The Hamptons

Defending Hampton Classic Grand Prix champion Daniel Bluman (ISR) heads an impressive list of international riders from 19 countries entered to compete at the Hampton Classic Horse Show, which returns to its beautiful Bridgehampton showgrounds August 25-September 1. Bluman is one of eight riders entered in the Classic who are just back from this summer’s Paris Olympic Games.

The 49th annual Hampton Classic features world-class FEI CSI5* and CSI2* show jumping and USEF ‘Premier-6’ hunter competitions with more than $1 million in prize money. The Classic is highlighted by the Longines Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix on Sunday, September 1.

Looking to defend his 2023 Grand Prix title against fellow Olympic veterans and other top international competitors is three-time Olympian Daniel Bluman of Israel, currently ranked #23 on the Longines FEI World Rider Rankings. Last year, Bluman became just the fourth rider to win the featured Hampton Classic Grand Prix at least three times, claiming the win on Ladriano Z, his Paris Olympic mount. He previously won with Ladriano Z in 2017, while also winning in 2021 on Gemma W. Both mounts are entered this year.

Among those joining Bluman at the Classic is six-time U.S. Olympian McLain Ward, who has won the Hampton Classic Grand Prix a record seven times and is currently ranked 12th on the Longines FEI World Rider Rankings. A member of the Silver medal-winning team at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Ward is a top contender on the international stage with five Olympic medals (team Gold in 2004 and 2008; team Silver in 2016, 2021 and 2024). He was also the Longines FEI World Cup™ champion in 2017.

Kent Farrington, Ward’s three-time Olympic teammate and the World’s #6 ranked rider, also hopes to reclaim the Hampton Classic Grand Prix title after winning the event in 2012 and 2013. Farrington’s championship appearances include one Olympic medal (team Silver in 2016), one WEG medal (team Bronze in 2014) and two Pan American Games medals (team Gold in 2011, team Bronze in 2015). Along with being selected to represent Team USA at the Paris Olympic Games, he finished fourth at the FEI World Cup™ Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, earlier this year.

Also returning from Paris is four-time Canadian Olympian Mario Deslauriers, who won the Hampton Classic Grand Prix in 2019. He will not make things easy for his fellow athletes, including his daughter Lucy Deslauriers, who placed second to him in 2019. Deslauriers is a three-time WEG and two-time Pan American Games competitor and remains the youngest rider ever to win the FEI World Cup Final, a title he won in 1984 at age 18. Lucy helped the U.S. win a team Bronze medal at the 2019 Pan American Games.

Other entered riders just back from Paris are World #11 Shane Sweetnam, who represented Ireland in the 2021 and 2024 Olympic Games and who has won the Hampton Classic’s Longines Rider Challenge three times; World #24 Darragh Kenny, Sweetnam’s teammate for the 2021 Olympic Games and winner of last year’s Longines Rider Challenge at the Classic; Australia’s Thaisa Erwin, who made her Olympic debut in Paris; and World #25 Nayel Nassar, who represented Egypt at the 2021 and 2024 Olympic Games.

Other previous Olympic veterans looking to claim prestigious titles at the Hampton Classic this year include three-time Olympian Beat Mändli of Switzerland, two-time Olympian Samuel Parot of Chile and Alberto Michan of Israel.

Each year approximately 50,000 people – including many A-list celebrities – come to watch the nation’s best equestrian athletes compete at the Hampton Classic. The Classic features more than 200 competitions in six spectacular show rings, the Agneta Currey Boutique Garden with more than 70 vendors, and a wide selection of dining options, all on its world-class 60-acre showgrounds.

FEI competition begins Thursday, August 29, with the $10,000 Citarella Open Jumper CSI2* and $32,000 CSI5* Speed Stake and continues throughout the weekend with eight 2*/5* classes featuring courses designed by Nick Granat. FEI competition also includes Friday’s $32,000 Wölffer Estate 2* Jumper Classic and $70,000 Douglas Elliman 5* Grand Prix Qualifier, Saturday’s $32,000 Open Speed Class CSI2* and $70,000 CSI5* Winning Round. The Classic culminates with the $75,000 Hampton Classic 2* Grand Prix and the $400,000 Longines Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix on Sunday, September 1.

Other competition highlights include the $30,000 Open Jumper Challenge, $10,000 Stomp Capital 1.40m Open Jumper, $10,000 Lugano Diamonds Junior/Amateur Welcome Stake, $10,000 Hermès Equitation Championship, $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, $25,000 Agneta & Brownlee Currey High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, and the new $50,000 Kristen Baran Hunt Team Stake.

Outside the show rings, families can enjoy unique shopping; hands-on activities, pony rides and petting zoo animals at the Kids Exhibition Tent; and many more fun activities during News 12 Long Island Kids Day (Saturday, August 31).

Daily admission to the Classic is $20 per carload. Admission is free on Monday. Seniors and military are admitted free on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, as are those who bring 3 or more non-perishable food items for the Sag Harbor Food Pantry. Grandstand tickets for the Longines Hampton Classic Grand Prix on Sunday, September 1, are $60 per person (including fees) for reserved bucket seating. Grandstand tickets are electronic only.

For those who can’t make it to the show grounds, complimentary live webcasts of all Grand Prix and Aspinall Ring competitions air on the Hampton Classic website. Produced by ClipMyHorse.TV, the Grand Prix Ring livestreams are sponsored by Longines and the Aspinall Ring livestreams are sponsored by ClipMyHorse.TV. In addition, WVVH-TV, Hamptons Television, broadcasts up to five hours of competition and highlights each day during the Classic. These broadcasts can also be seen online at www.wvvh.tv.

Each year, approximately 50,000 people – including many A-list celebrities – come to watch the nation’s best equestrian athletes compete at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. Rated USEF ‘Premier-6’ for hunters and jumpers with designated FEI 2* and 5* jumping classes, the Hampton Classic features more than 200 competitions in six spectacular show rings, the Agneta Currey Boutique Garden with more than 70 vendors, and a wide selection of dining options, all on its world-class 60-acre show grounds. For more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please call 631.537.3177. Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation. hamptonclassic.com

You can keep up with updates by following us on twitter @hamptonsmedia and bookmarking our People & Parties pages for full write-ups and videos and interviews…or even use the rss feed on this blog! You can find handy links to both The Hampton Classic plus lodging and/or dining from Westhampton to Montauk on “The Hamptons”.com

the hamptons