Bridgehampton, NY -  The 41st annual Hampton Classic Horse Show featured more than 200 classes of hunter, jumper and equitation classes for horses and riders of all ages and abilities. Athletes from nine nations competed in four FEI classes that culminated with a dazzling win by Ireland's 

	Richie Moloney and Carrabis Z  (c) The Book LLC

Richie Moloney in the $300,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix, presented by Longines. In one of the most exciting jump-off rounds in the Classic's 41-year history, Moloney blazed around the course on Carrabis Z, owned by Equinimity, LLC, to claim the top prize.

"It's special, it's a great show and always a great crowd here," said Moloney. "We try to have our horses in top form for this week. It means a lot to win the Grand Prix here. My horse has been amazing, this is his fourth grand prix win. It's very good to have him and I'm lucky to have my owners at Equinimity, and a great staff. I'm just thankful, as without all of those people this wouldn't be possible."

	Richie Moloney receiving a Longines Timepiece (c) Shawn McMillen

The victory gave Moloney the $30,000 Longines Rider Challenge as the horse show's leading open jumper rider for third time in four years. He had a total of 337.5 points, well ahead of Catherine Tyree who finished second with 239.5. McLain Ward finished third with 226.

Five horses out of the 29 starting entries made it to the jump-off by turning in clean rounds over the Alan Wade-designed course. In the jump-off, all five went clear, leaving it up to the Longines timers to determine the winner. First to go in the jump-off was the defending champion, Karen Polle (JPN) on With Wings, who set the mark to beat with a clean round in 41.54 seconds.

Four-time Olympic medalist Beezie Madden (USA) was next on Quister de Guldenboom, owned by Abigail Wexner, and they finished two-tenths of a second faster to take the lead with 41.33. Charlie Jacobs (USA) and Cassinja S then shaved off another two-tenths of a second to move into first place with 41.12 before Moloney dropped them to the Reserve Champion position. Andrew Welles (USA) and Brindis Bogibo, owned by AEM Enterprises, LLC, stopped the timers in 41.15, only three one-hundredths of a second slower than Jacobs, good for third place.

One day prior, Mattias Tromp (USA) trumped the competition to win the $50,000 Longines Cup riding Avon, owned by Beyaert Farm, Inc. Pablo Mejia Villa (COL) was second on his Reglisse Top and Catherine Tyree (USA) was third on Enjoy Louis, owned by Mary and Joseph Tyree.  Eight riders went clear out of the field of 41 from five nations, but only three went double clear. Tromp, of North Salem, NY, was the fastest of the three, stopping the Longines timers in 38.34 seconds, nearly three seconds faster than Mejia Villa who finished in 40.96. Tyree had the first double clear of the day as the second rider in the jump-off and finished third with a time of 42.74. 

 

"I thought the jump-off had a great flow to it. I saw the distance far away. I saw where I wanted to be and the track I wanted to be on. It doesn't always happen when you land off the jump. I was a little bit lucky," said Tromp. "This was my biggest win at the Classic. I won the 1.40m class here a few years ago, I've done the Derby a few times and when I was younger I did the high juniors, but this is a hard venue to win at, so it is really exciting. This is definitely the most significant win of my career."

In the first competition for the four-time Olympic veteran since leading the US team to a silver medal at the Rio Olympic Games, McLain Ward edged out 17-year-old Lucy Deslauriers to win the $75,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier, presented by Longines, for the second consecutive year. Deslauriers went second of the eight who reached the jump-off and she set the mark to beat with a clean ride in 40.75 seconds on Hester, owned by Lisa Deslauriers. Ward, going next to last, clipped off more than a second on HH Carlos Z, owned by Double H Farm, clinching the win with a clean ride in 39.31 seconds.

"Lucy is a great young rider with a very exciting future. I'm excited for her to be on some teams with me in the future and my hat's off to her," said Ward. "I have a seasoned horse who's very good at the speed part. Normally, if he's in the jump-off, we have a good chance to win. He just has great foot speed."

Deslauiers was amazed at her runner-up finish. "It was a really great class and I am almost shocked at the results," she said. "My horse is incredible and I didn't have much to lose going against these top riders. I just gave it my all and hoped it would be enough. Losing to McLain is not a very bad thing."

One year ago, Ward won this class on HH Azur on his way to the Rio Olympic Games, but this year he almost didn't make it past the first round with Carlos Z. "I didn't think I rode him well in the first round," said Ward. "I lost my stirrup, which I can't remember the last time that happened, so I thought I was a little bit lucky to get a clear. Sometimes that just works in your favor; you just take a deep breath." 

 

The win was the second major win of the week for Ward as he also won the $30,000 Boar's Head Open Jumper Challenge, presented by Dan's Papers, on Opening Day. Ward's 2004 gold medal Olympic teammate Peter Wylde was second and Shane Sweetnam of Ireland was third. 

Riding Tina La Boheme, Ward bested a field of 39 by going clear in the fastest time of 59.048 seconds. Sweetnam, winner of last year's Longines Rider Challenge, went fourth and set the stage with a clear round in 59.883 seconds on Main Road, owned by Sweet Oak Farm. That score held up until Ward, going in the middle of the pack, beat his time by a fraction of a second. Ward thought the class was a great way to start the week.

 

"It was a lovely class, a great welcome for the horses with nice prize money," said Ward. "This is a mare who's had a great year but hasn't shown for a while because I have been away. It is a great comeback for her here. It was a nice smooth course but competitive enough. The field was phenomenal. It was a great introduction for the horses."

	Leslie Howard and Donna Speciale      (c) Shawn McMillen

Leslie Howard (USA) and Donna Speciale, owned by Laure Sudreau, went early in the field of 41 competitors, but the Darien, CT resident managed to hang on to the fastest clear round and win the $40,000 Sovaro Speed Stake, the first or four FEI-recognized competitions at the Classic. 

 

Howard was fourth in the lineup and watched as each remaining rider failed to beat her score. Howard's time of 62.81 seconds was the fastest of the eight clear rounds, but she thought her win was just good fortune. 

"I think it was just luck," said Howard. "I went in there for a nice day, I didn't push it. I think there were a lot of riders pushing for a win who just got unlucky.  McLain was brilliant and then had a rail. Peter Wylde had a very fast time and then had a rail. I think it was just the way things ended up."

 

Richie Moloney finished second by only eight one hundredths of a second on Ypaja Yando, owned by Equinimity, LLC, going in 62.89 seconds and Charlie Jacobs was third with 65.72 on Quality Time Tn, owned by CMJ Sporthorse, LLC.

Georgina Bloomberg was the fastest of the nine clear rounds in the jump-off in the $10,000 Royalton Farms Open Jumper 1.45m class riding Crown 5, owned by Gotham Enterprizes, LLC.  The New York City resident also won the $10,000 Open Jumper 1.40m class the day before with South Street, owned by Gotham Enterprizes.

 

"It's a great way to start the week," said Bloomberg of her two victories. "Crown 5 is my son Jasper's favorite horse. He's watched him since day one and he's always been madly in love with him. It's nice that this horse is stepping up and becoming a super kind of a horse so Jasper can see him be successful in the show ring."   

 

Local rider Katherine Strauss won the $25,000 Campbell Stables Show Jumping Derby defeating Chloe Hymowitz, of New York, NY, in a two-horse jump-off from a field of 24 entries on the final day of the Classic. "It feels great," said the Southampton, NY, resident. "I have been working with my horse for a long time and it feels really great to have this result. I adjusted my approach to riding him and it's had a great outcome, so I'm really happy."

In the $15,000 Merrill Lynch Speed Derby, presented by Sotheby's International Realty, the student surpassed the teacher when Adrienne Sternlicht beat McLain Ward's clear round time by nearly a second to claim victory. "McLain told me before the class that it was essentially my class to lose," said the 23-year-old Greenwich, CT, resident. "I think he wanted me to beat him, so I was really happy that I was able to execute it."

Riding Raia D' Helby, owned by Starlight Farms, LLC, Sternlicht mastered the course in 85.878 seconds, nearly a second faster than Ward's time of 86.793. Sternlicht believed it was due to the jumping style of her 11-year-old Selle Francais mare.

 

One of Ward's other students, Lauren Fischer, 18, won the $15,000 Carolex Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on Tosca Du Feugre, owned by Cheryl Fischer, to complete a hat trick, winning three big classes. On Thursday, the Bedford Hills, NY, resident took the blue ribbon in the $10,000 Junior Jumper Classic and on Friday, she won the $10,000 T&R Development Junior/Amateur-Owner Welcome Stake.

 

"Winning three in a row is something that has never happened to me before so I couldn't believe it," said Fischer. "It's just so exciting. I was a little worried; the riders in the class were very competitive, I was just kind of hoping to put it together and it couldn't have turned out any better!"

In the Anne Aspinall ring, Stephanie Danhakl and Enough Said triumphed in the $10,000

 Hermès Hunter Classic on the final day. "It is completely incredible to win this today," said Danhakl. "This whole week has been amazing. Even if today didn't go well, I would still have left the show really happy. This is just icing on the cake."

