McLain Ward long believed he would retire from top sport at age 50. If there was ever a sign to keep going, it was Saturday’s decisive victory at Tryon International in North Carolina.

Ward celebrated his 51st birthday by winning the 51st Major League Show Jumping 5* Grand Prix. It’s his 80th Grand Prix win since 2015 (Jumpr stats) and first ever MLSJ title.

“For some reason, I’ve had a lot of seconds and thirds in this class at Major League Show Jumping. I’ve aimed at them but have come up short,” Ward reflected.

And it was a hard fought one at that.

Six of the world top 10. Reigning Olympic champion Christian Kukuk. Five-star winners Daniel Coyle on Farrel, Lillie Keenan on Fasther, and Laura Kraut with Baloutinue. And a demanding 1.60m track set by Nick Granat to match.

“I thought it was a proper 5* Grand Prix anywhere in the world,” said Ward. “You have a very top heavy group here. You have six of the top ten in the world. Number one, two and three in the world.”

Six of the 37 starters produce clear first rounds to advance to the jump off.

Kukuk set the standard aboard his “hope” horse, 10-year-old Akarad Tivoli Z with a fault-free performance in 44.30 seconds. “I have a lot of hope in this horse,” he shared after. “I think he’s going to be my best horse in the next years.”

Ward and his best horse now—2026 World Championship mount High Star Hero—masterfully shaved more than a second and a half off to stop the clock at 42.68.

Two more followed. World no. 3 Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and James Kann Cruz took the risk—and a hip to the standard with a too tight turn in the air, to finish on four. Israel’s Mark Bluman played it safe on Genial De B’Neville to slip into third behind Kukuk and complete the podium.

MLSJ next heads to Palm Springs for back-to-back legs, Dec 3–5 and 10–12.

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