McLain Ward Wins $25,000 Adequan® Fiesta Day Grand Prix at Hampton Classic Horse Show

BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY (August 31, 2001) - Designer Conrad Homfeld's course was the one to beat in the $25,000 Adequan® Fiesta Day Grand Prix presented by Celebrity Cruises on Friday at the 26th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show.

In his fourth win this week, rider McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, successfully piloted Viktor to victory over a course that only five of 64 top-level horses completed with clear rounds. Friday's grand prix class was the qualifier for the big money competition on Sunday, Sept.2, the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix presented by David Yurman.

The top finishers were:

Second:Hurricane, owned and ridden by Sarah B. Willeman, South Hamilton, Mass.
Third: Anthem, ridden by Laura Kraut, Oconomowoc, Wis.; owned by Summit Syndicate
Fourth: Rio, ridden by McLain Ward, Brewster, NY; co-owned by Ward and Harry McGill
Fifth: Capital S, ridden by Nona Garson, Lebanon, NJ; co-owned by the Kamine Family and Garson
Sixth: Ludwig, ridden by Eric Hasbrouck, Bedford, NY; owned by Trelawny Farm
Seventh: Hennessey, ridden by Pamela Polk, Old Bethpage, NY; owned by Pine Hollow Stables

"It was a very difficult course," said Ward, pointing out that the Adequan® Fiesta Day Grand Prix had drawn many of the top horses in the country. It is rare for so few of these equine competitors to have penalty-free rounds, he said. "It was a very tall course, with lots of high verticals. And there were tricky distances, especially at the end."

In a grand prix competition, horses jump from 10 to 14 fences that can be as tall as 5 feet and as wide as 5 1/2 feet. The classes are judged on accuracy as well as speed.

"At that level both the oxers [spread jumps] and verticals are difficult," said Ward, who lost the chance to place one-two when his second mount, Rio, pulled a rail down on the next-to-the-last jump. "At that level, only a handful of horses in the world can do it."

Although the Adequan® Fiesta Day Grand Prix was Ward's fourth big win this week, it was the first Hampton Classic prize for Viktor. The 10-year-old Dutch gelding is co-owned by Ward and his partner Harry Gill, who has had other Hampton Classic grand prix winners such as Idle Dice, Ping Pong and Schnapps.

"Viktor is a wonderful horse," said Ward. "He has been clear [no rails knocked down] for nine grand prix in a row this summer. This is his fourth win this summer."

His first place in the Adequan® Fiesta Day Grand Prix puts Ward in a position to win the $100,000 New Things Prix Bonus Challenge. The bonus will be awarded to any horse and rider combination who wins both the Adequan® Fiesta Day Grand Prix and the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix presented by David Yurman on Sunday, Sept. 2.