Bridgehampton,
NY - Shane Sweetnam of County Cork, Ireland, prevailed in
the $15,000 Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate Open Jumper
Speed Derby at the Hampton Classic Horse Show on Friday morning,
riding Victor III, owned by Spy Coast Farm. They had
the luck of the Irish on their side because although they
had a rail down, they were still able to win in a time of
76.54 seconds.
Callan
Solem of Colts Neck, NJ, tried twice to win, but had to settle
for second and third riding two horses owned by Quiet Winter
Farm. Warsaw was the runner-up in a time of 77.75 and
Mianta was third in 78.53 seconds.
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 heldonSunday
afternoon, September 2.
This
is only the second time Sweetnam has competed at the Classic
and the first time in the Grand Prix Ring. Normally
he would be in Kentucky this time of year, but his owner
Lisa Lourie of Setauket, NY, made a request.
"He
did it as a favor to me," said Lourie. "We live nearby and
my daughter Julia is competing here so I really wanted to
come. She is actually doing very well. Yesterday
she was fourth in the Low Junior Jumper Classic. I
love this show and to win here is very exciting!"
Although
Sweetnam had a strategy, things did not quite go as planned. "My
strategy was to go as fast as I could because to go slow
and clean here gets nothing. So, I went as fast as
I could and just tried to keep the rails up."
As
it turned out, they did not keep all the rails up and ended
up with four faults. However, their time of 72.64 was
fast enough to stay on top even after adding four penalty
seconds for the knockdown.
Sunday
is highlighted by the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby,
a member of event of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper
Classic Series, and the $10,000 Hermès Hunter Classic
in the morning prior to the $150,000 FTI Grand Prix.
Those
unable to attend the Hampton Classic have ample opportunity
to see it on television. WVVH-TV, the official Long
Island television station of the Hampton Classic, is broadcasting
up to five hours of competition and highlights each day during
the Classic. These broadcasts can also be seen online
at www.wvvh.tv.
The
Classic also receives extensive coverage on WLIU 88.3 FM,
a long time sponsor and the official radio station of the
Hampton Classic. WLIU will broadcast updates daily throughout
the Classic as well as live programs from the Classic on
Saturday-Sunday, September 1-2.
Live
webcasts from the Hampton Classic Grand Prix ring and Hunter
Ring I are available free of charge at www.equetriansport.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. Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc.
is a 501.c.3 charitable corporation. |
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