Close Finish in $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby At 26th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show

BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY (September 2, 2001) - A second meant the difference between $7,500 and $5,500 in prize money in the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby on Sunday at the 26th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show.

A second is all that separated first place winner Michael Morrissey of Bradenton, Fla., and second place finisher Erin Haas of Chelsea, Mich., in the jump-off for the Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby. Haas and her horse, Cameron, won the earlier qualifier class, the Show Jumping Derby Welcome Stake, on Friday. Twenty-five horses started the Derby on Sunday, but only five had clear rounds to qualify for the jump-off.

The Derby is a test for horses who compete in the Amateur-Owner and Junior Jumper divisions and who competed in Friday's Show Derby Jumping Derby Welcome Stake. The course, set in the large grand prix ring at The Hampton Classic, included 16 natural obstacles such as water jumps and hedges ranging just over 4½ feet tall and 5 feet wide.

The first five finishers were:
First: Gera, ridden by Michael R. Morrissey, Bradenton, Fla., owned by agent Gene Mische, Palmetto, Fla.
Second: Cameron, ridden by Erin Haas, Chelsea, MI; owned by Northface Farm, Chelsea, MI.
Third: Kairos, ridden and owned by Paige Rassas, North Field, Ill.
Fourth: Til Tomorrow, ridden by Judy Garofalo, Dover Plains, NY; owned by Higher Ground Farms Inc., Dover Plains, NY.
Fifth: After Eight, ridden by Christine Tribble, Suffield, Conn.; owned by Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables, East Windsor, Conn.

Last year's winner of the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby, Paige Johnson of Washington, DC, and her mare, Dominique, finished seventh with four jumping faults.

The 26th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show ended today (September 2) in Bridgehampton with three high stakes events that delighted the crowd: the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix presented by David Yurman; the $50,000 AmeriChoice Eastern Finals of the Young Jumper Championships; and the $25,000 Calvin Klein Jumping Show Jumping Derby; and $100,000 New Things Grand Prix Bonus Challenge.

More than 60,000 spectators enjoyed seeing some of the country's finest equine athletes in action during the past 10 days with non-stop competition going on in The Hampton Classic's five well-groomed rings at once.

The Classic has become a tradition for top national competitors, including veterans from the U.S. Equestrian Team such as Jeffrey Welles, Tim Grubb, Laura Kraut, Nona Garson, Leslie Howard, Todd Minikus and many others. The Hampton Classic attracts 1,800 show hunters and jumpers from as far away as California, Florida, Texas and Canada. Many veteran riders f-

The Hampton Classic Horse Show benefits the Southampton Hospital, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the United States Equestrian Team. Offering up the best in show jumping, there is no other competition that brings together the hunter-jumper circuit with thousands of spectators, extravagant social events, celebrities, shopping and fine dining in the Hamptons. For more information on the Hampton Classic, be sure to visit the show's web site at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177. Email requests for information may be submitted to info@hamptonclassic.com.