Press release from Hampton Classic Horse Show

Six-time U.S. Olympian McLain Ward claimed top honors in the Hampton Classic Grand Prix Arena for the second consecutive day on Saturday, riding two mounts into the final round of the $70,000 CSI5* Winning Round. In the end, he earned first in a faultless time of 38.93 seconds aboard Contagious (Contagio x For Keeps), his 2021 Tokyo Olympic mount who helped secure team silver.

The Hampton Classic, August 25-September 1, is one of the world’s most prestigious horse shows, featuring competitors from young children in leadline to Olympic, World, and World Cup Champions. Rated USEF Premier-6 with designated FEI 5* and 2* show jumping classes, the Classic also has competitions for riders with disabilities.

Fifty-four entries representing nine countries contested Nick Granat’s (USA) 15-effort, 1.50m course in Saturday’s $70,000 CSI5* Winning Round, with 15 horse-and-rider pairs returning in reverse order of merit over the nine-effort second-round course. There were several shake-ups on the podium as each entry galloped around the course, until Ward and Beechwood Stables LLC’s 15-year-old German Sport Horse gelding Contagious blazed ahead in 38.93 seconds, giving themselves a 1.79-second lead that no other rider could catch without fault.

“To be honest, I was concerned about the three riders coming behind me (Mark Bluman, Darragh Kenny and Alessandra Volpi),” Ward said. “I knew we had to lay down a good round with those three coming behind us and make them chase the time. Contagious has been a longtime partner of mine and is a very fast horse, and I’m so grateful to Beechwood Stables for my partnership with him.” 

Two-time Olympic veteran Samuel Parot (CHI) finished in second place with Chrystal Blue (Chacco-Blue x Calvaro F.C.), his and Dolores Funes’ 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding, tripping the timers in 40.72 seconds. The USA’s Adrienne Sternlicht earned third for her 41.42-second time aboard Los Angeles De La Cense (Los Angeles x Lancer III), Starlight Farms 1 LLC’s 10-year-old Westphalian stallion. 

With his consecutive wins, Ward now holds the lead in the Longines Rider Challenge with 200 points. Kristen Vanderveen (USA) sits second with 194 points, while Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) has moved into third with 188 points. The Challenge, which awards $30,000 and a Longines watch to the rider accumulating the most points in the week’s Open Jumper classes, will be awarded Sunday following the Longines Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix.