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March 18, 2017

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Skylar Wireman on Barclino B won the Winners Round at the Hampton Classic (2)

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August 31, 2025

By Staff Writers

BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--Skylar Wireman had her first FEI 5* victory on Saturday, Aug. 30 with a win in the $62,500 Winning Round class at the Hampton Classic.

Skyar Wireman on Barclino B (Photo by KindMedia)Wireman scored an impressive win, finishing 1.55 faster than second placed Luis Pedro Birabe of Argentina over a 1.50m course set by Nick Granat.

In the Winning Round format, of 35 entries, 10 were clean and two with one fault returned for the second round, all starting with zero vaults.

Wireman, the double-gold medalist from the 2025 North American Youth Jumping Championships finished clean inf 39.58 seconds in her first time at the Hampton Classic.a

Second and third were separated by just one hundredth of a second with Biraben clean in 41.13 seconds for second on Georgina De Carles, and Spencer Smith third in 41.14 seconds on Tulara Colmine.

“The goal was to shave off as many seconds as possible around every corner,” Wireman said. “I’ve had him for a little over a year now, and he is only 9, so still a little on the young side. I quickly learned he’s going to be a fantastic speed horse. He’s got a really good, natural ground speed which is very helpful. He also doesn’t spend a lot of time in the air. I know I can kind of turn into the jumps, and he’s right there with me.”

THE 2024 Hampton Classic Grand Prix winner, Rene Dittmer of Germany was fourth, clean in 42.05 seconds on Cody 139, and  World #22 Shane Sweetnam of Ireland was fifth, clean in 42.09 seconds on Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z.

Neither World #1 Kent Farrington on Greya nor World # 8 McLain Ward on High Star Hero qualified for the second round, finishing 14th and 15th respectively.

With 324 points, Wireman now leads the $20,000 Rider Challenge for the FEI 5* division, which will be awarded on Sunday.

Ward is second with 248 points, and Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain is third with 195 points.

“The horses have been great every day here at the Classic,” Wireman said. “Yesterday I had a rail down in the Qualifier, but it was still a great finish. It’s really been a fantastic week, and I couldn’t ask for much more. The horses have been so amazing, and the week is so fun. Plus, this is a lovely ring to ride in."

“I’m riding Tornado in the Grand Prix tomorrow, and I’m really excited to be here and watch the greats,” she said. “The first day here, I watched McLain go and ride five strides in the last line of the speed phase. I thought I’d better do five if I wanted a chance to beat him, so I did. It’s just been amazing to watch all the top riders and learn from them.”

Jessica Mendoza on In The Air won the $400,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix (2)

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September 1, 2025

By Staff Writers

BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza on In The Air won the $400,000 Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix with one of only two clean rounds in the three horse jump-off, finishing in 37.34 seconds on Sunday, Aug. 31.

Jessica Mendoza on In The Air (Photo by KindMedia)Nick Granat set the course for 39 entries representing 14 countries in the Grand Prix.

Granat’s course was challenging, with only three going clean.

Kristen Vanderveen was the first to go clean in the first round on Bull Run’s Jireh, but it took another 17 trips before Mendoza guaranteed the spectators a jump-off.

World #22 Shane Sweetnam of Ireland was the only other rider to go clean.

Charlotte Jacobs on Playboy JT  was fourth, the fastest of the four faulters, followed by Spencer Smith and Katie Dinan, each with four faults.

To show the difficulty of the course, riders with eight faults were 10th, 11th and 12th.

Kent Farrington and McLain Ward both had eight faults and were 13th and 15th respectively.

It was a pleasure to see a course commensurate with the value of the class that resulted in only three in the jump-off.

“I KNEW today was going to be very difficult, and with the seated order based off Friday’s qualifier, that we had to wait for a clear round,” Granat said. “I was really pleased with the class and the jump-off. There is always pressure to have some clears; everyone wants to see a jump-off. I was happy we were able to give them one.”

Vanderveen, first to go in the jump-off, had four faults, and  Mendoza, next to go, was clean in 37.34 seconds, which ultimately secured her first FEI 5* win.

Sweetnam on James Kann Cruz was clean but slower than Mendoza, finishing in 37.90 seconds, to place second and drop Vanderveen into third.

“It’s a pretty amazing win,” Mendoza said. “This is one of the best American shows. It’s truly amazing to be here and to win the Grand Prix. It’s always fun to go into the jump-off with the top three; you don’t have much to lose. I knew there was a bit of room where Shane could catch me, but my mare was perfect across the ground. She’s an incredible horse and had an incredible summer. She really found herself this year.”

“I was very happy with my horse,” Sweetnam said. “He’s a very different horse from Jessica’s. He spends a bit of time in the air and is a bit of a slower horse, so I did my plan close enough to what I thought would be enough to challenge. He jumped great. In hindsight, I could have taken a few more gambles.”

“It’s definitely special to have this big of a crowd and a long lead-up to a clear round,” Vanderveen said. “It was cool to be the first clear. My horse was quite fresh, but he was great today. I went into the jump-off thinking not to go too forward because he’s a naturally fast horse. In hindsight, I could have really gone for it and been a bit more competitive, but I’m really happy with how he was today.”

