Bridgehampton, NY-August 30, 2005-Twenty-four of the nation's top seven-and eight-year-old jumping prospects showed their talent in the Split Rock Farm Eastern League Finals of the Young Jumper Championships (YJC) at the 30th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show.

The YJC Eastern League Finals, also featuring separate divisions for five-year-olds and six-year-olds, involve three rounds of jumping over a Grand Prix-style course that would add a fourth round, a jump-off, should there be a tie for first place through the first three rounds. The seven- and eight-year-old finals will be held in the Grand Prix ring on Sunday morning, September 4 prior to the Hampton Classic's main event, the $100,000 Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix.

"This is such an interesting class to watch," said Chrystine Jones Tauber who judged the class along with Oliver Kennedy. "Knowing the breeding of each horse and getting to see the different bloodlines perform in the ring gives you a real sense about the horse. And we really saw some very good looking young horses here today."

Nine of the 24 horses in the Finals managed to complete the course fault-free and will carry scores of zero penalties into Friday's second round. Scores from the first two rounds, with times breaking equality of faults, will be used to determine the start order of Sunday's final. Among those jumping clean on Tuesday were Happy Z (Zangersheide, High Valley Z - Anais Anais Z), who finished third in the six-year-old finals last year, Nocturnal (Dutch Warmblood, Indorado - Leontine) who was ninth inlast year's six-year-old finals, Jamestown 002 (a Canadian bred Selle Francais, Quidam de Revel - Bali des Salines) and Amagedon 3 (Hanoverian, Argentinus - Sina). Happy Z is owned by Wilhelm and Patty Genn and was ridden by Wilhelm Genn. Nocturnal is owned by Joyce Williams and Pin Oak Farm and was ridden by Laura Kraut. Amagedon 3 is owned by Salamander Farm and was ridden by Paige Johnson who was making her first appearance in the YJC.

The sire of Jamestown 002, owned by Kingridge Stables and ridden by Roberto Teran, was Quidam de Revel who rode as part of France's Bronze Medal team at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona where he was also fourth individually. Also showing well was Providence (PHR, Olisco - Via Appia), who was third in last year's seven-year-old finals and is owned by Peter Wetherill; he was ridden to a four-fault ride by Bob Kraut.

"Some of these horses have been showing this year in the 1.30 meter, and in some cases 1.35 meter divisions," Tauber said, "and a bunch of them showed an awful lot of ability today. I think we saw that several horses here are probably no more than a year away from moving into the open division and Grand Prix competition."

One of the nation's premier show jumping competitions, the Hampton Classic features the sport's biggest names competing for big prize money. Other competition highlights of this year's horse show, in addition to the YJC Finals, are the $30,000 Sotheby's International Realty World Cup Qualifier and the Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby Qualifier on Friday, September 2 and Cablevision's Kids Day/Dia de los Ninos, presented by Hickey Freeman, and the $25,000 FENDI Cup on Saturday, September 3. The following day, Grand Prix Sunday, September 4, features the $100,000 Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix and the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby. Grand Prix Sunday also features a dressage demonstration by six-time Olympic dressage rider Robert Dover, the most accomplished dressage rider in U.S. history!

New for 2005, a Southampton Hospital "Clear Jump" Challenge has been created to permit spectators to pledge contributions directly to Southampton Hospital. Donors will pledge any amount they wish to be paid each time a horse and rider clear the new Southampton Hospital Jump during the Grand Prix. It is expected that between 30 and 40 horses could be clear over this jump so if an individual has pledged $100 per clear trip, then between $3,000 and $4,000 could be given by this donor to the Hospital. Southampton Hospital volunteers will be on hand all day to collect pledge cards in the VIP Tents and the main grandstands.

Awards presentations take place on Sunday, including a gold and silver David Yurman belt buckle and a jeroboam of Louis Roederer Champagne to be awarded to the Grand Prix winner.

Hampton Classic admission is $10 per person or $20 per carload, with children under six admitted free. Reserved grandstand seating for Sunday, September 4 is $15 per person (in addition to regular admission) or $25 per person in the special Premium Seating center sections. Parking is free throughout the week. The Hampton Classic is a benefit event for Southampton Hospital.

Some Hampton Classic classes can be seen live online at www.wvvh.tv. For more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177.