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Win in $200,000 FTI Grand Prix Culminates Super Week for Hillary Dobbs at Hampton Classic Horse Show

September 5, 2025

Bridgehampton, NY-September 5, 2008-With a star-studded field of Olympic medalists and top Grand Prix riders from six countries, it was 20-year-old Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ who dominated the competition at the 33rd annual Hampton Classic Horse Show.

Dobbs became the youngest rider to win the Classic’s featured event, the $200,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup™ Qualifier, and she also won the VOX Rider Challenge, a new award sponsored by VOX Hamptons Magazine that gave $30,000 to the top four riders in the Classic’s Open Jumper classes. Dobbs also won the Classic’s International and National Open Jumper Championships.

“In so many ways, this was the best Hampton Classic yet,” said Executive Director Shanette Barth Cohen. “In this Olympic year we clearly had competition of Olympic proportions. We were also fortunate to have outstanding weather which led to a fantastic week for our spectators, sponsors and riders. We appreciate everyone’s support and recognize that we could not have an event of this magnitude without the contributions of many people.”

One of the nation’s premier show jumping competitions, the eight-day Hampton Classic hosted hunter/jumper competition for riders ranging from the youngest competitors in Leadline and Short Stirrup classes all the way up to Olympic medalists such as McLain Ward, a member of the U.S.’s Gold medal team at this year’s Olympic show jumping competition in Hong Kong. Ward has won the Classic’s grand prix three times and was 22 the first time he won. He held the record as the youngest Hampton Classic Grand Prix winner prior to Dobbs.

$200,000 FTI Grand Prix

The highlight of the horse show, the $200,000 FTI Grand Prix saw 34 of the world’s best horse-and-rider combinations vying for top honors. Out of the starting field, only five riders went fault-free in the first round over the Conrad Homfeld-designed course to advance to the jump-off.

In the jump-off, Dobbs and Corlett were the last to go and they charged over the course fault-free in 41.13 seconds to claim the win. Two other young equestriennes also went clear: Brianne Goutal, 19, of New York City, who placed second with Onira (42.83), and Kirsten Coe, 27, of Katonah, NY, who was third aboard Starlight (43.99).

“I heard everyone saying Brianne had gone really fast, so I knew I had to go for it,” said Dobbs. “I had to catch a right angle off [the Wölffer Estate] oxer. It was a risky turn at a risky angle, but with Brianne’s time, I had to take a chance.

“I owe this win completely to Corlett,” Dobbs said of her 11-year-old Sasha (a type of German warmblood) mare. “She is a remarkable horse.”

Coe said she was pleased with the performance of her horse, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood. She said she “knew Hillary would be fastest and would win if she left all the jumps up.”

Goutal was also aboard a Dutch Warmblood, hers 10 years old. She said she was grateful for the opportunity the Hampton Classic gives developing riders “to compete against the big guns in this sport.”

Dobbs, a junior at Harvard University, and Goutal, a sophomore at Brown University, have been linked in many ways while building their incredible records in the show jumping arena. At the 2005 CN North American Young Riders Championships, Goutal won double gold in the Young Riders division and Dobbs did the same in the Junior division. Each has won the USET Foundation’s Maxine Beard Developing Riders Award and represented the U.S. on European tours.

Dobbs is only the second rider to have won both the Grand Prix Qualifier and the Grand Prix itself. Joe Fargis turned the trick in 2005.

Following the Grand Prix, FTI Chairman Dennis Shaughnessy, noted: “We are clearly looking at the new generation of [international] riders.”

In addition to $60,000 prize money, her share of the $200,000 purse, Dobbs also received a David Yurman Thoroughbred Collection wristwatch and a jeroboam of Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne.

Other Open Jumper Classes

Dobbs’s other rides throughout the week included wins in the $50,000 Carolex Grand Prix Qualifier on Corlett and the $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge on Marengo on Manhattan Mortgage Company’s Opening Day, a class in which she also took third on Corlett; and a second on Marengo in the $30,000 Sotheby’s International Realty Challenge behind Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL who won aboard Pavarotti and also placed third on Presidente.

The week’s other open jumper winners were Norman Dello Joio of Wellington, FL, on Lady in Blue in the $7,500 bluhammock music 1.45m Open Jumper Class; Joe Fargis of Middleburg, VA, aboard Kimber in the Jaguar 1.45m Open Jumper Class; Marie Hecart of Schomberg, Ontario, riding for France, on Ronaldo in the Land Rover 1.40m Open Jumper class; and Callan Solem of Colt’s Neck, NJ, on Mianta in the $15,000 Prudential Douglas Elliman Speed Derby.

