All Horses and Celebrities all of the Time

Now in its fifth decade, the Hampton Classic is the perfect end to the perfect summer.

Venture over anytime to Snake Hollow Road in Bridgehampton just north of Montauk Highway and you’ll come across the home of The Hampton Classic Horse Show – more familiarly known as the “Hampton Classic”. The Hampton Classic is a true see-and-be-seen event, featuring famous horsemen and horsewomen from all over the globe, stunning equines, and characters from all walks of the Hamptons glitterati. 

Now a staple of the Hamptons social season, the Hampton Classic had very humble beginnings as a local Southampton horse show dating back to the early 1900s and taking place on the sprawling open fields in Southampton Village beside First Neck Lane overlooking Lake Agawam. The show was discontinued during World War I, only to be revived in the 1920s by the Southampton Riding and Hunt Club, formed in 1922 by a group of riding enthusiasts and located on 20 acres of land just off Major’s Path. Patronized by wealthy equestrians, the club hosted the horse show through the Depression until the outbreak of World War II. The war and the death of the Club’s founder led to the end of the show and the disbanding of the club; its property and horses were sold.  

In 1959, the show was reorganized as a fundraiser for Southampton’s Parrish Art Museum, leading to the formal incorporation of the “Southampton Horse Show”. For several years, the Southampton Horse Show, held at the Stanley Howard Estate in North Sea, and the Horse Show Ball were major social events of the summer; however, in 1964 the Parrish Art Museum cut itself off from the show, which ultimately was discontinued.  

Enter the Topping Riding Club, one of the Hamptons’ oldest riding establishments founded by Tinka Topping and run by a number of Hamptons’ equine luminaries over the years including Harriet de Leyr, the daughter of legendary Dutch rider Harry de Leyr and Anne Aspinall, who was taught by equitation master George Morris and then became Topping’s first chief riding instructor in the 1970s. Local lore has it that Anne Aspinall taught everyone in the Hamptons how to ride; today, the Hampton Classic Hunter Ring I is known as the “Anne Aspinall Ring”. 

The Toppings brought the Southampton Horse Show back in 1971 as a one-day show. In 1976, it was expanded to a five day “A” rated event which included show jumping. Held at Dune Alpin Farm in East Hampton, this event was delayed when a hurricane hit the East End and knocked down all the tents. In 1977, the show became a fundraiser for Southampton Hospital, and in 1978 officially became the Hampton Classic Horse Show and moved to its present location on Snake Hollow Road in 1982.

Through all of its original iterations until the 1970s, the Southampton Horse Show was largely social gatherings of wealthy members of high society; the underlying athletic competition was secondary to the social scene and judging was very informal. As the 1970s progressed with riding becoming more sophisticated and show jumping gaining popularity, the newly minted Hampton Classic Horse Show was intended to be a more competitive event attracting top riders and horses from around the world. 

Since that time the Hampton Classic has grown to be one of the largest hunter/jumper shows in America, with more than 1,400 horses competing annually in over 170 events. Since 1981, officials from the United States Equestrian Team have worked closely with Hampton Classic management to achieve and maintain the highest standards of competition; also in 1981, the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) designated the Hampton Classic’s Grand Prix as the first of a select number of Qualifying Events for the following year’s World Cup finals.  

Now in its fifth decade, the Hampton Classic is not only a sporting event of major proportions, but also one of the most extravagant social events of the summer. Billed as “the perfect end to a perfect summer”, this year’s show is slated for the week of August 28 through September 4 and will feature top equestrians and their mounts – including some of the finest Olympians – from all over the world seeking to win some of the millions in purse money. The week culminates on Sunday with the $410,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix. 

And there’s something for all of the 60,000 expected visitors, including a special exhibitions and activities for kids, international food options, local wine tastings and plenty of shopping, with more than 80 high end boutique vendors. If you’re lucky to score a ticket to the VIP tent, you can hobnob with the heads of many of the country’s top corporations, as well as celebrity guests from television, the music industry, the fashion world, and Hollywood. To join in this fabulous East End tradition, get your tickets at the gate or visit www.hamptonclassic.com for schedules and more information.