Contact:
Marty Bauman (508) 698-6810, classic.pr@verizon.net

Bridgehampton, NY- September 6, 2006 - Culminating what had been a wet week, the sun was shining bright as three-time Olympic veteran Anne Kursinski of Frenchtown, NJ rode Roxanna 112 to victory in the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix to culminate the 31st annual Hampton Classic Horse Show.

"There's no question that the rain was a factor in this year's horse show, but I think everyone would have to agree that things still went extremely well," said Hampton Classic Executive Director Shanette Barth. "Horse show people are used to going in the rain and our Hampton Classic staff really rose to the occasion and made sure that the rain had as little effect on our event as possible.

"I'm really quite proud of everyone who worked so hard to make this year's Hampton Classic such a success and I want to offer my deepest thanks. With the bright sun, huge crowd and exciting finish we had on our final day, it's almost as if the rain never happened!"

In the Grand Prix, Kursinski was one of only three entries from the starting field of 30 to qualify for a tiebreaking jump-off by riding without penalty over the 16-jump, first-round course designed by Conrad Homfeld. The first of the three, all Olympic veterans, to return for the seven-jump tiebreaker was Lauren Hough of Wellington, FL. Hough, a 2000 Sydney Olympic veteran, rode Casadora to a four-fault ride in a time of 39.43 seconds.

Following Hough on course was Kursinski, a team Silver Medalist at the 1988 and 1996 Olympic Games. She took the lead by riding her mare, owned by Scott Hakim, to another fault-free ride, finishing in 39.09 seconds. Kursinski, who finished second to Joe Fargis by twelve one-hundredths of a second last year, then had to hope that the day's final rider, Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ, wouldn't subject her to the same fate by beating her score.

Kappler, winner of team Gold and individual Silver Medals at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, gave it a great ride and almost pulled it off. He rode VDL Oranta to a clean ride but his time of 39.44 seconds left him just shy of Kursinki's time and in second place. Hough finished third and Robin Sweely of Madison, VA finished fourth with one first-round time fault on Qarco V'T Merelsnest.

"I couldn't watch Chris go," Kursinski said after her win. "I wasn't wishing him anything bad, I was just wishing him slow. After last year I really wanted to win and I think Roxanna wanted to win every bit as much as I did.

"This is really a win I'll cherish because this is unquestionably the best horse show in America," she continued. "I just got back from showing in Europe and the Hampton Classic stands up to any show there. I am very happy to have this wonderful horse and to come out on top today."

Other Open Jumper Classes

In spite of the clouds and the occasional raindrop, plenty of spectators were still on hand to celebrate Manhattan Mortgage Company's Opening Day to start the Hampton Classic Horse Show. The festivities began with the World of the Horse Opening Day Ceremony featuring a variety of attractions for the whole family, including Gail DeStefano's beautiful Friesian, Teade, and the Millstone Farm Miniature Horses. Headlining the ceremony was John Casey's Frisbee dogs K-9s in Flight, who entertained the audience with exciting Frisbee tricks. Opening Day also featured Long Island competitors in several hunter classes including Amateur-Owner, Junior, and Working Hunter, while throngs of nervous parents watched as their little ones participated in the short stirrup and Leadline classes.

Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL sped through the rain to win the $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge as the highlight of Manhattan Mortgage Company's Opening Day. The pair negotiated the Conrad Homfeld designed course in a blistering time of 64.37 seconds riding Eltonn, owned by Tracey Topping of Wellington, FL. A rail down added four penalty seconds to their time but their adjusted time of 68.37 was still good enough for them to beat Joe Fargis and Ingaletta, who went clear, in a time of 68.59 seconds.

"He's not afraid to go," said Minikus of Eltonn. "I don't think the rain played a part in the results of the class other than the annoyance factor. Winning is always nice. It makes it a little sweeter to win at the Hampton Classic, one of our premier shows in the country."

