Eiza Shuford, 28, of Hickory, NC, and Larentino triumphed against Olympians Beezie Madden and Peter Wylde to win the $150,000 FTI Grand Prix at the 2007 Hampton Classic Horse Show.

The 32nd Hampton Classic Horse Show, held August 26 - September 2, is one of the nation's premier show jumping competitions, featuring more than $500,000 in prize money, 50,000 spectators and 1,600 horses.  The Hampton Classic is not only a sporting event of major proportions, but also one of the most noteworthy social events of the summer.

The highlight of the horse show, the $150,000 FTI Grand Prix, saw 30 of the world's best horse-and-rider combinations vying for top honors.  Out of the starting field, only three riders went fault-free in the first round over the Conrad Homfeld-designed course.

Shuford, a first-time competitor in the Hampton Classic Grand Prix, had the disadvantage of being the first to return in the jump-off.  She and Larentino, owned by the Larentino Group, negotiated a clear round in a time of 46.810 seconds, but Shuford knew that Beezie Madden and Peter Wylde could easily change the leaderboard.  Madden of Cazenovia, NY, and Wylde, currently residing in Belgium, were teammates on the U.S.'s 2004 Gold Medal Olympic team.

Wylde and Campino, his Holsteiner gelding, were next and had the first rail down giving Shuford more hope for the top spot.  She could only watch, as Madden, 1993 winner of the class, negotiated the course.  Madden and Select, owned by Elizabeth Busch Burke and John Madden Sales, also had a rail down giving Shuford the biggest win of her career.  Madden, who finished in a faster time than Wylde, placed second.

Local resident Brett Kroeger wowed the judges as well as the spectators with her rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"to win the Hampton Classic/WLIU 88.3 FM National Anthem Contest on Manhattan Mortgage's Opening Day.  The contest offered Kroeger the prestigious opportunity to perform the National Anthem in the Grand Prix arena prior to the $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge.  Peter Wylde sped to victory in the $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge on Gael Force, a horse he was riding for the first time.

Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL, a team Bronze Medalist at this summer's Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, captured the $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40 Meter Class riding Ultimo Rouge.  Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, won the $7,500 Open Jumper 1.45 meter Speed Class on Marengo, and Lauren Hough of Ocala, FL, topped a field of 44 entries aboard Quick Study to win the $7,500 bluhammock music Open Jumper 1.45 Meter Class.

Canadian Olympic veteran Mario Deslauriers of Bromont, Quebec, triumphed in the $50,000 GREY GOOSE® Vodka FEI World Cup™ Qualifier CSI-W with a double clear performance riding Paradigm.

Shane Sweetnam of County Cork, Ireland, prevailed in the $15,000 Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate Open Jumper Speed Derby riding Victor III. 

Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, bested a field of 53 top horses and riders to win the $25,000 Sotheby's International Realty Challenge.  Engle was aboard Hidden Creek's Perin, her 2000 Sydney Olympic mount.

Junior/Amateur-Owner Classes

Tracey Weinberg of Lovettsville, VA, rode to victory in the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby presented by NTM on Linda Z.  In the three-rider jump-off, Weinberg went clean, followed by Andrew Welles, who beat her time, but dropped one rail for four faults.  Miranda Fischer, the last rider in the jump-off, also managed to beat the clock, but not gravity, also clocking in with four faults.

Addison Phillips of New York, NY, took top honors in the $10,000 Wölffer Estate Equitation Championship.  Phillips captured the two-phase competition for the second time in her career riding her Swedish Warmblood, Flight.  Kimberly McCormack was second on Hetoile Platiere, and Maggie McAlary, last year's winner, was third on Profyta Velvet VDL.

In the $15,000 WGHR Farm Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, Hillary Dobbs once again rode Marengo to the win, this time besting a field of 36 competitors.

Other Featured Classes

The Hampton Classic Horse Show played host to the Finals of the Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities.  Although only two Champions were officially named, all of the participants proved themselves more than worthy competitors.   The Champion of the Equitation "With Aides" Division was April Kloepfer, 15, of Escatuket, NY.  In the "Independent" Equitation Division, Tara Smilowitz, 15, of Mill Neck, NY captured the title.

In the $10,000 Hermès Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, Cortie Wetherill took top honors on Take Away, besting a field of 21 riders.

The Classic also awarded several Championships.  They included Tracey Weinberg of Lovettsville, VA, who won the Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship, and Maria Schaub of Holmdel, NJ, who took the Junior Jumper Style of Riding Award.  Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, was awarded the National Open Jumper Championship, and Katherine Newman of Upperville, VA, won the Junior Jumper High Score Award.  Jessica Springsteen of Colts Neck, NJ, captured the Best Junior Hunter Rider award.  Addison Phillips of New York, NY, took home the Leading Equitation Award, and the Best Style of Riding Award on a Hunter went to Scott Stewart of Wellington, FL.  The Antares Style of Riding Award went to Brianne Goutal of New York, NY. 

Special Events

Saturday, September 1 was Cablevision's Kids' Day, presented by Monty Python's "SPAMALOT," at the Hampton Classic Horse Show.  The day featured free pony rides, special attractions and giveaways, plus circus performers, face painters, educational activities and much more to entertain the younger set.

The Hampton Classic hosted an Exhibitors Party that featured a new "Horseless Horse Show" with a silent auction benefiting JustWorld International.

Prior to Sunday's Grand Prix, the Classic honored its longtime course designer Conrad Homfeld in honor of his induction earlier this year into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame.

Those unable to attend the Hampton Classic had ample opportunity to see it on television.  WVVH-TV, the official Long Island television station of the Hampton Classic, broadcast up to five hours of competition and highlights each day during the Classic.  These broadcasts can still be seen online at www.wvvh.tv.

The Classic also received extensive coverage on WLIU 88.3 FM, a long time sponsor and the official radio station of the Hampton Classic. WLIU broadcast updates daily throughout the Classic as well as live programs from the Classic on Sunday.