Bridgehampton, NY—August 18, 2005—Show Jumping’s biggest names will flock to the 30th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show, August 28 – September 4 in Bridgehampton, NY. The nation’s top show jumping horses and riders will compete throughout the week’s events culminating with the Classic’s main event – the $100,000 Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix. The Hampton Classic Horse Show is a benefit for Southampton Hospital.

Each year the Hampton Classic Horse Show attracts more than 50,000 spectators and celebrities. With the crème de la crème of show jumping riders attending the show and a star-studded audience cheering them on, the Hampton Classic is a weeklong sports and entertainment spectacle.

There simply is no other competition that brings together the thrill and prestige of the hunter-jumper circuit with tens of thousands of spectators, extravagant social events and celebrities, all surrounded by the beaches and elegant villages of Long Island’s summer playground—The Hamptons.

Among the returning favorites entered to compete at this year’s Hampton Classic are: Norman Dello Joio of Wellington, FL, who won the individual Bronze Medal a the 1992 Barcelona Olympics; Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, who made Hampton Classic history when she won the Hampton Classic Grand Prix a record three consecutive times (2000, 20001, 2002); Joe Fargis of Southampton, NY, who won team and individual Gold Medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and a team Silver in Seoul in 1988; 2000 Sydney Olympian Nona Garson of Lebanon, NJ; Leslie Howard of Westport, CT, who won team Gold in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and team Silver in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics; Lisa Jacquin of Collegeville, PA, who won the 1988 team Silver at the Seoul Olympics and rode in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics; Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ, who won team and individual Silver Medals at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004; Anne Kursinski of Frenchtown, NJ, who was a team Silver Medalist in Seoul in 1988 and in Atlanta in 1996; Peter Leone of Greenwich, CT, who won a team Silver Medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics; McLain Ward who won team Silver in the 2004 Athens Olympics; and Jimmy Torano winner of the 2005 Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship.

International riders entered in this year’s Classic who have represented their countries at the Olympic Games include Hugh Graham of Canada and Federico Sztyrle of Argentina.

Several riders will be back to defend titles from last year. Darragh Kerins of Ireland will return to try to defend his title in the $100,000 Prudential Douglas Elliman Grand Prix. Joe Fargis will defend his win in the $20,000 David Yurman Time Challenge. Candice King of Wellington, FL, will be back to defend her title in the $30,000 Sotheby’s International Realty World Cup Qualifier which is also the qualifier for Sunday’s $100,000 Prudential Douglas Elliman Grand Prix.

Hampton Classic Horse Show Features Full Week of World-Class Competition

This year’s horse show will feature Manhattan Mortgage Company’s Opening Day including the $20,000 David Yurman Time Challenge on Sunday, August 28; the $30,000 Sotheby’s International Realty World Cup Qualifier and the Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby Qualifier on Friday, September 2 and Cablevision’s Kids Day/Dia de los Ninos presented by Hickey Freeman and the $25,000 FENDI Cup on Saturday, September 3. Grand Prix Sunday, September 4, will include the $100,000 Prudential Douglas Elliman Grand Prix and the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby. Grand Prix Sunday will also feature a dressage demonstration by six-time Olympic dressage rider Robert Dover, the most accomplished dressage rider in U.S. history!

Competition runs from Sunday, August 28 through Sunday, September 4 with a break in competition on Monday, August 29. Admission is $10 per person or $20 per carload, with children under 6 admitted free. Reserved grandstand seating for Sunday, September 4 is $15 per person (in addition to regular admission) or $25 per person in the special Premium Seating center sections. Parking is free throughout the week.

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In its thirty year history, the Hampton Classic Horse Show has grown from a small one-day event at Dune Alpin Farm in East Hampton to one of the finest horse shows in the world annually attracting thousands of visitors for the competition that features Olympic and World Champion riders. Now located in Bridgehampton, the show also attracts numerous VIPS and celebrities from the worlds of the arts, entertainment and business. The weeklong event has become known as the “unofficial end to summer season in the Hamptons.”

For more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177.