By Katlean de Monchy
easthampton.com

The Hampton Classic Grand Prix Day is exclamation point to the summer season in the Hamptons. It’s the epitome of everything that is luxurious with five million dollar horses and ten thousand dollar decorator designed tables allowing the likes of Mayor Bloomberg, Brooke Shields, Billy Joel, Donna Karan, John Paulson to hob nob with the well heeled equestrians.

This year it was particularly exciting with the father-daughter duo Mario Deslauriers of Canada winning the $300,000 DOHA INC Grand Prix and his daughter, Lucy Deslauriers of Manhattan taking second place with the $75,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier in the Hampton Classic Horse Show Grand Prix challenge.

There is also a philanthropic side to the Hampton Classic with the organization contributing more than $2 million to the Southampton hospital. Shanette Barth Cohen, Executive Director of the Hampton Classic Horse Show said,

“We truly appreciate our relationship with our Official Community Partner, the Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.

We value the exceptional care the hospital provides to the East End of Long Island and are pleased we’re able to play a small part in supporting their efforts.”

Commenting, Robert Chaloner, Chief Administrative Officer of Stony Brook Southampton Hospital says,

“The Hampton Classic is a wonderful landmark event in the summer season which brings together so many people from our community to enjoy outstanding sportsmanship and competition.”

Kelly Klein who is now a retired equestrian told me that she still enjoys attending to socialize and to say goodbye to the summer. For once, there was a summer breeze reminding everyone attending, that this event in fact is the last of the summer season!

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