Olympic Medalists swept the top three places in the $5,000 Jaguar Open Jumper 1.35m Class. Finishing first was Chris Kappler who drove into the top spot with the fastest clear round. Kappler finished in a time of 52.70 seconds, riding Rivell C, owned by Allyson Hawkes.

Norman Dello Joio of Wellington, FL, the individual Bronze Medalist of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, was second in a time of 53.71 on Marengo. Third place went to Joe Fargis of Southampton, NY, who won individual and team Gold Medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Fargis finished clean in a time of 53.76 on Ingaletta.

It was once again a battle of Olympians in the $7,500 Land Rover Open Jumper 1.45m Class where the top three finishers came home within two-tenths of a second of each other. Capturing the top spot was Anne Kursinski who had the fastest of the twelve clear rounds riding Roxana 112, her eventual Prudential Financial Grand Prix winner. Kursinski finished in a time of 55.46 seconds.

Leslie Burr Howard of Westport, CT, captured the Ciesse Open Jumper 1.40m Class on Youp, owned by the S'Blieft Group. She rode Youp to a faultless performance in a time of 60.29 seconds.

On Friday, clouds hovered, but the rain stayed away so that the impressive field of 53 horses was able to complete the $50,000 Grey Goose Vodka World Cup and Grand Prix Qualifier.

Christine McCrea of Suffield, CT, and Vegas, owned by Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables, won the Qualifier that set the starting line-up for the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix and also was the first event qualifying U.S. riders for next April's FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas. The top thirty horse/rider combinations from this class moved on to the Grand Prix on Sunday, but McCrea, who won the Qualifier with a jump-off time of 45.40 seconds, was not among them. "I'm going home today," she said. "I came here only for this class. It's a good way to end. Besides I think my luck ran out."

Out of the six that made it to the jump-off by riding clean over the first-round course, four negotiated double clears, including Ireland's Kevin Babington, who finished in the runner-up spot with a jump-off time of 46.11. Babington was aboard Carling King owned by Kindle Hill Farm. Third went to Molly Ashe of Wellington, FL, and Cocu, owned by Jane Clark, riding to a jump-off time of 47.18 seconds.

Peter Leone of Greenwich, CT, won the $15,000 NTM Open Speed Derby 1.40m class on Julla Du Brio, owned by Alexia Simonnard. Aaron Vale of Camden, SC, and Town Creek Investments' Romulus 16 finished second with Georgina Bloomberg and Nadia, owned by Gotham Enterprizes, LLC., coming in third out of 31 entries.

Competition took place on Cablevision's Kids Day despite inclement weather. Adding to the competition, the National Circus Project came with performers to teach kids the basics of juggling, plate spinning and stilt walking. Magicians and face painters kept everyone entertained.

In the show ring, Chris Kappler closed the deal to win the $25,000 Sotheby's International Realty Open Jumper Class on VDL Maseratie, owned by VDL Stud & Juan Pablo.

Only seven made it to the jump-off and the top three went double clear. The pair braved gale force winds along with the rest of the field of 26 horses to top the class with a jump-off time of 43.70 seconds.

Junior/Amateur-Owner Classes

Carolyn Kelly of New York, NY, won the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby. Riding Omona, owned by LuLu Equestrian Enterprises LLC, Kelly was eighth to go out of the ten who made it to the jump-off by turning in fault-free, first-round rides. At that point, the clock was the one to beat since four riders before had already gone clean.

David Tromp had taken an early lead in the jump-off when he rode Corina, owned by Beyaert Farm, to a clear in a jump-off time of 34.380 seconds. Miasha Fisher immediately followed on Kitty 41, owned by Falcon Farm LLC, and she went clean, but not fast enough, finishing in a time of 35.50, which was good for an ultimate third place finish. Kelly dropped Tromp to second when she rode a fault-free trip in a time of 33.63 to claim the win in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series event.

