Kids Under 12 are Free All Day Saturday, August 31

Bridgehampton, NY—May 21, 2002—With all the exciting activities taking place during the Hampton Classic’s Seventh Annual Cablevision Kids Day on Saturday, August 31, it’s easy to forget that the main draw of the day is the thrilling equestrian competition. In addition to watching the nation’s top horses and riders compete for prestigious prizes, kids can take part in the wide variety of fun and games offered throughout the day.

The annual Hampton Classic Horse Show, one of the nation’s premier show jumping competitions, returns to Bridgehampton, NY for its 27th year. The show, which begins on Sunday, August 25, will conclude its weeklong schedule of competition, special events, and social activities with the excitement of the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix, Sunday, September 1, 2002.

At Kids Day, youngsters can spend time at the World of the Horse™ Exhibition Tent and Show Yard area right behind the main Grandstands. Here kids will find Llamaland (with goats and alpacas, too), Millstone Farm's Miniature Horses, several unusual breeds of horses, and the Kids-Teaching-Kids Pony Care Program. Parents and grandparents will certainly want to come with extra film in the camera to capture their kids and grandkids taking part in the free pony rides and the chance to learn how to groom a pony. Double-Bar-D petting zoo will also be on hand to introduce kids to the formerly abandoned creatures that they have lovingly rescued.

There will also be hands-on circus acts with the National Circus Project, and educational projects including a special presentation on the contributions made by Companion Dogs. Add to that face painting, balloon sculpting, plate spinning, juggling, stilt walkers, and Alcazar the Magician and you've got one fun-filled day. Kids can also enter the Classic's free drawings for great prizes donated by Cablevision and many of the Classic's other sponsors and boutique vendors.

Kids who are still eager for more action can head out on the Walking Tour with Junior Kroll by simply following the life-sized Junior Kroll figures around the grounds. Along the Tour, they will see riders, horses, grooms, veterinarians, farriers—all the hustle and bustle of a working horse show grounds. There’s also the Boutique Garden with its many vendors, including the Hampton Classic Souvenir Shop, and the Classic Food Court.

When it’s time for a rest, kids can hit the Grandstands to watch top riders of the sport, including Olympic medallists and World Cup winners, compete over five-foot obstacles. Olympic veterans such as Margie Goldstein-Engle, Joe Fargis, Todd Minikus, and Anne Kursinski are a few of the many top riders expected to compete. Featured show jumping events of the day include the $15,000 W.G.H.R. Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic (11:00 a.m.) and the $25,000 Sally Hansen Grand Prix (1:00 p.m.).

The highlight of the 2002 Hampton Classic will come on Grand Prix Sunday, September 1, when the thirty best riders will compete for the biggest prize of all, the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix (2:00 p.m.). The top horse-and-rider pairs are selected for competition in Sunday’s headline event during Friday’s $30,000 Adequan Grand Prix. The Prudential Financial Grand Prix is an FEI World Cup (Fédération Equestre Internationale) qualifying event for the World Cup of Show Jumping Finals to be held in April 2003 in Las Vegas. Show jumping competition earlier in the day on Grand Prix Sunday includes the $50,000 Eastern Finals of the Young Jumper Championships and the $25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby for riders under the age of 21.

Kids under 12 are admitted free of charge on Cablevision Kids Day and each is entitled to a complimentary pony ride courtesy of Del Labs (Sally Hansen). General admission for those 12 years of age and older is $5.00. Parking at the Classic is free.

For more information about the Hampton Classic be sure to visit the show’s website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call 631-537-3177.

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