McLain Ward’s Win in the $300,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix Presented by Douglas Elliman Highlighted a Spectacular 43rd Annual Hampton Classic

McLain Ward with HH Gigi’s Girl, winners of the

$300,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix presented by Douglas Elliman. © Shawn McMillen

Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam won the $30,000 Longines Rider Challengeas the Classic’s leading open jumper rider. Sweetnam received a stunning Longines timepiece and a check for $30,000. Sweetnam, who won the award in 2015, also won watches for winning Friday’s $75,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier presented by Longines, and Saturday’s $70,000 Longines Cup, in addition to one for finishing second in Sunday’s final Grand Prix, giving him a total of four for the weekend!

Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam won the $30,000 LONGINES Rider Challenge, receiving a watch and a check for $30,000 from Pascal Savoy, Brand President, Longines. © Shawn McMillen

Located near the Hamptons’ famed beaches, restaurants, nightclubs and boutiques, the Hampton Classic is a celebrity hot-spot. Among those in attendance at this year’s Classic were Bobby Flay, Billy Joel, Brooke Shields, Michael Bloomberg, Donna Karan, Martha Stewart, Christy Turlington, Real Housewives of New York stars Kelly Bensimon, Luann de Lesseps and Ramona Singer, and Congressmen Steve Israel (D-NY), Peter King (R-NY) and Betty McCollum (D-MN).

Actress Brooke Shields was just one of the famous faces that packed the VIP Tent to watch the

Hampton Classic Grand Prix (c)Victor Cangro

For Sunday’s Grand Prix, course designer Michel Vaillancourt built a challenging course at the maximum height of 1.60m, including a line of jumps taking the competitors nearly the entire length of the packed VIP tent. The tough course was a true test of ability, resulting in just five of the 34 horse-and-rider pairs advancing to the jump-off round.

Ward, never one to ride for second place, pulled out all the stops with HH Gigi’s Girl, the 10-year-old grey mare owned by Double H Farm, and pulled off a daring sharp turn to the Jaguar vertical that saved him time. They cleared the course in a time of 39.32 seconds, knowing the speedy Sweetnam was yet to come. The only time Ward let up on the gas was heading to the very last fence, and only for a split second, knowing that if he pushed any more, he would risk having the last jump down.

Eventual third-place finisher Lucy Davis was unable to catch Ward’s time. Riding Caracho, she left the jumps up, but crossed the timers in 42.47 seconds. Last to jump, Sweetnam rode Main Road to a clean ride but crossed the timers outside of the leading time in 41.24 seconds to finish in second place.

“The line from the Jaguar vertical to the last jump ended up being a steady seven strides,” said Ward. “It was one of those lines where although the seven seemed steady, almost holding, doing six strides would become kamikaze. I also didn’t know what quality the jump would be off the full rollback to the Jaguar. Gigi slipped just a tiny bit on the tight rollback turn she made to the Jaguar fence, which actually worked out perfectly because it meant I could support and push up to it. However, she is young and still a bit inexperienced. I knew I had done a lot already and heading down that last line, I had to take a bit off the gas pedal.”

McLain Ward and HH Gigi’s Girl, winners of the

$300,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix presented by Douglas Elliman. © Shawn McMillen

FEI and Open Jumper Highlights

In the $40,000 SOVARO^® FEI Speed Stake presented by Lisa & Mario Deslauriers and Lynn Tarnopol, two-time U.S. Olympic medalist Leslie Burr Howard blazed to victory with Donna Speciale. The only pair to post a sub-60-second time, they won in 59.71 seconds. Mexico’s Santiago Lambre was second with Dingeman in 61.79 seconds, and Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam third with Cyklon in 62.48 seconds.

Shane Sweetnam qualified two horses for the jump-off in Friday’s $75,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix-Qualifier CSI4* Presented by Longines. He finished first with Indra van de Oude Heihoef and fourth with Main Road. Second went to Mexico’s Fernando Martinez Sommer with Cor Bakker and third to American Devin Ryan with Cooper.

Sweetnam’s win earned approximately $10,000 for the Group for the East End through the Hampton Classic’s Jump for Charity program. Established in Bridgehampton in 1972 to serve as a community advocate for conservation, the Group for the East End employs a full-time staff of professional planners, natural resource specialists, and environmental educators that bring over 100 years of collective land use, education, and public advocacy experience to the local community.

