BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY (Aug. 30, 2001) - Every August, a colorful tent city sprouts on Snake Hollow Road seemingly as if by magic, but there are a lot of hard numbers behind the annual Hampton Classic Horse Show, now in its 26th year.

"We try to hold it to a certain size, but it seems to be getting bigger every year," said John Rush of Tampa, who has acted as stablemaster for the show for the past seven years. He is the man to see for stalls, bedding and feed. "Horses come from California, Canada, Florida, Texas, and all points in between. Of course, the majority are from New York."

Here are some fast facts about the 10-day Hampton Classic Horse Show:

• 60,000 spectators
• $450,000 in prize money
• $2.3 million annual budget
• More than $1 million donated to Southampton Hospital, the U.S. Equestrian Team and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
• Approximately 250 volunteers
• 1,800 horses
• 1,600 stallsA
• 17 stabling tents
• 67-acre showground

  The horses use:

• 12,000 bags of shavings
• 1,500 bales of hay
• 450 50-pound bags of feed

Thursday, Aug. 30:

Seniors Day presented by 50 Plus Senior News

Friday, Aug. 31:

Celebrity Cruises' Fiesta Day presented by Avis;

$25,000 Adequan Fiesta Day Grand Prix Qualifier

Saturday, Sept. 1:

Cablevision's Kids Day; $25,000 Sally Hansen Grand Prix;

Pony Jumpers

Sunday, Sept. 2:

$150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix presented by David Yurman

$50,000 AmeriChoice Eastern Finals of the Young Jumper Championships

$25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby

$100,000 New Things Grand Prix Bonus Challenge

Admission to the Hampton Classic is $5 per person, $15 per carload, and children under six are admitted free daily. On Friday and Saturday (August 31-September 1), children under 12 are admitted free, and seniors are admitted free Thursday, August 30. Reserved grandstand seats for Grand Prix Sunday, September 2 are an additional $15 per person. Parking is free during the event.

The Hampton Classic Horse Show benefits the Southampton Hospital, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the United States Equestrian Team. Offering up the best in show jumping, there is no other competition that brings together the hunter-jumper circuit with thousands of spectators, extravagant social events, celebrities, shopping and fine dining in the Hamptons. For more information on the Hampton Classic, be sure to visit the show's web site at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177. Email requests for information may be submitted to info@hamptonclassic.com.

Find daily results online at www.hamptonclassic.com.