Officials of the Hampton Classic Horse Show announced on August 1 that there will be a new fund-raising element at this year’s annual equestrian event. The Hampton Classic is building a new Southampton Hospital jump to be used during the $100,000 Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix. Spectators and table patrons will be given the opportunity to pledge any amount they wish to be paid each time a horse and rider clear the new Southampton Hospital Jump during the grand prix.

Southampton Hospital volunteers will be on hand all day to collect pledge cards in the VIP Tents and the main grandstands. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the Clear Jump Challenge will go directly to Southampton Hospital.

The idea of the Southampton Hospital Clear Jump Challenge came from Dan Wassong, former Chairman of Del Laboratories in Uniondale, NY. Wassong, who retired from Del earlier this year, indicated that he wanted to create a new funding opportunity for the hospital in honor of the upcoming retirement of the Hampton Classic’s Executive Directors, Tony Hitchcock and Jean Lindgren.

In its thirty year history, the Hampton Classic Horse Show has grown from a small one-day event at Dune Alpin Farm in East Hampton to one of the finest horse shows in the world, annually attracting thousands of visitors for the competition that features Olympic and World Champion riders. Now located in Bridgehampton, the show also attracts numerous VIPS and celebrities from the worlds of the arts, entertainment and business. The weeklong event has become known as the “unofficial end to summer season in the Hamptons.”

For more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177. Southampton Hospital is the beneficiary of the Hampton Classic.



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