Joe Fargis and his mare, Touch of Class (aka Kitty) in the 1984 Olympics, where they won gold. When Joe Fargis arrived in southern California for the 1984 Olympics with the rest of the United States Equestrian Team, he spent the first week wondering if he’d even be able to compete at all. Santa Anita Park, home to one of the most famous Thoroughbred horse racing tracks in the country, had been chosen as the venue for the show jumping competition, and Fargis’s horse, Touch of

Anne Byers and trainer Laura Bowery with Byers's wonder horse, Rocklyn, known as Pablo. LORI HAWKINS PHOTO About a year ago, Anne Byers was facing the very real possibility that her horse’s showing career would be prematurely cut short. But against the odds, she was in the show ring on opening day at the Hampton Classic with her horse, Rocklyn. That was the first miracle. Read more: https://www.27east.com/southampton-press/grand-local-hunter-championship-for-anne-byers-and-ro

The King of the Ring: McLain Ward is a six-time Olympian and five-time medalist and has won the Hampton Classic Grand Prix a record seven times. There are generally two kinds of spectators at the Hampton Classic Horse Show — the true “horse people,” who have a familiarity with horses and a deep understanding of what equestrian competition is all about, and everyone else. The two don’t have a whole lot in common, but on Grand Prix Sunday, there’s always one rider who brings th

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