This victory also earned Mendoza the $20,000 Rider Challenge for the FEI 5* division, which awarded a $20,000 bonus.

She finished the week with a total of 395 points. Sweetnam was second with 355 points, while Skylar Wireman third with 324 points.

Earlier in the day, 32 entries competed in the $70,000 Hampton Classic 2* Grand Prix, with six moving on to the jump-off and only two going clean in the jump-off.

Qatari rider Faleh Suwead Al Ajami on Karmalensky was clean in 46.09 seconds for the win.

“It was a nice class – a bit of a challenge for all the riders,” Al Ajami said. “We had so many good entries in that class. Beat Mändli is my idol, and I always followed his riding when I was younger. To be in the same classes as him now has been a pleasure. This is my first time at the Hampton Classic, and I don’t think it will be my last.”

Second place went to three-time Olympic veteran Beat Mändli of Switzerland, who had the only other clean jump-offr round in 46.91 seconds on Cordani PS.

Ariana Marnell was third with four faults in 45.06 seconds on Jikke-Cara.

With this victory, Al Ajami had a total of 290 points to win the $10,000 Rider Challenge for the FEI 2* division, which awarded a $10,000 bonus.

. Overnight leader Stella Wasserman fnished second with 248 points, while Marnell was third with 245 points.

Taylor Kingsley won two races at the first meet held at Fair Hill in six years (2)

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September 1, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

ELKTON, Md.--Recently turned professional Taylor Kingsley rode two winners as racing returned to the Fair Hill turf course on Saturday, Aug, 30 after six long years. 

Taylor Kingsley (File photo)The day, which featured six flat turf races, all without a starting gate but with para-mutual betting, was very successful despite a few minor glitches.

Kingsley won both divisions of the $20,000, 1 mile and five furlongs Starter Allowance, one for Tom Garner and one for her father Arch Kingsley.

Garner saddled Bonita Farm's Fightnomoreforever to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Fenwick, trained by Garner, and Mortal Sin trained by Danielle Hodsdon.

"Fightnomoreforever was a professional," said Kingsley. "He really didn't need me at all. When a hole opened up on the turn, I didn't have to ask him, he just went through it."

"I was delighted to win at the first races  back at Fair Hill," she said. "It was like christening the track. I would love to win one for my Dad at this track."

So in the very next race, she did just that, winning on Gossiper.

"That was brilliant, wasn't it," said Kingsley. "Perfect timing. That was my first win for him as a professional. i still want to win for him at a flat track out of the gate."

ARCH KINGSLEY saddled Adam Kingman, Thomas Rice and James Stainbrook's Gossiper to win very comfortably by 14 1/2 lengths over Kobe's Smile, trained by Kevin Boniface, and Bali Kuta, trained by Keri Brion.

Kingsley rides exercise and occasionally in races for trainer Bill Mott, and Gossiper made her debut at the track in 2023 for Mott.

"Gossiper is a tough filly to ride, she's tricky," she said. "I had a plan going out there, and it worked. So that raised my spirits." 

Gossiper went out to  a huge lead, in front by 24 lengths early in the race, then, although Kingsley was still sitting very still on her, dropped back to lead by only about four lengths on the final turn before Kingsley asked her and she opened up to win easily by 14 lengths.

"My plan was to just getting her settled, so I let her go as fast as she wanted at the start," said Kingsley. "She came right back to me after about three furlongs.  She got a lovely breather, and when I asked her she responded beautifully,"

"I may have a ride for my Dad at either Colonial or Kentucky Downs," she said. "Both are on the same day, and both horses look ready to win, so we'll see which one he wants me to ride."

"I'd be so excited to ride at Kentucky Downs,"said Kingsley. "That's the only undulating flat track we have in the U.S, so I'm looking forward testing my talents at that track."

"There are some kinks that will have to be worked out," said Charlie Fenwick, President of the Fair Hill Foundation. "Some tings didn't work perfectly. At one point, the sound went off in the middle of a race. But Sports Corp. had never done it before. They'll continue to work at it, and the more they do it the better it will get."

"The most pleasing thing was the quality of the track,"said Fenwick. "It was very consistent and it didn't get chewed up. That was the most important thing."

I heard there were 8,000 people there, but that's not reliable," he said. "If that's true, it would be wonderful. It looked like the betting windows were busy all day."

Julie Gomena saddled Riverdee Stable's De La Cruz, ridden by Graham Watters, to win the $30,000 Maiden Flat to win by 1/2 length over Homestead and Mysterious Dancer, both trained by Brion.

Brion then saddled her own Fiery Dart, ridden by Declan Carroll, to win the $30,000 Filly and Mare Maiden Flat over Lorraine (Fr), trained by Hodsdon, and Awesome McKinzie, trained by Tim Keefe.

Jack Fisher saddled Riverdee Stable's Welshman, ridden by Watters, to win the $25,000 Flat Race for Jumpers by 5 1/2 lengths over Moonshine Time (Ire), trained by Brion, and Icandothat, trained by Sean McDermott.

