The 29th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show’s feature event, the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix, will be broadcast on Fox Sports New York at 4 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 25.
In the Grand Prix, Darragh Kerins of Ireland, along with his horse Nabucco, rode to victory. Kerins was one of three entries from a starting field of 26 to qualify for the tiebreaking jump-off by riding without penalty over the 14-jump, first-round course designed by Olympic veteran Conrad Homfeld. Kerins completed the eight-jump tiebreaker course fault-free in 47.29 seconds on his nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood.
Robin Sweely of Madison, VA, the second rider in the three-way tie-breaker, rode free of penalties, but her time of 49.14 on Qarco V’T Merelsnest left her just shy of the lead. Her ultimate second-place finish was good enough to earn her the horse show’s Open Jumper Championship.
The final rider, two-time champion Jeffrey Welles of Pond Ridge, NY, beat Kerins’ first place time, with a ride time of 44.24 seconds. However, his mount, Armani, lowered a rail at the second fence in the jump-off for four faults and a third-place finish.
Each year the Hampton Classic Horse Show attracts more than 50,000 spectators and celebrities to watch the country’s best horses and riders compete. In addition to the September 25th telecast, the Grand Prix will also be televised on MSG Network in October on a date and time to be announced.
For more information on the 2004 Hampton Classic Horse Show, and the Prudential Financial Grand Prix, visit the official website at www.hamptonclassic.com.