Articles: Press Release

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Contact: Meg Schermerhorn, (508) 698-6810, meg@classic-communications.com

Bridgehampton, NY-August 28, 2009-Brianne Goutal of New York City and Mon Gamin-Cloverleaf Farm's famed "painted pony"-showed their winning colors in the $15,000 Arcadia Aviation 1.40m Speed Derby at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. The pair breezed through the course in a time of 75.850 seconds, with Ireland's Darragh Kenney and Indy Star II on their heels for a second-place finish with 75.940.

The 34th Hampton Classic, one of the nation's premier show jumping competitions, continues through Sunday, August 30. The Classic hosts hunter/jumper competition for riders ranging from the youngest competitors in Leadline and Short Stirrup classes all the way up to Olympic veterans in the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix. Entered in the show are McLain Ward and Chris Kappler, members of the United States' 2004 Gold Medal Olympic show jumping team, as well as legendary riders such as Olympian and Hall-of-Famer Joe Fargis.

Mon Gamin, a pinto Selle Francais gelding, flew over the fences, his brown-and-white coat with tinges of black painting an unusual blaze of color on the Grand Prix field, which is traditionally dominated by grays, solid browns and bays. Always a crowd-pleaser, Mon Gamin is a celebrity in his own right, being the inspiration for a Breyer horse model carrying his name.

Goutal could not have been more proud of the 14-year-old horse, which she has ridden since he was purchased a 6-year-old stallion. "I'm so happy with him. He is so brave and always super-careful. He is a competitive horse every time and never lets me down," she said.

This is the pair's sixth year at the Hampton Classic. Said Goutal, who is a 20-year-old sophomore at Brown College: "We came prepared and stuck to our plan. It's always great when your plan works out."

A proper plan was essential to successfully negotiate the challenging course, which foiled a number of veteran horse-and-rider combinations. Particular challenges came from a water-and-bridge complex with faux seagulls atop moorings and a bank that has traditionally separated the field at the Classic.

Goutal did not find the number of refusals at those obstacles surprising. "This field is notorious for unnatural jumps," she said, noting that the darkness of the water and the bobbing "geese" in it tend to unnerve a horse. Because the bank is directly beside the VIP tent, horses that shy atop it see the tent seem to suddenly veer toward them, giving them claustrophobia. "Some veteran horses that have jumped the bank in Aachen [Germany] with no problem won't do it here," said Goutal.

While Mon Gamin didn't even blink at either the bank or the water, several horses refused one or both, some spinning atop the bank and scrambling to get away. Kenney's first ride in the class, Castletto, tried that, but with strong urging from Kenney, the horse zipped up, over and down the bank on the second try. Indy Star II, also piloted by Kenney, found the bank a cakewalk, as did Bazooka de Muze, on which Kenney finished tenth. After the competition, a jovial Kenney quipped that his strategy had been the same on every ride-"try to get over the fences without knocking them down."

Callen Solem placed third with Warsaw (77.310), followed by Olympian Norman dello Joio, who was fourth aboard Maarten (78.540).

The Hampton Classic continues through the weekend. Exhibitors and spectators are sure to be excited to see the $50,000 increase in prize money in this year's FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup Qualifier. The $250,000 Grand Prix event serves as the horse show's feature attraction and takes place on Sunday, August 30.

Other upcoming highlights include:

$30,000 FENDI Cup on Saturday, August 29

$25,000 Carolex Show Jumping Derby on Sunday, August 30

The Classic is also receiving extensive coverage on WLIU 88.3 FM, the official radio station of the Hampton Classic. WLIU is broadcasting updates daily throughout the Classic, with live programs from the Classic through Sunday, August 30.