Bridgehampton, N.Y.—Sept 4
For the third year in a row, McLain Ward found himself celebrating in the Hamptons. In the wake of Hurricane Irene, on a gorgeous and sunny day over Labor Day weekend and in front of an enthusiastic crowd, Ward accepted the winning honors in the grand prix event held during the Hampton Classic.
His win this year in the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup Qualifier with Antares F was unprecedented in Hampton Classic history, as no other competitor has won it six times. He also tied Margie Engle’s record of winning it three years in a row.
“This is the best show in our country,” said Ward, Brewster, N.Y. “I always bring my best horse because I believe that the event that is put on here is worthy of that. It means a lot to win here; it means as much for me to win this grand prix as any.”
Of 33 entries, seven horse-and-rider combinations successfully piloted their mounts through Guilherme Jorge’s track and advanced to the jump-off. Kent Farrington and R.C.G. Farm’s Uceko put in the first clear round of the afternoon, but they initially received time faults for being over the time allotted of 82 seconds. In a decision that proved fortuitous for Farrington, officials changed the time limit to 86 seconds, wiping away his penalties.
The seven horse and rider combinations who returned to the jump-off were:
ADVERTISEMENT
- Farrington and Uceko
- Lisa Deslauriers and Diablo
- Norman Dello Joio and Notre Star
- Ward and Antares F
- Audrey Coultier and Victory DA
- Lucy Davis and Nemo 119
- Ljubov Kochetova and Royce
Farrington returned to the ring as the first rider to tackle the jump-off, and he immediately laid down a clear round in 32.96 seconds. Watching his competitor’s round ringside, Ward knew that the only chance he had to clinch the win was to cut out a stride from jump 2 to 3; Farrington had done it in eight strides.
“I thought that was the only place maybe I could get him. I didn’t get a great wall at [jump 2, the ASPCA fence], so I really had to commit—I wasn’t riding for second,” said Ward. “I got him by a hair, but two-tenths of a second isn’t really all that much.”
“McLain is one of the best riders in the world, but he’s also one of the fastest,” said Farrington. “So with him, on this horse, having been able to see my round—I thought I’d left the door open [for Ward to beat his time].”
The top two finishers might have been a familiar presence in grand prix winner photos, but Kochetova of Russia, who was riding for the first time at the Hampton Classic, filled the third place spot.
Kochetova and the 7-year-old stallion Royce—who was the youngest horse in the competition—also jumped around the second course penalty-free, but in a time slower than Farrington and Ward’s.
“It wasn’t that I wasn’t trying to beat their times,” said Kochetova via her translator. “I’m actually very competitive. I tried to go as fast as I could and do as much as I could with the horse I had at that moment.”
ADVERTISEMENT
She went further to explain that because of her horse’s younger age, she asked him for as much as she felt he could handle, but his lack of experience made her cautious to push him beyond what they had covered in training.
Ward and Antares F will head north to Saugerties, N.Y., to try for a win next weekend at the nation’s richest grand prix, the Pfizer Million, held at HITS-On-The-Hudson.
“I’ve got a great horse,” he said. “But I’ve got great people behind me and the horse, as well. And we really wouldn’t be anywhere without them.”
Full results can be found at www.shownet.biz.
