By: Lieba Nesis

The Hampton Classic Horse Show, one of the most prestigious horse jumping shows in the country, made its August 27-September 3rd debut at Bridgehampton’s Snake Hollow Road.  With over 1,600 horses and more than $1 million in prize money the 48th year of this show has become a staple on the social calendar of every prominent Hamptonite with over 50,000 spectators attending the weeks proceedings.  The peak arrived, as usual, on Sunday September 3rd when the $425,000 Longines Grand Prix invited more than 3,000 guests to its three VIP tents comprised of heads of corporations, businesspeople, philanthropists, television stars and artists.  I can still remember my first year attending in 2013, a newbie to the Hamptons social scene, and utterly dumbfounded by the beautiful crowd donning hats and floral attire.

Sofia Vergara was perched at the prominent table of Real Estate mogul Howard Lorber as guests and photographers ogled while Matt Lauer and Jon Bon Jovi fraternized nearby.  But that was a decade ago and in 2023 the celebrities have mostly disappeared in favor of corporate sponsors and The Who’s Who of the Hamptons.

Brooke Shields and family (Chris and Grier Henchy), social media star Derek Blasberg, a host of Housewives, Dina Lohan, Michael Bloomberg, Patti Scialfa, Barry Sternlicht, Jeff Greene, and David Yurman all graced this years festivities. Yurman has been attending this event for a quarter of a century as a presenting sponsor and noted his company’s 1,200 employees are currently creating over 200 designs a year with more than 50 free standing stores.  Affording the VIP tables which start at $10,000 and are rumored to reach $100,000 is not for the faint of heart, with tickets and tables sold out months in advance. This year I had the privilege of sitting at the Number One ringside table of CEO of Douglas Elliman Howard Lorber along with his magnificent partner Susan Bordeaux, his handsome son Michael and his partner Jeffrey Goldmuntz.

The low key Lorber, a dashing Hamptons legend, grew up in Paramus New Jersey and attended Long Island University before becoming CEO of Vector Group and Chairman of Elliman and Nathan’s Famous. Elliman currently employs more than 7,000 agents in over 113 offices-a behemoth in the industry.  It is nearly impossible to pass a street in New York which hasn’t been handled by an Elliman broker and Lorber maintains a familial atmosphere at his expansive firm.

Seated at the table was star broker Enzo Morabito who heads up the Number One Team in the Hamptons and recently declared Atlantic Beach “the new Hamptons” despite the Hamptons having close to 700,000 summer inhabitants compared to 2,000 in Atlantic Beach.

One of the signatures of Douglas Elliman is its prominent female power players some of whom I met including Chief Marketing Officer Stephanie Garbarini and prominent female attorney Jamie Heiberger Harrison both of whom possessed both brains and beauty in abundance.  With four tables at the Classic, Elliman has become the premier sponsor of this annual happening and without their support things wouldn’t look so rosy.  The decor at the tables of the Classic are renowned for both their expense and lavishness with prizes allotted to those with the prettiest tables and floral settings. VIP Guidelines are issued declaring centerpieces can be no higher than 18 inches, promotional materials may not be distributed on tables nor can additional chairs be added to the 14 ringside or 8 upper level, while rental supplies must be purchased from Party Rentals LTD. It even advises not to flap table clothes or make loud noises while horses are nearby to avoid spooking-Hamptonites take great pride in this event and it shows.

Officially beginning at 2 PM the tent was filled to the brim with ladies decked out in hats and dresses many of which were floral masterpieces they had custom made months in advance. Photographers and press from Newsday, Hamptons magazine and Dan’s Papers abounded catching well heeled guests in their finest threads.  The perfect weather was a welcome relief after sweltering prior years and attendees were able to comfortably fraternize without an abundance of sweat.

At close to 5 PM the winner was declared to be Israeli show jumper Daniel Bluman who brought along his winning horse Ladriano Z. As one of only four riders to have won the Grand Prix on three occasions Bluman was basking in the glory while Hatikvah and an Israeli flag was proudly displayed.  Coming in at a competitive second was Adrienne Sternlicht, daughter of Starwood CEO Barry Sternlicht, who joined horse Faquitol-S for one of the most nail biting matches I can remember. As guests exited the tent famed attorney Marc Kasowitz joined Howard Lorber for a mogul-to-mogul pow wow. I was duly impressed by the folder Kasowitz was carrying inquiring as to whether he brought legal work to the Labor Day weekend soiree.  “No,” Kasowitz responded “I needed a carrier for my pricey cigars”-the perfect conclusion to a sizzling Hamptons summer.