In the $10,000 Welffer Estate Equitation Championship, Maggie McAlary of Amherst, NH, kept her lead from Round One to win with a score of 182 points, riding Mid Accord. Brianne Goutal of New York, NY finished second on Mon Gamin with 175 points. Nikko Ritter of Geneva, FL, came in third with 169 points, on Clover Count.

The Welffer Estate Equitation Championship, created by Conrad Homfeld, encourages younger riders to compete on jumpers by today's international standards. The competition is held over two rounds, two different courses and on two separate days.

"What sets this class apart from other equitation classes is that these kids get to ride it in a big Grand Prix field. It adds a dimension that helps set apart the best riders," said Leo Conroy who, along with Grand Prix rider Jimmy Torano, judged the class.

Tracey Weinberg of Lovettsville, VA, captured the WGHR Farm Junior/Amateur-Owner 1.40m Jumper Class. Weinberg was the fastest of four that made it to the jump-off riding Larone, owned by the Weinberg Brokerage Group. The pair negotiated the jump-off course in a winning time of 43.63 seconds.

The winner of the $10,000 Hermes Hunter Classic, open to Juniors and Amateur-Owners who had shown in at least two classes in their respective divisions at the Hampton Classic, was Danube, an eight-year-old, Dutch gelding. The chestnut was piloted by Jack "Harden" Towell in the Hermes Classic and was shown earlier in the week by Paige Allardice in the Large Junior 15 and Under Hunter Division.

There were fifteen entries originally scheduled to show in the Hunter Classic, which was scored under the USEF Article 2436, Open Numeric system. Leo Conroy and Philip J. Devita judged. "The riders didn't have the opportunity to warm up like they normally would, and they really couldn't prepare properly," said Conroy, referring to the week-long rains. "Conditions were not perfect for today's class, but the riders really made the best of it," Devita added.

Riders with Disabilities

Two champions were crowned at the Inaugural Finals of the Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities held at the Hampton Classic. Danielle Jacobs, 22, of Nesconset, NY was named Champion of the Equitation "Independent" Division and in the Equitation "With Aides" Division, Victoria Natale, 14, of Beguille, NY took top honors.

"It's great," said Natale of her new title. "My favorite class was the Figure Eight. I don't know why, I just really like it."

A throng of well wishers surrounded Natale congratulating her on her achievement and none was more proud than her mom, Rae. "I am so proud of her," said Rae. "Her sisters compete all the time, but now she has her own sport. It's just wonderful."

"This was a very meaningful addition to our Hampton Classic schedule," said Shanette Barth. "The rain almost forced us to cancel but these riders were determined to go on and they proved what champions they truly are."

The event at the Classic was the culmination of a five horse show series that had taken place at various locations on Long Island throughout the year. "We were thrilled to have our Finals at the Hampton Classic," said McGowan. "We couldn't think of a better place-after all, it's the Hampton Classic!"

Celebrities and More!

While the horses and riders were the primary stars of the Hampton Classic, other stars turned out throughout the week including Alec Baldwin, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Lorraine Bracco, Carson Cressley, Lou Dobbs, former New York Rangers great Rocket Rod Gilbert, Kelsey Grammer, Calvin Klein, James Lipton, Amhad Rashad, Jill Rappaport, Steven Spielberg, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, Tom Wolfe, and David Yurman.

WCBS-TV/CBS 2 New York, the official New York television station of the Hampton Classic, will broadcast a special one-hour program of Hampton Classic highlights on Saturday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. The special will feature action from the frontlines, behind the scenes, and colorful social events connected with the Classic.

Daily broadcasts that occurred during the Classic remain available online at the website of WVVH-TV at www.wvvh.tv . WLIU 88.3 FM, the official radio station of the Hampton Classic, also provided extensive coverage during the Classic including daily reports and extensive live remote broadcasts.

The Hampton Classic is a benefit event for Southampton Hospital. Full results and further information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show are available at the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177.