JEANNA DUERSCHERL The Roanoke Times

Tracy Fenney, with MTM Farm, jumps S&L Willie during the Open Jumper Stake.

One would not be taking a flying leap to claim that tonight's $50,000 Grand Prix of Roanoke jumper class could be the most tightly contested ever.

Three past champions, an Olympic gold medalist, a prodigy in stirrups who has already won two of the week's major jumper classes, and a decade-old rivalry will make for a spicy equestrian gumbo tonight on the snug oval floor of the Salem Civic Center.

The Grand Prix will be in its 24th running here and the horses will start kicking the dirt at 8:30 p.m. or thereabouts.

The Prix will be the final class of the 37th Roanoke Valley Horse Show, that concludes tonight. In all, 13 championship classes will show before the ring is finally cleared until next year.

In addition to the Prix, the big money classes include the $5,000 Five Gaited; the $3,500 Three Gaited; the $2,000 Amateur Three Gaited; $2,000 Fine Harness; and the $1,000 Park Horse.

The Saddle Seat Equitation class opens the evening at 6 p.m., assuming all the afternoon classes are running on time, an iffy proposition this week because of occasionally uncooperative weather conditions.

Thursday night's Open Jumper Stake served as an interesting prelude for tonight's Prix. The blue ribbon went to a familiar name, Aaron Vale, who rode Electric to a come-from-behind victory. Vale edged MTM Centano and newcomer to this show Tracy Fenney by a fraction of a second in the jumpoff.

Vale was launching his own business last year and missed the Roanoke Valley show. No more dominant jumper rider has ever taken the saddle here. Vale has won a record nine Prix, taking eight of nine during one stretch.

Electric, an 8-year-old youngster, surprised Vale with his sure-footed tour of the course in the Open. Fenney had been very fast and true aboard MTM Centano, trucked here long distance from the base she and her husband Mike McCormick maintain in Flower Mound, Texas, located just north of Dallas.

Fenney has declared two other horses for the Prix: S&L Willie, fourth in the Open, and Grace, runner-up in Tuesday's Welcome Jumper Stake and a well-known mare on the circuit.

Vale has declared four horses of which by rule he may ride three. In addition to Electric, the other three are Sinatra, Danacar, and Aristide.

Vale said after Thursday's class that Electric was "on the fence" for the Prix.

"Although after what he did tonight, we're going to have look at him again for the starting lineup."

Vale and Fenney, both in their 40s, are renewing a rivalry that goes back to their teens.

"I trained 'em both," McCormick said. "They're so competitive; we knew that right away."

McCormick, the only jumper rider at this week's show who trades his riding helmet for a cowboy hat when he dismounts, will ride MTM Remington.

Fenney was hoping for some help from course designer Linda L. Allen, who laid out the show jumping course at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

"We're hoping she makes it a little bit harder," Fenney said. "If she does, we think that will give me an advantage over some of the other people."

This could be the most distinguished and deep Grand Prix of Roanoke field ever starting with 60-year-old Joe Fargis, who will be riding two horses, Kimber and Tarco. Fargis won a gold medal in show jumping at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Also on hand is defending champion Pato Muente and 2006 winner Mary Lisa Leffler, who won atop Gerona 92. The petite Leffler rode that horse to a fifth-place result in Thursday's Open. Muente, who won with As Di Villagna last year, will ride Angelina and Piano tonight. Piano he first rode this week.

"If I keep Angelina moving in the turns, she has a chance of doing a decent job," Muente said. "I don't think I will win the Grand Prix like I did last year, but I will be able to teach my horse something."

Another rider to keep an eye on is the youngest one in the field, 20-year-old Evan Coluccio, who will pilot Romeo and Dare Devil. Coluccio has been hot as a $20 pistol this week, winning the Welcome on Romeo and Wednesday's NAL Speed Stake on Dare Devil.

Another rider who has had a productive week is Sulu Rose-Reed. She and Pronkjuwail D won the Open Classic. That horse will sit out the Prix, but Rose-Reed will ride Leondor, third in the Welcome, along with Ganon.