Bridgehampton, NY - Competitors at the Hampton Classic Horse Show continued to enjoy sunny skies on Wednesday morning as an ample field of 73 lined up for the $7,500 Wölffer Estate Open Jumper (1.35m) class. Several tried, but only one tasted sweet victory and that was Shane Sweetnam riding Belle Bleu S, owned by Spy Coast Farm, LLC.
"It was a very fast class," said Sweetnam. "I knew the way it had been the last couple of days that you had to be going as quick as you could to be able to win the class. Even though she is small, she has a really big step and has been a very, very competitive horse all year. I am very, very happy with her."
The first few rides were a little on the slower side and there were quite a few four faulters, but then Marilyn Little-Meredith and Venus, owned by Raylyn Farms, Inc., put in a fast clean round in 51.305 seconds going 16th in the order. Meredith managed to stay on top of the leader board going even faster on her second horse Waldman Z, owned by Raylyn Farms and Beverly Sheehy, clocking in at 49.485.
Then the class really kicked into gear. Sweetnam and Belle Bleu S entered the ring and blew their time away with a clean round in 47.258 seconds. A few rides later Beezie Madden and Zhivago, owned by Abigail Wexner, came close with a clear round and a time of 48.218, that left them as the runners-up. Callie Schott and Coral Reef Ambassador, owned by Coral Reef Ranch, went next and tried hard to beat their predecessors, but only managed a third-place clean round time of 48.787.
"In general the key was to be as fast as you can and keep you balance everywhere," said Sweetnam. Guilherme (Jorge) always does a really good job with these courses leaving plenty of options for younger, as well as the older horses."
Sweetnam has been in the United States for about eight years and really looks forward to the Classic.
"I love it here," said Sweetnam. "This is our favorite horse show of the year. The owners (Robert and Lisa Lourie) of Spy Coast Farm are local, so it feels good to win here."
The Hampton Classic Horse Show is one of the most prestigious horse shows in the nation and features competitors at every level from young children in leadline to Olympic veterans. The Classic continues through Sunday when it culminates with the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup Qualifier.
For those who can't make it to the show grounds, 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.
Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc. is a 501.c.3 charitable corporation. It benefits Southampton Hospital and has contributed more than $1.5 million to the hospital since it began.
For more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177.
ENDS