Hampton Classic Horse Show 1998
Hampton Classic Horse Show: big, beautiful and the best
In early August it looked like a farm with a few outbuildings. By August 23rd, an equestrian city had been erected—facilities for 1,200 horses and forty to fifty thousand visitors during the week. It is of course the Hampton Classic Horse Show—and there is nothing in the world quite like it. What looks like a simple farm on Snake Hollow Road in Bridgehampton actually consists of carefully nurtured grounds with show rings that are looked after year-round, and a utility infrastructure designed to accommodate the annual gathering of horses, participants and spectators.
It is not only the biggest hunter/jumper competition in the country—it is breathtakingly beautiful. Whether you look at the texture of the incredibly green grass, the magnificent horses, the dazzling white and pastel striped tents, the gleaming jumps or the riders in their equestrian attire, there is beauty around you. And if you happen to be in the Patrons’ Tents on Grand Prix Sunday, there is power, fame and money around you as well. No wonder prestige sponsors line up to take part in the Classic. David Yurman, for one, presenting sponsor of the Crown Royal Grand Prix, and a man who know a thing or two about jewelry, finds the Classic offers “the perfect setting” in which to showcase his extraordinary jewelry.
Not only is it big and beautiful, the riding is the best there is, with Olympic, World Cup and World Champion riders participating. And not only is it big, beautiful and the best, it is ours—it started here and it grew to world-class status here. Over the years, more than three-quarters of a million dollars earned by The Hampton Classic has been donated to Southampton Hospital, the United States Equestrian Team, and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Grand Prix: August 30.
Hampton Classic Horse Show: results 1998
Hurricane Bonnie didn’t show up, but everyone else got to Bridgehampton for a spectacular week of show jumping. The 35 horses in Sunday’s Grand Prix were narrowed to a field of 7, with McLain Ward and Leslie Burr Howard each with 2 horses in the jump-off. It was fast and extremely close on a difficult course, but a tremendously energized Ward riding on Twist Du Valon set the field on fire to win the $100,000 Crown Royal Grand Prix presented by David Yurman.
Not a winner in the Crown Royal Grand Prix, but a still strong competitor, was Marley Goodman, who won both the $25,000 Prudential Grand Prix on Friday and the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby earlier in the day on Sunday.
Other big winners at the 1998 Classic: Olympic silver rider Anne Kursinski took the $25,000 Sally Hanson Grand Prix, and Sarah Willeman won the $10,000 CK Equitation Championship.
There were many wonderful moments throughout the week in all of the hunter and jumper rings—and many wonderful moments under the tents. One of the best: two spirited women having a really good conversation. One, the tall, beautiful former Miss USA Julie Hayek, and the other, the irrepressible Dr. Ruth (who was a presenter of Grand Prix awards).
