The Hampton Classic Horse Show can’t get any bigger, and since it is already the best sporting event in the world, how can it possibly get any better?
“We host approximately 1,600 horses over the course of the show,” Executive Director Shanette Barth Cohen told me, “and we don’t have any more property to accommodate additional stabling tents. Our time schedule is very full as well, so I don’t expect we’ll be adding additional events. When it comes to attendance, we could probably fit more people on the grounds during the middle of the week.”
The Classic is however growing in other ways. On October 4, Animal Planet will broadcast a one-hour special of the Grand Prix. And the purse for that event (officially called the FTI Grand Prix & FEI World Cup Qualifier) is now $200,000, thanks to Dennis Shaughnessy and FTI Consulting.
This is Barth Cohen’s third season at the helm of the Classic, and I caught up with her recently to get the scoop on this year’s show. She seems almost too calm, cool and relaxed—and certainly appears much too young—to be running one of the top horse shows in the world and the Hamptons biggest social event. But she’s demonstrated she has what it takes.
Barth Cohen is a former competitor who participated in the Hampton Classic and she was an experienced equestrian organizer, but it was still a considerable challenge to take the reins from Tony Hitchcock and Jean Lindgren, who had been expanding the Classic for most the show’s thirty years before they retired.
“Tony and Jean did an amazing job building the Hampton Classic from a small country horse show to a world class equestrian and social event. My goal is to follow their tradition of making improvements each year.” Barth Cohen significantly upgraded the stabling area following the torrential rains during the 06 show, and added new drainage to the Grand Prix ring this past year to improve the footing. While these might sound technical to an average spectator, they are crucial to the infrastructure of the show and essential to getting and keeping world class riders.
The Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities Finals is another of Barth Cohen’s accomplishments. It takes place on Monday, following Opening Day, and has become a major event on the calendar for these special athletes.
While it is becoming clear that Barth Cohen is leaving her own imprint on this important show, she is quick to point out “This horse show isn’t about me. It’s about an incredible team of people as well as the amazing horses and athletes that compete here each year.”
Even in a tough economy this year, the Classic is on track with sponsorship. Barth Cohen credits this to signing on sponsors early in the year and to the importance of the Classic in many business marketing plans. Last year, the Classic, a non-profit corporation, gave $100,000 to Southampton Hospital, and the goal is to match or beat that this year.
Since the 2008 Summer Olympics conclude immediately before the start of this year’s Hampton Classic, I asked how that might affect the show. “While none of the horses competing in the Olympics will return in time to join us in Bridgehampton,” she answered, “ two of the riders competing in China (actually Hong Kong, where the Olympic Equestrian competitions will take place) are planning to compete here this year. McLain Ward, a member of the 2004 Gold Medal Olympic Team, and Anne Kursinski, a member of the 1988 and 1996 Silver Medal Teams are both scheduled to participate.” Media coverage of Olympic level equestrian competition, she believes, could bring more people to see it in person. Let’s hope they all come in the middle of the week when she has room for them.