Memories: A Look Back at the 2007 FTI Grand Prix

Larentino and Eliza Shuford, winners of the $150,000 FIT Grand Prix ESI Photos

Eliza Shuford, 28, of Hickory, North Carolina, and Larentino, owned by the Larentino Group, triumphed against Olympians Beezie Madden and Peter Wylde to win the $150,000 FTI Grand Prix at the 2007 Hampton Classic Horse Show.

Beezie Madden, of Cazenovia, New York, and Peter Wylde, of Dover Plains, New York, teammates on the United States' 2004 Gold Medal Olympic team, placed second and third respectively.

The 32nd Hampton Classic Horse Show featured more than $500,000 in prize money, 50,000 spectators and 1,500 horses. The Hampton Classic is not only a sporting event of major proportions, but also one of the most noteworthy social events of the summer.

Only three of the 30 horses in the starting field were able to ride fault-free in the first round over the Conrad Homfeld designed course. Shuford, a first time competitor, had the unfortunate position of being the first to return for the jump-off. She and Larentino negotiated a clear round in a time of 46.810 seconds, but Shuford knew that Madden and Wylde could easily change the leader board.

"I went as fast as I could because I knew I had two very fast riders going behind me," said Shuford. "I really just wanted to trust my horse. This was the perfect jump-off for him, so I just kind of trusted my horse and went as fast as I could."

Wylde and Campino, his Holsteiner gelding, were next and had the first rail down giving Shuford more hope for the top spot. "I completely misjudged the distance to the first fence," said Wylde. "I made a big mistake; it was not my horse's fault. It blew my concentration a little bit."

The last one that could unseat Shuford was Madden, the 1993 winner of the class. "My plan was to go a little faster than Eliza and go clear," said Madden. Unfortunately, Madden and Select, owned by Elizabeth Busch Burke and John Madden Sales, also had a rail down, giving Shuford the biggest win of her career.

"Louie, that's what we call him around the barn, always knows when it's a big crowd and a special class," said Shuford. "He always rises to the occasion. He really jumped great."

Dennis Shaughnessy, chairman of FTI Consulting, was thrilled with the Grand Prix and congratulated the top three riders. "All three of you are simply incredible," said Shaughnessy. "The Hampton Classic is a world-class event. We are thrilled to be part of it and today you made it even more special."

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