The Young Jumper Championships crowned three new champions as well. Shane Sweetnam rode Spy Coast Farm’s Tangelo Z to the $20,000 SHF Enterprises YJC 5 Year Old Championships. The $30,000 Split Rock Farm YJC 6 year old Championships, presented by Paige Bluhdorn, was awarded to Carambo Z, owned and ridden by Katherine Bakker. And the $30,000 7 & 8 Year Old Spy Coast Farm YJC Championships was won by Abigail Wexner’s Zycarla Z, ridden by Kelly Wyman.


Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classes

Jennifer Waxman, 16, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, won the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby presented by thefin.com, a member event of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series. Waxman won aboard Outline in a timed jump-off against five other riders. Jacqueline Lubrano of Glenmoore, PA, won the $10,000 Wölffer Estate Equitation Championship aboard Lennox. Adam Prudent of France won the $15,000 WGHR Farm Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic aboard Lagoyana.

Other Featured Classes

Samantha Schaeffer of Westminster, MD, won the $10,000 Hermès Hunter Classic aboard Perfectionist, owned by Scott Stewart.

Renoir painted a perfect picture with rider Gabrielle Bausano of New York City, clinching the Local Hunter Grand Championship on Manhattan Mortgage Company’s Opening Day.

Oz and Practical Magic demonstrated their superpowers, each winning a division to become Local Hunter Pro Champions. A repeat winner from last year’s event, Oz sailed over the course with rider Charlie Weaver of Sagaponack, and Practical Magic cast a winning spell for owner Samantha Rudin of New York City. Double Cinco won his division of the Local Junior Hunter Championship with rider/owner Paige Allardice of Sagaponack.

Tennyson wrote a bestselling tale for rider/owner Stormy Good of New York City, earning the Local Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship. The Local Hunter Non-Pro Champion was And Then Some, ridden by Rolanda Blue Stephanos of Sagaponack, NY.

The Short Stirrup Grand Champion was Lucy Silverman of New York City aboard Christian Topping’s Robin Hood. She won her section of Short Stirrup Equitation 9 and Under, as did Grace Perkins of New York City on Hidden Springs, and Daisy and Deanna Speranza of Smithtown on Field Mouse. The other Short Stirrup Champions were Emily Busch of Brookville on Let’s Make a Snowman and Alexandra Rose of New York City on Russian Blue, both in the Equitation 10-12 section.

The Hampton Classic Horse Show also hosted the finals of the third annual Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders With Disabilities, a series created by HorseAbility, Inc. Although only two Champions were officially named, all of the participants proved themselves more than worthy competitors. Champion of the Equitation “With Aides” Division was 10-year-old Jessica Grunwald of Commack. In the “Independent” Equitation Division, Barbara Spindler, 27, of Happauge, captured the title.

Awards
The Antares Style of Riding Award in the Open Jumper Division went to McLain Ward The Shalanno Farms Perpetual Style of Riding Award for a Junior Jumper Rider went to Victoria Birdsall.

The Grand Hunter Championship went to Sambalino and rider Ken Berkeley. The Best Junior Equitation Rider Award went to Jessica Springsteen. The Peconic Award for the Leading Hunter Rider went to Patricia Griffiths.

Special Events and Happenings

On Manhattan Mortgage Company’s Opening Day, Lexxi Saal, a middle school student from Deer Park, wowed the judges with her rendition of the Celine Dion song, “The Prayer,” to win the Hampton Classic/WLIU 88.3 FM National Anthem Contest. The contest bestowed upon the 11-year-old girl the prestigious opportunity to perform the National Anthem in the Grand Prix arena prior to the $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge.

Cablevision’s Kids’ 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 also hosted an Exhibitors Party that featured a “Horseless Horse Show” for children, a benefit for JustWorld International.

As always, the Hampton Classic hosted a line-up of celebrities from the entertainment, business and political worlds. Among those attending the Hampton Classic this year were New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa, Steven Spielberg, Kelly Ripa, Lou Dobbs, James Lipton, Cliff Robertson, Ivana Trump, Naomi Campbell, Ahmad Rashad, and Lewis Johnson.

The $200,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup Qualifier will air on Animal Planet on Saturday, October 4 at 3:00 pm (ET/PT).

For more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177. Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc. is a 501.c.3 charitable corporation and benefits Southampton Hospital.

Written by Classic Communications · Filed Under Hampton Classic, Press Releases 
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