Box Office Warrior, owned by Keystone Thoroughbred, trained by Todd McKenna and ridden by Gerard Galligan won the second division of the Flat Race for Jumpers by 7 3/4 lengths over Kitten Mischief, trained by Fisher, and Carloun, trained by Brion.

Successful Fair Hill Races leads to plans for additonal meets (2)

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September 3, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

ELKTON, Md--Officials have declared the Fair Hill Races on Aug. 30 to have been a success and say that there will be another meet over Memorial Day weekend.

Fair Hill turf course "We were thrilled with the day," said George Mahoney, Chairman of the Maryland Racing Commission.

"This was a good first step," said Joe Clancy, a member of Sports Corp., the group that organized the meet. "We puposely didn't have any jump races. We didn't want to compete against Colonial Downs or Saratoga or hurt their entries. We held the number of entries to eight in the interest of safety, and we didn't charge admission."

"We got a good crowd, and I think that the people that came had a good time," said Clancy. "The total betting handle was $56,5503. The total handle is always going to be small, and that never was a money maker, but it's a tradition to have betting. In the old days the handle was around $200,00, but 75 percent of that goes back to the betters and 25 percent is divided between the races, which pay all the expense of betting, and the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources."

"THE WHOLE idea was just to use the turf course," he said. "One reason for this meet was to test all the systems. We learned and we'll go step by step forward. The idea is to come back with the traditional My Memorial Day weekend with hurdle and flat racing."

"I think the turf held up well," said Clancy. "We got some feedback from the jockeys."

"The trainers and riders and state officials that showed up were all pleased," said Mahoney. "All the reviews from the trainers were that it was a great day. Everyone was excited to have this meet, but that's it for his year. Moving forward, everyone that has a connection to the Fair Hill Races will get together, that's the National Steeplechase Association, Sports Corp,the Maryland Jockey Club and the Md. DNR. In 2026, we will have additional racing."

"Flat racing with a starting gate will have to happen," said Mahoney. "But there's criteria that has to be met to have that happen. HISA has a list of conditions. But definitely in the future we'll have flat racing with a starting gate."

"Regular racing needs a starting gate and lead ponies among other things," said Clancy. "Not many racetracks have a full day of turf races. What if it rains."

"First we had horses training on this turf, and now we've had a day of racing," Clancy said. " Fair Hill has always been approved to have more days of racing. We're looking at doing racing in different ways in the future."

Junior and Young Rider teams to compete at the Youth Nations Cup (2)

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September 4, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

LEXINGTON, Ky.--US Equestrian announced the riders selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Teams at the 2025 FEI Youth Jumping Nations Cup Final hosted from Sept. 19-21, in Lier, Belgium at Azelhof Equestrian Centre.

The U.S. will field both a Junior Team and a Young Rider Team.

Both teams will be led by Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski and Team Leader Erin Keating.

The following riders have been selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Young Rider Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

Mia Bagnato (Fishkill, N.Y.) and Cordiamo, a 2016 Oldenburg gelding (Cornet du Lys x Conthargos) owned by Elan Farm

Alexa Elle Lignelli of New York, N.Y.,, and her own XO Zadora, a 2013 KWPN mare (Zavall VDL x Padinus)

Carlee McCutcheon of Aubrey, Texas and Aralyn Blue, a 2014 Oldenburg mare (Chacco Blue x Ludwigs AS) owned by Road to the Top

Olivia Sweetnam of Wellington, Fla. and Epic, a 2015 Anglo European gelding (Billy Mexico x Flyinge Electro) owned by Monika Preston and Sweet Oak Farm

Skylar Wireman of Bonsall, Calif. and Barclino B, a 2016 Holsteiner gelding (Constanzehof’s Barcley x Lasino) owned by Wireman Investment Group

The following riders have been selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Junior Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

PHILLIPA Ammann of Wellington, Fla. and Zarina de Vidau, a 2011 Caballo de Deporte Español mare (Diamant de Semilly x Coeur de Nuit) owned by Temple Equestrian LLC

Sophia Ayers of Reddick, Fla. and her own Conthinder, a 2011 Oldenburg gelding (Conthargos x Nintender)

Campbell Brown of Fayetteville, Ark. and Colina Z, a 2014 Zangersheide mare (Hofgut Liederbach’s Ingmar x Carthago) owned by MMK Equestrian LLC

Lily Epstein of Coral Gables, Fla. and her own Zjechov, a 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Durrant x Heartbreaker)

JJ Torano of Wellington, Fla. and Lyon 50, a 2014 Hanoverian stallion (Lord Argentinus x Lex Lugar) owned by Kadley Farm LLC and North Run

Competition Information

The 2025 FEI Jumping Youth Nations Cup Final will take place in Lier, Belgium, featuring pony, children, junior, and young rider classes at the championship level for each different category.

The U.S. Junior Jumping Team will jump at a height of 1.40m, while the U.S. Young Rider Jumping Team will compete at 1.45m in height.

Each team will contest two qualifying rounds early in the week to compete in the Youth Nations Cup Final for both sections on Sunday, Sept. 21.

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