Manhattan Mortgage Company's Opening Day to Showcase Local Singers

WLIU Contest Winner to Perform the National Anthem

The $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge and the Hampton Classic/WLIU 88.3 FM National Anthem Contest will headline Manhattan Mortgage Company's Opening Day activities at the Hampton Classic Horse Show on Sunday, August 26.

Olympian Joe Fargis judged the Leadline Class during Manhattan Mortgage Company's Opening Day Photo by Jon Kassel

The 32nd Hampton Classic Horse Show, one of the nation's premier show jumping competitions, returns to Bridgehampton, August 26-September 2. The Classic hosts hunter/jumper competition for riders ranging from the youngest competitors in Leadline and Short Stirrup all the way up to the Olympic veterans in the $150,000 FTI Grand Prix.

A new addition to this year's horse show is the opportunity for the winner of the Hampton Classic/WLIU 88.3 FM National Anthem Contest to perform the National Anthem on Manhattan Mortgage's Opening Day. The winner will be decided by three judges: Bonnie Grice of WLIU-FM, Jaylaan Llewellyn, President of bluhammock music, and Helen Rattray, publisher of the East Hampton Star and member of the Board of Directors of the Choral Society of the Hamptons. Applications were due by August 1 and all finalists were notified by August 10.

Finalists will compete in a live "sing off" at the Hampton Classic on August 26 at 10 a.m. The winner will perform the anthem in the Grand Prix Ring, be interviewed on WLIU-FM by Bonnie Grice, and receive a gift certificate to the Hampton Classic souvenir booth and a collection of CDs from bluhammock music. All finalists will receive four one-week passes to the Hampton Classic, which will allow each finalist and three guests to attend the horse show from August 26 through September 2.

"Manhattan Mortgage Company's Opening Day is one of the Hampton Classic's most beloved traditions," said Hampton Classic Executive Director Shanette Barth Cohen. "The ceremonies feature a variety of attractions for the whole family and marks the kick-off of our week long extravaganza that is the Hampton Classic."

Competition on Manhattan Mortgage Company's Opening Day features hundreds of Long Island competitors and begins at 8 a.m. in every arena, with exception of the Grand Prix Ring which starts at 9 a.m. with the Leadline classes, where nearly 100 youngsters under the age of 8 and their ponies hold center stage in the morning before giving way to the Opening Day Ceremony at noon.

Headlining Opening Day is the $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge, a competition that debuted at the Classic in 2003, beginning at 1 p.m. More than thirty top show jumping riders and horses are expected to compete in the fifth annual running of this popular speed jumping class. Last year, Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL negotiated the Conrad Homfeld designed course in a blistering time of 64.37 seconds riding Eltonn, owned by Tracey Topping of Wellington, FL, to win the class.

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