USEF Network

Hampton Classic Under Way with Big Event This Weekend

RELEASE: August 30, 2007
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Classic Communications

Record crowds came to the Hampton Classic Horse Show on Manhattan Mortgage Company’s Opening Day to watch Long Island’s best horses and riders compete. The 32nd Hampton Classic Horse Show, one of the nation’s premier show jumping competitions, continues through Sunday, September 2. The Classic hosts hunter/jumper competition for riders ranging from the youngest competitors in leadline and short stirrup classes all the way up to the Olympic veterans in the $150,000 FTI Grand Prix.

With more than $500,000 in prize money, 50,000 spectators and 1,500 horses, the Hampton Classic is not only a sporting event of major proportions, but also one of the most noteworthy social events of the summer. The Classic’s featured event, the $150,000 FTI Grand Prix, will be held on Sunday afternoon, September 2.

Headlining Manhattan Mortgage Company’s Opening Day competition was the always popular leadline division. With a record 96 entries, the judging responsibility held by Olympic Gold medalist Joe Fargis was daunting indeed. The leadline champions were Theodore Freund of Manorville, NY, riding Macaroni Pony, for the age 2-4 division, and Kimberly Mulholland of Vero Beach, FL, riding Rain, for the age 5-7 division.

Winning the Grand Hunter Championship was Oz, owned by Kelly Klein and shown by Charlie Weaver. Oz was champion in the Local Working Hunter—Pro Section B division. Other champions included Practical Magic, owned by Samantha Rudin and shown by Jagger Topping in the Local Working Hunter—Pro Section A division; Renoir, owned by Kelsey Rae Calabro and shown by Anne Byers in the Local Working Hunter—Non-Pro division; Dreamweaver, owned and shown by Savanna Hoge, in the Local Junior Hunter division; and Sinatra, owned and shown by Elizabeth Manocha in the Local Amateur-Owner Hunter Division.

In the Short Stirrup divisions the champions were: Cub Scout, owned and shown by Anna Novogratz, for Age 10-12 Section A; My White Light, owned and shown by Blaine Ferraro, for Age 10-12 Section B; Clever Endeavor, owned by Nelle Ann Foosaner and shown by Katherine Strauss, for Age 9 & Under Section A; and Go For Gold, owned by Barbara Metcalf and shown by Lianna Cohen, for Age 9 & Under Section B.

Peter Wylde Captures Nicolock Time Challenge After Seven Year Hiatus
Peter Wylde, 2004 Show Jumping Olympic Team Gold Medalist, sped to victory in the $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge on opening day. This is the first time Wylde has ridden at the Classic in seven years, competing in the first marquee event of the Classic on Gael Force, owned by Missy Clark and North Run, a horse that he was riding for the first time.

“I surprised myself with how easy he was to win on today,” said Wylde. “I have never ridden him before, and after I took fences one and two, I said, ‘Wow! this is a fantastic horse.’”

There were 23 clean rounds out of the 50 competing in this welcoming speed class, but Wylde blazed around in the fastest time of 66.28 seconds. Hillary Dobbs and Marengo, owned by the Dobbs Group, just missed with 66.71 and Callan Sollem was third with 67.20 riding Mianta, owned by Quiet Winter Farm and Redfie. The Nicolock Time Challenge debuted at the Classic in 2003, and has become one of the most popular events of the week.

Wylde is most famous for his time spent aboard Fein Cera, a 16-year-old mare who won the Best Horse title at the 2002 Show Jumping World Championship as part of the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Jerez, Spain, where Wylde also won the Individual Show Jumping Bronze medal. Fein Cera is also in the process of a comeback after having taking time off to have an embryo inserted into a surrogate mare.

“Cross your fingers,” said Wylde anxiously. “We passed the first two milestones and are into the third month of pregnancy.”

Todd Minikus Has Perfect Day
It doesn’t get much better than this for Todd Minikus of L