Welles, 50, won the more difficult afternoon class on Merlin in a time of 61.80 seconds, defeating Darragh Kerins on S&L Farms’ S&L Zeppelin (62.06) and Shane Sweetnam on Spy Coast Farm’s Cyklon 1083 (62.23), winner of Sunday’s $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge.
Welles won the morning class on Aries (54.28 seconds), defeating Kent Farrington on Mershad Stables’ Caprilli HSF (55.02) and Sweetnam on Spy Coast Farm’s Eregast Van’t Kiezelhof (55.32) Noel Love Gross owns both Merlin and Aries. Welles said that the overnight and morning rains didn’t have much effect on the grass footing of the Grand Prix Ring. “This morning, on Aries, it was a little boggy, as to be expected, but this afternoon felt quite good on Merlin,” he said.
Welles is preparing Merlin for Sunday’s $250,000 FTI Grand Prix. Merlin, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood, won the 5-Year-old Young Jumper Championship in the Grand Prix Ring in 2007 and finished second the next year in the 6-year-old Young Jumper Championship. “He’s always liked this ring, so we’ll give it a shot on Sunday,” said Welles, a two-time winner of the Hampton Classic’s featured Grand Prix (in 192 and 1994).
The day began with a steady drizzle greeting riders in the $7,500 Newsday Open Jumper class. The soggy ground created by the overnight and morning rains caused show officials to split the 84-horse class in half so that, between classes, the jump crew could move the jumps to fresh ground in the Grand Prix Ring.
The raindrops didn’t deter Richie Maloney, who urged his horse Bailey aggressively around the course to post the fastest time (56.03 seconds) in the first class. His daring round just nipped two-time Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward on Lucky Lord 20 (56.69) and Shane Sweetnam on Siboney Ranch’s Kalle (57.29).
The 37th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show runs through Sunday, Sept. 2, and features world-class show jumping competition, as well as magnificent shopping and a variety of entertainment attractions. The Classic features six show rings with more than 100 classes of competition for horses and riders of all ages. A wide range of jumper, hunter, equitation, short stirrup and leadline classes are all part of the Classic’s schedule, as well as competitions for riders with disabilities.
The highlight of the Hampton Classic is the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup™ Qualifier on Sunday, September 2. The Grand Prix, open to horses that successfully complete Friday's $50,000 Spy Coast Farm/Young Horse Show Series Grand Prix Qualifier, features Olympians, World Champions and other show jumping veterans such as defending champion and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward. This year, the Grand Prix is part of the new Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge which awards a $200,000 bonus should the same horse-and-rider combination win the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon, $250,000 FTI Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic, and $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix at the Alltech National Horse Show. Ward won the Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon on Antares F in May and now stands to win the $200,000 bonus should he ride Antares F to wins in the remaining two events in the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge.
For those who can’t make it to the show grounds, WVVH-TV, the official Long Island television station of the Hampton Classic, broadcasts up to five hours of competition and highlights each day during the Classic. These broadcasts can also be seen on line at www.wvvh.tv.
All classes held in the Grand Prix Ring will also be available live throughout the horse show on webcasts provided by ShowNet. Access to this pay-per-view stream may be found on the Hampton Classic website at www.HamptonClassic.com, or via ShowNet membership at www.ShowNet.biz. In addition, most of the Classic’s jumper and hunter classes from all other rings will also be available, many live, through ShowNet at www.ShowNet.biz.
USEF Network.com, Presented by SmartPak, will offer a free live webcast of the Classic’s featured event, the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup™ Qualifier on Sunday, September 2 starting at 2:00 p.m. EDT. This free live webcasts is available at www.USEFNetwork.com.
Further information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show is available at the Hampton Classic website at www.HamptonClassic.com or by calling 631-537-3177. Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation.