Brook Shields, Donna Karan, Michael Bloomberg, And More Celebrate Hampton Classic Grand Prix
Michael Bloomberg, Diana Taylor and Georgina Bloomberg held court at their top tier VIP table, at the Grand Prix, the final competition of the 44th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show. It’s the traditional last hurrah of the Hamptons social season. Heavy hitters dine on decorator designed tables, catered exclusively by Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs. Swiss watchmaker Longines returned as the Official Partner and Timekeeper.
Brook Shields and daughter Grier Hammond Henchy, Donna Karan, Audrey and Martin Gruss, Jean and Martin Shafiroff, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Howard Lorber, Bonnie Comley and Stuart Lane, Alvin Valley, Suzan and Jerry Kremer, Chris Wasserstein, Greg D’Elia, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone were among the elite attendees.
It was a family affair for Canadian Olympic veteran, Mario Deslauriers, who won the $300,000 DOHA.INC Grand Prix on his mount Bardolina. Wife Lisa Deslauriers, a past Grand Prix and USET competitor, is Chairman of the Board of the Hampton Classic. Daughter Lucy, part of the U.S. bronze-medal winning team at the Pan American Games, won Friday’s $75,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier and finished second on Sunday.
Servers brought champagne to those who visited with Taylor, Bloomberg and his daughter Georgina, a professional equestrian and a philanthropist. “I’m very proud of my daughter,” the former Mayor told Hamptons.com, of his second child with ex-wife Susan Brown. “She turned out fine. Her mother did a great job of raising her!”
Taylor, Bloomberg’s longtime companion and former New York State Superintendent of Banks, is a Wall Street, civic and philanthropic force in her own right — and an animal lover. What are some life lessons, she feels can be gleaned from the equestrian sport? “There’s a huge amount of discipline involved,” she told us. “The connection you have with your horse, with another being is hugely important in teaching you about connections with different types of beings. And animals teach us a lot.” The Bloomberg household, she told us, includes, “Mostly dogs, horses, turtles and a mule.”
Another philanthropic stately presence, Audrey Gruss, responsible for The Audrey and Martin Gruss Heart & Stroke Center at the Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, was seated at one of the hospital’s tables. “I was an equestrian,” she told us. “Then Martin was, and then he became a polo player and had the second rated polo team in the world. It was fabulous, so much fun. And this is so exciting!” Gruss went Friday, as well, and got to support the hospital by…shopping! “The boutique proceeds went to Stony Brook Southampton and we love the hospital,” she said. “It’s important to support the boutiques, don’t you think?” We do!
We love supporting Christopher Robbins, as well, who, as VP of Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs, has been catering Hamptons toniest events for 30 years, and serving as the official VIP Caterer at the Hampton Classic Horse Show for the last 24. He greeted all, perched opposite the entrance at the head of his table, styled by Lilee Fell Flowers in Bridgehampton and Laura Thorne at Hamptons Party Rental Ltd. and filled with his two daughters and their friends. He was serving them “leftovers,” he laughed, of what was available after providing a lot of meals. If you want to use a caterer at the Classic, you must order from Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs, or carry food in yourself.
“There’s 190 tables in the tent and we’re serving more than 100 of them,” he told us. “It’s all a la carte. So, most menus are completely different. There’s anything from Lobster Rolls, Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Waffles, Filet Mignon, Grilled Salmon with Meyer Lemon Cream, to wonderful farm stand salads. Every once in awhile, though, somebody has to have a hot dog! We sell them in our concession so we have them here, but don’t usually make them table available. They’re Hebrew National, all beef and Kosher, so that takes care of everybody.
“We served over 8,000 people food and over 12,000 drinks this week, so it’s been fabulous. And the weather has been ideal: dry with a little breeze and not too humid.”
That little breeze was the hint of autumn, reminding us when the last glass of bubbly is served at the Hampton Classic, the summer parties are over!
Hamptons.com Written by: Lee Fryd