Kent Farrington rode Zafira to win the $250,000 FTI Consulting Grand Prix, the finale of the 38th Annual Hampton Classic. (ESI photo)
Farrington's time of 38.51seconds defeated Richie Moloney on Slieveanorra (40.00 seconds) and Georgina Bloomberg on Juvina (44.03 seconds). Moloney was going for his second grand prix victory in two days, having won the $40,000 Longines Cup on Saturday with Carrabis Z.
Moloney, of Riverhead, N.Y., also rode Slieveanorra to second place in Friday's $50,000 Spy Coast Farm Grand Prix Qualifier, and those three performances propelled him to the top of the $30,000 Longines Leading Rider Challenge, with 229 points. Brianne Goutal earned 177 points to claim second, and McLain Ward earned 169 points to claim third.
Farrington earned 100 points with his victory in the FTI Consulting Grand Prix and finished fourth (158.5 points).
"I don't have any special plans for the money, but I sure have a lot of bills to pay," said Moloney, 31, after receiving the $30,000 check. "I'm really happy, though, because I had my best results in the show's biggest classes. It's the best result of my career."
Farrington, of Wellington, Fla., had planned to defend his FTI Consulting Grand Prix title with Voyeur, who jumped faultlessly to finish fifth in Friday's qualifying event. But he said that this morning Voyeur had a swollen ankle, so Zafira moved from backup to first string. It was the 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare's biggest grand prix start.
"I thought that maybe my odds weren't as good with her as with Voyeur, but I thought she could do it," said Farrington, 32. "This was a big step up for her, and she answered the question."
Farrington became the fifth rider to win the Hampton Classic grand prix on consecutive years in 38 renewals. He joins show jumping superstars Rodney Jenkins, Michael Matz, Margie Engle and McLain Ward.
Third place had special meaning for Bloomberg, 30, for several reasons. First, she said that the Hampton Classic is to be her final show of the year, since she's pregnant and expecting to give birth late this year.
Second this was the first time she'd placed among the top three in the grand prix at the Hampton Classic, which she considers her hometown show.
And third, she said that she's never placed well when her father, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is at the show. But he was here today, cheering from the VIP Tent. "So I hope I've broken that spell," she said with a smile.
Dennis J. Shaughnessy, chairman of FTI Consulting, congratulated the winning riders and expressed his admiration for their performance over the demanding course designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. Only five of the 34 starters reached the jump-off, with another three missing the jump-off by incurring 1 time fault.
"I have to say that this is the best one-week horse show in the world, bar none," Shaughnessy exclaimed.
Farrington echoed his sentiment. "I think this is the best event in the world. Our top riders bring their best horses here, and the management is always trying to keep the show at the highest standard," he said.