Shane Sweetnam repeated his 2017 victory in the $70,000 LONGINES Cup, taking the top spot for a second day in a row with Indra van de Oude Heihoef. Second went to Sweetnam’s countryman Richie Moloney with Rocksy Music and third went to Canadian Olympic veteran Mario Deslauriers with Amsterdam.

Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam with Indra van de Oude Heihoef, winners of the $75,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier CSI4* Presented by Longines and the $70,000 LONGINES Cup. © Shawn McMillen

Canada’s Erynn Ballard swept the 7-and-Under Young Horse Jumper division with Maestro Vica V/D Ark, after winning the Tuesday’s $10,000 Brown Harris Stevens class, Wednesday’s $10,000 Bruno Delgrange class and Friday’s$10,000 SHF Enterprises class.

Georgina Bloomberg’s sole goal for her mount Paola 233 at this year’s Classic was to win the Opening Day $30,000 Boar’s Head Jumper Challenge,something she accomplished handily, topping the field of 42 starters. Second went to Mario Deslauriers with Cherrypop and third went to Molly Ashe-Cawley with Picobello Choppin Pc.

Tuesday morning’s two 1.40m Open Jumper sections, the $10,000 Jaguar Open Jumper class and the $10,000 Shamrock Ventures Open Jumper class, had a combined total of 80 entries. Kelli Cruciotti took the Jaguar class with Grandy De Laubry, finishing nearly two seconds faster than runner-up McLain Ward with Contagious. Ward’s four-time Olympic teammate and the reigning Longines FEI World Cup^TM Champion, Beezie Madden, won the Shamrock Ventures class with Jiva. Ireland’s Richie Moloney, four-time winner of the Longines Rider Challenge at the Classic, finished second with Slieveanorra.

Molly Ashe-Cawley opened the FEI division with a win, taking top honors in the $10,000 Palm Beach Masters Open Jumper 1.45m class with Cassandra. Shane Sweetnam placed second with Indra van de Oude Heihoef and fellow Irishman Lorcan Gallagher was third with Billy Onslow. Earlier in the day, Kyle King took the $10,000 Wölffer Estate Open Jumper 1.40mclass, riding Andiamo Vh Kapelhof Z. Richie Moloney was second with Slieveanorra.

Junior, Adult, Children and Amateur-Owner Jumpers

Taylor St. Jacques, 19, won the $25,000 DAWTS Show Jumping Derby on the final morning of the Hampton Classic with mount Qantor Des Etisses. Second place went to Charlise Casas with Rembrandt Blue and third to Kelly Arani and Esprit. In addition to winning the Derby, St. Jacques was awarded the Amateur-Owner 1.40 Jumper championship. The reserve championship went to Arani.

19-year-old Taylor St. Jacques with Qantor Des Etisses, winners of the $25,000 DAWTS Junior/Amateur-Owner

Show Jumping Derby at the Hampton Classic. © Shawn McMillen

Tanner Korotkin was awarded the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Style of Riding Award Presented by Horse Network. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Style of Riding Award is presented to the Junior Jumper rider who best exemplifies the American style of equitation, as modeled by Show Jumping Hall of Famers such as George Morris, Conrad Homfeld and Joe Fargis.

Gracie Allen took top honors in the $12,500 Junior Jumper Classic, with Rivage de Lormay. In the $5,000 Adult Jumper Classic sponsored by Marsia Holzer, Anna Koenig took the win with Super Trooper.

Following two phases of testing, the $10,000 Equitation Championship Presented by the Palm Beach International Academy was won by Mimi Gochman of Palm Beach, FL. Earlier in the week, the Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search sponsored by The Atlantic Bridgehampton was won by Rachel McMullen of Chagrin Falls, OH, in her first trip to the Hampton Classic.

Showcasing Top Hunters at the Classic

Stephanie Danhakl swept the top three places in the $10,000 Hermès Hunter Classic, the final hunter competition at the horse show. Danhakl, originally from Pacific Palisades, CA but now a Ph.D. student at Boston University, took first with Golden Rule, second with Enough Said and third with Quest. Phoebe Topping of Sagaponack, NY finished fourth with Celebration.

