Daniel Bluman Wins 3rd Hampton Classic Grand Prix 5* Championship Presented by Longines

Dr. Gregory Beroza, aka HorseDoc® ‘Talking Horses’® reports ringside from the 2023 Hampton Classic.

Daniel Bluman’s winning jump. Photo by KindMedia.

Sept. 3, 2023 — This is Daniel Bluman’s second Hampton Classic Grand Prix win aboard his 15-year-old gelding Ladriano Z. The two won the Championship back in 2017 and Bluman won again (his second) in 2021 aboard Gemma W. He now joins an elite class of three-time Hampton Classic Grand Prix winners including McClain Ward (seven-time winner), Rodney Jenkens (three-time winner), and Margie Goldstein-Engle (three-time winner). This year there were 40 qualifying entries representing 12 countries vying for FEI points and winning honors.

The 5 finalists pre-Jumpoff for 1st Place. Photo by GBeroza.

Only Daniel Bluman and Adrienne Sternlicht (aboard her horse Faquitol-S) scored a clean (no fault) round. They both then faced a difficult jump-off for the 1st Place Victory. Sternlicht, due to a slower time, rode first and had 1 fault. Bluman followed with both a faultless round and a faster time. The large crowd of fans and show jumping enthusiasts roared in recognition of a superior performance by Bluman and Ladriano Z. Bluman won the $425,000 purse and a new Longines watch.

Daniel Bluman and Ladriano Z salute audience at Awards Presentation. Photo by G Beroza.

Bluman Family post-awards. Photo by GBeroza.

At the post-event Press Conference, both Bluman and Sternlicht commented on how Alan Wade-IRE designed such a challenging course, making them the only two of 40 riders to accomplish their first round with no faults. The final order of finish was 1st-Daniel Bluman-ISR, 2nd-Adrienne Sternlicht-USA, 3rd-Luis Fernando Larrazabal-VEN, 4th-Kent Farrington-USA, 5th-Mario DeSlauriers-CAN. Darragh Kenny-IRE won the Longines Rider Challenge for his best week’s performance in all Hampton Classic competitions. He won a $30,000 purse and a new Longines watch. Farrington(4th) was a former 2X Grand Prix winner and former USA Olympic Silver Medalist, plus formerly recognized as the #1 Show Jump Rider in the world. DeSlauriers(5th) won the Grand Prix in 2019 and is a two-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion having represented Canada in several previous Olympics.

Honored Riders, L-R: 2-Sternlicht 1-Bluman 3-Larrazabal & Kenny-Longine Rider Challenge. Photo by GBeroza.

Prior to the Hampton Classic Grand Prix 5* Championship Presented by Longines, McLain Ward-USA, ranked 5th in the World, entered his legendary 17-year-old Belgian mare HH Azur into the competition ring for a final public farewell presentation ride. After an eight-year partnership, Ward announced her retirement. HH Azur helped Ward secure the Team USA Silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games, Gold at the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup in Omaha, and Team Silver at the 2017 FEI Nations Cup Final.

Mclain Ward retires HH Azur. Photo by GBeroza.

The entire Hampton Classic week of competition was attended by approximately 50,000 people. The 60-acre grounds hosted over 200 competitions which were held in six show rings. Besides the highly competitive equestrian competition, the Agneta Currey Boutique offered a wide selection of vendors, dining options, shopping and people watching. The 2023 Hampton Classic will be a week and set of competitions that will be well remembered.

Hampton Classic Grand Prix Winners. Photo by GBeroza.

VIP Tent Tables pre-GrandPrix. Photo by GBeroza.

Please check out the 14-minute WuzUpDoc.com media YouTube broadcast, which includes several interesting interviews and extended coverage:

Dr. Gregory A. Beroza, DVM, DACVS, DABVP has been a practicing veterinarian and consultant for 42 years; and HorseDoc® ‘Talking Horses’® media host, author, and consultant since 2007. Dr. Beroza is a multimedia host and broadcasts his productions, including a new Podcast, via his WuzUpDoc Media website: www.WuzUpDoc.com. He can be found on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and other social media sources.

Thanks to ‘HorseDoc’ Sponsors:  Alex Nichols Agency; BMB IT Solutions, Chestnut Vale Feed, Cosequin Joint Health Supplement, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Great American Insurance-Equine Division; Hopscotch Air Taxi; Jaguar; JSR Farriers-Equine Transport; Land Rover; Nutrena; Oheka Castle Hotel & Estate; Ramard Nutraceuticals; Range Rover; Supporting Strategies; Ultravet Medical Devices