Sports
North Fork Riders Endure at the Hampton Classic
Although a late start caused by Hurricane Irene is the cause of trainer Laurel's Dawn Hommel and her students avoiding the Classic this year others stayed and won.
The sun was everywhere on the Twin Forks this week and smiled on the Although opening day was delayed from Sunday to Wednesday, the event went off without a hitch, and placed well in front of a star-studded crowd.
Some North Fork riders were deterred by the weather, such as Dawn Hommel of Hedgewood Farm in Laurel, who chose to take her students to HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, N.Y. instead.
But Katherine Ward of Cutchogue on her horse Hop to It, competed, as did Rebecca Caracciolo on Yankee Gold who brought home the blue in class 771, Child's Equitation Low Fences Sec. C. along with a 3rd, 8th and 9th place in children's hunter classes.
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Heather and Katherine Jarvis rode Susan Lomangino's horses from Mattituck's , Highwinds Couroroy and Delightful. Cutchogue's Paige Mather rode Robin Gibbs' horse, Emma Peel. Elizabeth Reynolds' horse Napoleon carried Peconic resident Alexandra Cardi and proved successful with Katherine Jernick to score two 5th places and one 10th.
Wading River's Anna Moschella brought home the fourth place ribbon on Mister B. in a class of 33 riders to make her trainer Becky Reed proud.
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The fun and food were everywhere to be had and the celebrities were not about to miss any of it. The ASPCA hosted an event to emphasize the need for strong legislation to stop the slaughter of horses. The Today Show's Jill Rappaport and New York City Mayor Bloomberg's daughter, world-class rider Georgiana, were also there to lend support along with The Batchelor star, Prince Borgese.
McLain Ward of Brewster, N.Y. on Antares F, sipped champagne over his $50,000 Spy coast Prix qualifier win. The big question will be answered later on Sunday and the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix. He has won the event the last two years and has an overall record of having taken home the cash five times in all. If that wasn't enough, he captured the $30,000 Nicolock Open Jumper Competition finishing first, third and fourth.
