Bridgehampton, NY—August 29, 2007—Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, had three chances to win the $7,500 Jaguar Open Jumper 1.45 meter Speed Class at the Hampton Classic Horse Show on Wednesday and took full advantage of the situation by finishing first, fifth and sixth with her three entries.
Dobbs topped the class with Marengo, owned by the Dobbs Group, in a swift clean round time of 57.640 seconds, improving her second place finish in the $20,000 Nicolock Challenge on Manhattan Mortgage Company’s Opening Day at the Classic. Amazingly, there was a tie for second place in the Jaguar Open Jumper Class. Kevin Babington of Gwynedd Valley, PA, on Sovenir, owned by Barbara Wall Roux, and Brianne Goutal of New York, NY, on Casar, owned by Cloverleaf Farm, stopped the timer with clean rounds in a time of 58.980.
The 32nd Hampton Classic Horse Show, one of the nation’s premier show jumping competitions, continues through Sunday, September 2. The Classic hosts hunter/jumper competition for riders ranging from the youngest competitors in Leadline and Short Stirrup classes all the way up to the Olympic veterans in the $150,000 FTI Grand Prix.
With more than $500,000 in prize money, 50,000 spectators and 1,500 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 Classic’s featured event, the $150,000 FTI Grand Prix, will be held on Sunday afternoon, September 2.
Dobbs, winner of Individual and Team Gold Medals in the Junior Division at the 2005 CN North American Junior and Young Riders Championships and team Gold at the Prix des States at Harrisburg last year, has done well in her first full year of Grand Prix competition. Prior to this week’s Classic, Dobbs has scored four Grand Prix victories and hopes to add to that tally with her other two mounts in the Jaguar class, Corlett and Quincy B, who finished fifth and sixth respectively.
“Marengo was the one I was going for the win on,” said Dobbs of her 9 year-old gelding. “He is the one that has the natural speed and talent. I knew that if I gave him a good ride that I had a shot to win. I left out a stride going from fence two to three and that saved some time. It was risky, but he gave it to me. I can always count on him.
“This is already the best Classic I ever had,” continued Dobbs, who has been coming to the prestigious show for five years. “It is always exciting to win on a course designed by Conrad Homfeld and against this caliber of riders.”
Upcoming the Hampton Classic’s highlights in the Grand Prix Ring are the bluhammock music 1.45 meter Open Jumper on Thursday; the $50,000 GREY GOOSE® Vodka FEI World Cup™ Qualifier CSI-W on Friday; Cablevision Kid’s Day, presented by Monty Python’s SPAMALOT on Saturday which features the $25,000 Sotheby’s International Realty Challenge and the final phase of the $10,000 Wölffer Estate Equitation Championship, both which will be held in the Grand Prix ring.
Sunday is highlighted by the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby, a member of event of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, and the $10,000 Hermès Hunter Classic in the morning prior to the $150,000 FTI Grand Prix.
Those unable to attend the Hampton Classic have ample opportunity to see it on television. WVVH-TV, the official Long Island television station of the Hampton Classic, is broadcasting up to five hours of competition and highlights each day during the Classic. These broadcasts can also be seen online at www.wvvh.tv.
The Classic also receives extensive coverage on WLIU 88.3 FM, a long time sponsor and the official radio station of the Hampton Classic. WLIU will broadcast updates daily throughout the Classic as well as live programs from the Classic on Saturday-Sunday, September 1-2.
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.
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