Danhakl had already won a host of awards at the Classic. On Saturday, she won the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship by winning the Amateur-Owner 3'3", 18-35, Championship with Enough Said and the Reserve Championship with Quest.  She also claimed the tricolor in the Amateur-Owner, 3'6", 18-35, Hunter Championship with First Light and the Reserve Championship with Golden Rule.

Perennial winner Scott Stewart added another award to his long list of accomplishments, winning the Charlie Weaver Award which is awarded to the rider displaying, in the opinion of the hunter judges, the best style of riding at the Hampton Classic. Stewart piloted Catch Me and Fun, both owned by David Gochman, to championships, which resulted in his two horses tying for the Grand Hunter Championship.

 

"The week was great, it worked out way better than I thought," said Stewart. "The horses felt really good coming into the show. They are a great group of horses. I was hoping to do well and it worked out."

Jordyn Rose Freedman, 16, of Longmeadow, MA, topped a field of 29 entries to win the prestigious Bright Side Farm Equitation Championship. Lucy Deslauriers placed second and Mckayla Langmeier finished third.

Freedman secured the win with two consistently high scores, an 88 in the final round and the second best score of 87 in the first. Since the top 15 riders returned in inverse order of standing, Freedman went 14th, which was not her favorite position.

"I watched five people go before me and I felt a lot of pressure. Typically in the second round I get really nervous because I know that it could go really well or I could totally mess up. I was worried about being consistent, but my horse wasn't fazed by anything. I owe him everything. I couldn't be happier with him. He is very special to me," said Freedman. "Winning this class is really important to me and very special. I am really thankful for my trainer and Finnick."

Freedman is trained by Linda Langmeier. They have been together since Freedman competed in the short stirrup division, so she had sage advice before the 16-year-old went into the ring for the second round. "Typically in the second round Jordyn can get a little anxious, so my advice was to take a deep breath and go have fun," said Langmeier. "I have been training her since she was 8 years old; she's like my other daughter. This win is huge; this is her first major win. I couldn't be happier. She's just an amazing child."

ASPCA Adoption and Animal Welfare Daycelebrated its sixth year at the Hampton Classic offering for adoption horses, dogs, cats and, for the first time this year, various breeds of rabbits that were rescued in a joint effort between the ASPCA and NYPD. Nine animal shelters participated and TV personality Jill Rappaport was joined by four riders who serve as ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors - Georgina Bloomberg, Hayley Barnhill, Brianne Goutal and Jessica Springsteen - in presenting the horses for adoption.

The Hampton Classic was also once again the proud host of the Championship Finals for the Long Island Horse Show Series (LIHSSRD)for Riders with Disabilities, presented by Bridgehampton National Bank.  For the 11th consecutive year, the top qualifiers in three divisions competed for year-end titles with Gary Duffy serving as judge. Lauren Reischer of New York, NY won the Grand Championship.

Reischer earned the Grand Championship by winning every class in the LIHSSRD Independent Advanced Division.  She first competed in the Finals at the Classic in 2009 and then took a break until this year.  At first the 17-year-old found it difficult to describe her feelings regarding her victory, but then managed the perfect word. "This is unbelievable. I don't know if I have enough words," said Reischer.  "But if I had to pick one it would be Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"

McLain Ward's win in the $75,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier earned $16,100 for Caring Hearts for Canines as part of the Classic's new Jump for Charity program. Hats autographed by 10 Grand Prix riders, each of whom was paired with a charity, were sold with all proceeds going to the charity of the rider who placed highest in the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix. "It is always great to be able to do something to help a worthy cause and this means a lot to me," said Ward.

"Words cannot describe how excited we are. For a small charity like ours this money means an awful lot. Because of McLain, lots of dogs will be able to find homes," said Kate Soroka, a member of the Board of Caring Hearts for Canines

The Classic's annual Kids' Day, presented by iHeartMEDIA, was one of the most popular days at the Classic. Children from Long Island and all around the New York metropolitan area enjoyed unique exhibitions, games, music, educational activities and more.

Katharine Page was named the outstanding boutique among the more than 80 boutiques at the Classic and Campbell Stables was honored as winner of the Classic's VIP Table Décor Contest as judged by Hamptons Cottages and Gardens.

As always, this year's Hampton Classic featured its usual impressive line-up of celebrity attendees including former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Brooke Shields, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Matt Lauer, Kyle MacLachlan, Brandon Marshall, Donna Karan, Kelly Klein, Christie Brinkley, Christy Turlington, Candace Bushnell, Kelly Bensimon, Joan Hamburg, James Lipton, Jill Rappaport, Chuck and Ellen Scarborough, Rosanna Scotto, Ramona Singer, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Erin Willett, Tom Wolfe, and Frederick Younet. 

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.