “He loved and believed in me at a point when I was still learning to love and believe in myself, so I promised I’d always do the same for him.”
The Virginia Horse Center is a venue filled with memories for Edgar, who first competed there as a junior. “I actually won the Virginia Pony Medal Finals here when I was little,” he recalled. “It’s special to come back as a professional. The facility looks beautiful, the footing is great, the horses go well here, and the hospitality and competition are always strong. This week, especially with WCHR, has been really fun.”
With heartfelt performances, competitive scores, and a beautiful course design, the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby set the tone for an exciting week at the Lexington National. The action continues tomorrow with the highly anticipated $25,000 Grand Prix, followed on Sunday by the 2025 AYR Equitation Challenge and the VHSA/M+S Adult Medal Finals.