Bridgehampton, NY—August 31, 2003—The Hampton Classic Horse Show once again played host to the Young Horse Jumper Championship – East Coast Final.

The country’s best Six-Year-Old horses took to the grass grand prix ring on Sunday. After Dark galloped into the spotlight to win the $30,000 Young Horse Championship – East Coast Final, for rider and owner Patricia Griffith of White Plains, NY. Following three rounds of jumping held over three days, After Dark, a Dutch Warmblood by Darco, finished up with three clear rounds to take the top prize of $8,400.

The only other horse to jump clearly over all three tracks was Pourquoi, a Dutch Warmblood by Concorde. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone, Pourquoi was ridden to a second place finish by Alison Firestone of Upperville, VA. Debbie Stephens of Glenmoore, PA, rode Melinga, a Holsteiner by Lansing, to a third place for owner Bader Al-Fassi of Miami Beach, FL.

On Saturday, the Five-Year-Olds took center stage in the grand prix ring with the $20,000 Young Horse Championship – East Coast Final. Following three rounds of jumping held over three days, only one horse emerged without penalties. Aaron Vale of Aiken, SC, rode Shibumi, an Oldenburg by Stalon, to the top of the standings for owner Market Street. Vale took over the ride for double Olympic silver medalist Anne Kursinski of Frenchtown, NJ, who fractured her hand earlier in the week.

Tani Zeidler’s My Champagne, the winner of the first two rounds of competition, finished second overall under the guidance of Sydney Olympian Laura Kraut. Charmed, an Oldenburg by Last Liberty and ridden by Germaine Dougherty of Hauppauge, NY, was third for owner Glenview Stables and Dougherty.

The year 2003 marks the fifth time the Hampton Classic Horse Show has hosted the East Coast Final of the Young Jumper Championships.

“This program is very important to the development of our young horses,” noted Cheryll Frank, Director of Sport Data for USA Equestrian. “It gives the horses an opportunity to go head-to-head against their peers, and gives the riders and trainers an opportunity to evaluate the horses. The Young Jumper Championship is a training ground for both the horses and riders and allows us to develop our own horses in this country.”

Special thanks go to the supporters of the Young Jumper Championships including GGET Ltd., Antares Sellier France, Tony and Bobbie Braun of Split Rock Farm, Claudia Frost of SHF Enterprises, Corty Wetherill of Devon Hill Motors.

The 28th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show concluded in dramatic fashion on Sunday with the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix, a member event of the King Shavings U.S. Grand Prix League (USGPL). Running since Manhattan Mortgage Company’s Opening Day, presented by Distinction Magazine, on Sunday, August 24, the Hampton Classic Horse Show once again featured the top riders and horses in the country competing for top honors.

For more information on the Hampton Classic, including complete competition results, be sure to visit the website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call 631-537-3177. For further press information: Marty Bauman, (508) 698-6810, classic.pr@verizon.net.