Hi All the Hamptons Classic continues to support The Kevin Babington Foundation and other Charities. Aug. 28-Sept$. 2022

Foundation Among Classic’s Many Charitable Efforts with Community Partners

Bridgehampton, NY – August 9, 2022 – The 46th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show will continue its support of several charitable organizations, including the Kevin Babington Foundation, when it returns August 28-September 4. It is three years since Babington’s accident where he suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down at the time. Since then, the Kevin Babington Foundation has provided financial and educational resources to several riders in the show jumping community who have sustained spinal injuries, in addition to Babington, an Irish Olympic veteran and the 2014 Hampton Classic Grand Prix champion. It’s important to note that Kevin has made significant progress since that initial diagnosis. Through hard work, Kevin now has significantly more capacity. “Kevin’s work ethic is amazing,” said Jeff Papows, President of the Kevin Babington Foundation. “His recovery is real and an ongoing work in process.”

Kevin’s progress has allowed him to remain active as a trainer and coach

The Hampton Classic is continuing its support of the Foundation with some efforts initiated last year and the addition of an exciting new program. The Classic will donate 100% of the profits from a specially designed Hampton Classic/Kevin Babington hat, which will be available in the show’s popular onsite shop. The Classic’s souvenir shop will also accept donations to the Foundation. An option to donate to the Kevin Babington Foundation will be included for exhibitors upon checkout in the horse show office. The biggest fundraiser will be on the Classic’s final day during the Classic’s featured event, the $410,000 Hampton Classic CSI5* Grand Prix (Sunday, September 4). The Koenigsberg family has pledged to make a $5,000 donation to the Foundation for every clear round jumped in the first round of the Grand Prix with a guaranteed minimum donation of $25,000.  “We greatly appreciate Jessica and Bill Koenigsberg and their family for their generous support of the Kevin Babington Foundation,” said Shanette Barth Cohen, the Classic’s Executive Director. “The Foundation does so much to help riders who sustain catastrophic spinal injuries, and we are honored to provide opportunities for our community to give back to their fellow equestrians.”  “We wish to extend a heartfelt thank-you to the Hampton Classic and the Koenigsberg family for their incredible support,” said Papows. “We have such an amazing community where equestrians come together to help one another, and we quite literally couldn’t do any of this without those contributions.” “I am deeply touched by all the Hampton Classic is doing to support the Foundation,” Babington said. “I especially want to thank Shanette and the Koenigsberg family for the great promotion with a donation being made for each clear round. I guess I better talk to (course designer) Alan Wade about going a little easy on them!”

The Classic’s support of the Kevin Babington Foundation adds to its long history of support of community partners and charities. Since 1977, the Classic has made annual financial contributions totaling more than $2 million to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and provided onsite booth space for Hospital staff to interact with the public.  The Hampton Classic also supports many other local nonprofit organizations and equestrian-related charities beyond its own 501(c)3 status. Other charitable activities include the Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities, the Sag Harbor Food Pantry, the Bridgehampton Union Free School District, and more than a dozen dog, cat, and horse rescue organizations that participate in the Classic’s annual Animal Adoption Day, sponsored by Gotham Enterprizes. In addition, the Hampton Classic provides in-kind support to more than a hundred nonprofit benefit events each year.

Each year approximately 50,000 people come to watch the nation’s best equestrian athletes compete at the Hampton Classic. Rated USEF ‘Premier-6’ for hunters and jumpers with designated FEI 2* and 5* classes, the Hampton Classic features more than 200 competitions in six spectacular show rings, the Agneta Currey Boutique Garden with more than 70 vendors, and a wide selection of dining options, all on its world-class 60-acre show grounds. Offering more than $1 million in prize money, the Classic is highlighted by the $410,000 Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix on Sunday, September 4. Daily admission to the Classic is $20 per carload (cash at the gate only). Admission is free on Monday; seniors and military are also admitted free on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Grandstand tickets for the $410,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix on Sunday, September 4, are $55 per person for reserved bucket seating. Grandstand tickets are electronic only; E-Tickets are provided thanks to support from Green is the New Blue. For those who can’t make it to the show grounds, complimentary live webcasts of all Grand Prix ring competitions air on the Hampton Classic website, produced by ClipMyHorseTV and courtesy of LONGINES. ClipMyHorseTV is also producing a live webcast of all Anne Aspinall ring competitions, available for free on the Hampton Classic website, thanks to Pacaso. In addition, WVVH-TV, Hamptons Television, broadcasts up to five hours of competition and highlights each day during the Classic. These broadcasts can also be seen online at www.wvvh.tv.  For more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call 631-537-3177. Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation.

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