Stephanie Danhakl with Golden Rule, winners of the $10,000 Hermès Hunter Classic. © Shawn McMillen

There was a tie for Grand Hunter Champion between Holly Orlando with True Story and Scott Stewart with Private Life. Stewart was named this year’s Leading Hunter Rider, receiving the Charlie Weaver Perpetual Trophy.

The Grand Junior Hunter Champion from the Roekl Junior Hunter Divisions was Major Key, ridden by Grady Lyman. The Best Junior Hunter Rider on a Horse with the accompanying Kathy Scholl Trophy was presented to Grady Lyman. Best Junior Hunter Rider on a Pony receiving the Horse Haven Trophy was Alexa Lignelli. Young Canadian Sam Walker was named the Leading Junior Equitation Award, the Gordon Wright Trophy, sponsored by the friends of Gustav Leidlof.

Becky Gochman and Catch Me took the championship in the Hunt Ltd. Amateur Owner 36+ hunter division, while the championship for the GiGi New York Amateur-Owner Hunters, 18-35 years, went to Jef Louwers with Sutherland.

Harmony Home Concierge Opening Day

As always, the Hampton Classic’s Opening Day was a spectacular showcase for top local competitors. The day began bright and early in the Grand Prix ring with the smallest of the week’s competitors, Leadline riders ages two-to-four, followed by the group for ages five-to-seven.

Hotly contested with nearly a hundred entries, these immaculately presented young riders and their mounts had the honor of being judged by Olympic gold medalist and Show Jumping Hall of Famer, Joe Fargis of Middleburg, VA. Broken into sections, it took a ride-off to determine the winners!

Following the introduction of officials and welcoming the Classic’s official charity partner, the Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, a very special award was handed out, prior to the start of the $30,000 Boar’s Head Open Jumper Challenge. The Long Island Sportsmanship Award was presented to Harriet de Leyer. Ms. de Leyer has been the president of the Long Island Professional Horseman’s Association for many years, helping them better equestrian sport in the community and beyond.

Opening Day also hosted the $10,000 Marders Local Hunter Derby in the beautiful Anne Aspinall hunter ring. A starting field of 39 horses competed in the first “Classic Style” round, after which the top 12 returned for the “Handy Hunter” round.

Sandra Ferrell piloted Stephanie Bulger’s Hemingway to score 95 points in the first round, and 87 points in the second round to give them the overall title. Ferrell also placed fifth and seventh, Holly Orlando placed second, sixth and eighth and Laura Bowery placed third and fourth.

Special Events and Awards

Now in its 13th year, the Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities (LIHSSRD) Championship Finals Presented by BNB Bank were held at the Hampton Classic on Monday. Twenty riders across three divisions competed for the year-end titles.

The Classic’s 8^th annual Adoption & Animal Welfare Day, sponsored by Gotham Enterprizes with the support of the EQUUS Foundation, was held on Monday. Rescue dogs, cats and horses from a variety of animal rescues and shelters on Long Island and beyond were in attendance. Eleven local and regional rescues for small and large animals & equines took part, raising awareness around adoption, with cats and dogs being screened and adopted on-site.

Saturday was Kids’ Day Presented by News 12 at the Classic, always one of the most popular days for families at the Horse Show. Children under 12 from Long Island and all around the New York metropolitan area enjoyed free admission, complimentary pony rides, animals, games, music, exhibits and educational activities, as well as complimentary lunch boxes courtesy of News 12.

The Hampton Classic showcased beauty not only in the show rings, but across all areas of the spectacular 60-acre show grounds, including the luxurious Agneta Currey Boutique Garden and Stable Row, featuring more than 80 vendors. The blue ribbon for “Best Boutique” went to Rhoback, with second going to Kaval and third to Katharine Page.

The Hampton Cottages & Gardens Table Décor Awards were presented on Grand Prix Sunday, with tables in the two VIP tents decorated in spectacular fashion. First place was awarded to the table of Sascha Bikoff. Second went to Chateau D’Esclans and third to Stephanie Brown Beamer’s table.

Sascha Bikoff won the Hampton Cottages & Gardens Table Décor Award(c)Hassan Pierre

For complete horse show results and more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177. Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation.