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McLain Ward Polishes Off Another Win in $25,000 Sally Hansen Grand Prix

Bridgehampton, NY—August 30, 2003—For the second year in a row, McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, rode away with top honors in the $25,000 Sally Hansen Grand Prix at the 28th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show in Bridgehampton, NY.

Forty-seven horses entered the competition with ten advancing to the grand prix, including two for Ward. Riding Kartousch, his seven-year-old mare, Ward took the early lead by posting a time of 36.27 seconds. The time held until Ward returned to the ring with Labelle, a nine-year-old bay mare owned by Sarah Willeman and Turnabout Farm. Blistering around the shortened jump-off track set by course designer Conrad Homfeld of Southampton, NY, Ward clocked in at 35.20 seconds to become the new leader. Sydney Olympian Laura Kraut was the only other entry to come close to Ward’s winning time, posting a score of 35.29 seconds to finish second.

“I haven’t had the best week, but we came back to redeem ourselves,” said Ward, 27. “I knew with the quality of horses in this class, it was going to be a fairly large jump-off.”

While Ward was the winner last year riding Flier, this year’s victory came aboard a horse that is not in his regular string.

“Labelle is owned by Sarah Willeman and is trained by Missy Clark,” explained Ward. “She doesn’t live with me, she is just a catch ride. Missy does such a great job, and she’s such a great mare. Labelle is super fast, she’s like a rabbit. I knew if I could leave the jumps up, she would have a time that would be hard to beat."

Kraut’s second place finish with Quick Star 2Z, a nine-year-old mare owned by Pasmore Stables, came hot on the heels of her win on Wednesday in the Absolut Open Jumper competition.

While Ward was third riding the seven-year-old mare Kartousch, local favorite Joe Fargis of Southampton, NY, an Olympic gold medalist, placed fourth after posting a double clear round riding the 12-year-old Diams 111. Laura Linback of Mundelein, IL, placed fifth riding Remember Me 9 while the only other rider to go double clear, Alison Firestone, 26, of Upperville, VA, placed sixth aboard Maike.

The 28th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show concludes in dramatic fashion on Sunday with the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix, a member event of the King Shavings U.S. Grand Prix League (USGPL). Limited to one horse each, 30 riders will take a crack at winning the $45,000 first place purse. Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, will be back to defend the title she has now held for the last three consecutive years.

Prior to the start of the Grand Prix at 2 p.m., the four members of the United States Equestrian Team will be recognized for their recent gold medal victory at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Engle, Lauren Hough Chris Kappler and Beezie Madden will all be on hand for the special presentation.

Admission to the Hampton Classic Horse Show on Grand Prix Sunday 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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