Laura
Kraut Absolutely Fabulous in Absolut Open Jumper Competition at
the Hampton Classic Horse Show
Bridgehampton,
NY—August 27, 2003—With back-to-back victories on Wednesday
in the Open Jumper division, Olympian Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc,
WI, shined at the 28th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show held in
Bridgehampton, NY.
Kraut
topped a 44-horse field to win the Absolut Open Jumper competition
by one fraction of a second. Todd Minikus had posted what looked
to be an unbeatable time of 40.50 seconds, but Kraut managed to
clock in at 40.49 seconds to overtake the lead and win the class.
“My
goal was not to win, but just to be neat,” explained Kraut.
“I was surprised when I looked up at the clock and saw that
I had come close to Todd’s time, I didn’t realize at first
that I had beaten it.”
Kraut,
37, has only been partnered with Quick Star 2Z, a nine-year-old
mare owned by Pasmore Stables, since March.
“She’s
been unbelievable, she’s just been so consistent,” noted
Kraut, a member of the United States Equestrian Team at the 2000
Sydney Olympics. “I love her, she would do anything to please.”
While
Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL, and Sasha, also a nine-year-old mare,
settled for second, Jimmy Torano of Fort Lauderdale, FL, placed
third riding Laurenzo’s Kairo.
Earlier
in the day, Kraut also won the blue ribbon by fractions of a second
in the $10,000 Open Jumper competition with the nine-year-old gelding,
Allegiance. In the jump-off, Kraut’s time of 62.71 seconds
narrowly beat out the number one ranked female rider in the world,
Beezie Madden, who stopped the timers in 62.73 seconds. Madden of
Cazenovia, NY, was riding her long-time partner, Innocence, owned
by Alan Shore, Jr., of Bedford, NY. Normal Dello Joio, an individual
Olympic bronze medalist at the 1992 Olympic Games, placed third
riding Glasgow.
The
28th Hampton Classic Horse Show features the top show jumping riders
in the country competing in Bridgehampton, NY. Officially opened
on Sunday, August 24, the Hampton Classic Horse Show runs until
Sunday, August 31, when it culminates with the $150,000 Prudential
Financial Grand Prix, a member event of the King Shavings U.S. Grand
Prix League (USGPL).
Additional
highlights include Friday’s $30,000 Adequan® Fiesta Day
Grand Prix, the qualifying event for Sunday’s $150,000 Prudential
Financial Grand Prix, and the $25,000 Sally Hansen Grand Prix on
Saturday.
Admission
is $5 per person or $15 per carload, with children under 6 admitted
free. Reserved grandstand seating for Grand Prix Sunday, August
31, is $15 per person (in addition to $5/person or $15/carload admission)
or $25 per person in the special Premium Seating center sections.
Parking is free throughout the show week.
www.hamptonclassic.com
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