Dr. Sally Lynch Earns Hampton Classic Sportsmanship Award on Opening Day

The 38th Hampton Classic Horse Show opened in Bridgehampton on Sunday, August 25, with the presentation of their Long Island Sportsmanship Award, given annually to a Long Island horseperson who has demonstrated excellence in sportsmanship over a long period of years. This year, show President Dennis Suskind presented the award to Dr. Sally Lynch, director of Old Field Farm equestrian park in Stony Brook.

From 1988 to 1994, Lynch was a post-doctoral fellow and research assistant at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and from 1991 to 1997 she served as a technical consultant to investment management organizations in the areas of biotechnology and medical services. But it was for her leadership during the last decade to restore and revitalize Old Field Farm that she received what Suskind described as “an overwhelming number of nominations” for the prestigious award. Old Field Farm is a historic Long Island landmark equestrian facility.

Under Lynch’s leadership, Old Field Farm has hosted horse shows and clinics, as well as an equine book club, a lecture series, movie events and benefit events for other charitable organizations.

“It was very moving and unexpected to receive this award,” Lynch said of the honor, adding, “I am grateful.”

“People in the Long Island equestrian community describe her as lovely, generous, warm-hearted and incredibly hard-working,” Suskind told the cheering opening day crowd during the award presentation.

Sofia D’Angelo, a 15-year-old Long Islander, sang the National Anthem following the presentation of the Long Island Sportsmanship Award. In 2009 D’Angelo rode High Spirits to the children’s large pony hunter championship at the Hampton Classic, and now she sings, plays the piano and guitar, and writes her own songs.

During the morning, six sections of leadline classes for riders 2-4 years old and for riders 5-7 years old took over the Grand Prix Ring. Carefully scrutinizing the riders of tomorrow was judge Joe Fargis, 65, the winner of the individual and team gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Riders of more than 600 horses stabled on Long Island vied for the local hunter championships all day long in the Anne Aspinall Hunter Ring and in Hunter Ring 2.

Hamptons Escape was the presenting sponsor for the opening day of the 38th Hampton Classic Horse Show.

Click here for the full schedule of Monday events!