Sports
Real Estate Roundtable
Susan Hovdesven competing in the Hampton Classic Horse Show.
Kind Media LLC
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hampton Classic Horse Show— a time when equestrians take center stage (in the ring, that is) in the Hamptons. How have horse culture and equestrian properties influenced the Hamptons real estate market over the years? Are there any trends you are seeing in demand for these types of homes (and barns) today? In addition, is there any special memory you have of the horse show, especially one that might have a tie to real estate?

Sarah Doud
SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES
BRIDGEHAMPTON
Horse properties across the East End have always been a significant part of the draw to the Hamptons – the rural atmosphere has attracted locals and visitors alike. The open fields and the natural beauty are often what make “the Hamptons” so unique and picturesque – it has helped make our real estate market highly desirable for generations. Some farms and facilities are being preserved as is and others have been and continue to be transformed into world-class luxury equine facilities, trading at high multi-million dollar values. The horse culture remains important to our market. Many old barns are being restored to their glory or repurposed for luxury cars or home amenities. Not everyone chooses to “save the history,” but there are many homeowners, architects and designers who do seek these opportunities and focus on restoring the equestrian influence. Some barns have also been repositioned for commercial uses – a need that is very much in high demand. My grandmother, Diana Brennan, helped secure the land lease when the Hampton Classic first relocated to its current home on Snake Hollow Road. She also helped create the vision for the Boutique Garden — a tremendously smart way to create commerce and excitement on an old farm parcel. My family is especially proud to see the Classic celebrate 50 years. Diana’s great-granddaughters Annabelle and Elizabeth continue the tradition of riding — they had the honor of riding in last year’s Opening Day Lead Line Division.


Chris Ritchey
COMPASS
EAST HAMPTON
Horse culture has left an enduring imprint on the Hamptons real estate market, blending lifestyle, history and beauty. One example is my current listing at 19 Horseshoe Drive in East Hampton, offered at $3 million. The property sits within the Dune Alpin Association, the original site of the Hampton Classic before it moved to its current Bridgehampton location. While the grounds have since been developed into townhouses and freestanding homes, the equestrian heritage remains visible in post-and-rail fencing, wide open pastures, and even a few retired horses grazing in the fields. Across the Hamptons, most notably in Bridgehampton and Sagaponack, but truly everywhere, homes near equestrian properties benefit from expansive sky views, pastoral landscapes, and a unique charm that often enhances neighborhood value. I’ve enjoyed so many memorable Hampton Classic weeks over the years, each special in its own way. A few years back, my table décor of paper flowers with QR codes linking to local charities won “Most Innovative,” which was such a fun honor. But I have a feeling this year will top them all, as I’ll be competing for the very first time. I’m incredibly grateful to my trainer and the horse’s owner, Rebecca Robin, for making this dream a reality.


Dana Trotter
THE AGENCY
BRIDGEHAMPTON
The equestrian lifestyle and the Hamptons have always gone hand in hand. Owning horses has long been considered a luxury, and the Hamptons provide the perfect setting for equestrians to enjoy what they love, whether it’s riding through fields, spending a day at the polo matches, unwinding by the ocean, or boating on the bay. What makes this region so unique is that it offers something for everyone in the family, golf, tennis, sailing, or simply relaxing with a book in a setting that feels both vibrant and serene. The equestrian lifestyle, and the Hampton Classic Horse Show in particular, has long been part of life in the Hamptons, adding to the real estate market by reflecting both the prestige of the sport and the area’s lifestyle appeal. Here, homes are more than residences; they are expressions of a way of life where luxury meets passion. Increasingly, buyers seek lifestyle-driven properties that let them create lasting memories doing what they love. For some, that means a full-scale equestrian estate with world-class facilities; for others, a smaller gentleman’s farm where they can keep their horses close to home. This blend of elegance, sport, and lifestyle continues to make the Hamptons one of the world’s most sought-after destinations.


Susan Hovdesven
DOUGLAS ELLIMAN
SOUTHAMPTON
Horses are a natural part of a farming community and are woven into the history of the area. Local land preservation has allowed for several new barns to be developed that provide beautiful vistas for homeowners who are fortunate enough to purchase a property bordering a horse farm. Buyers will pay a premium for horse farm views. Unfortunately, the current trend is to build as large a home as you can and as many homes as you can overlooking horse properties. This building takes away from the intention of preserving these large open space horse properties. While there are many restrictions on what can be built on a horse farm, the same is not true for what can be built bordering the horse farms. Today, you might see a horse grazing next to a 10,000 sq ft home and that is a shame.” Fellow real estate agents, Marilyn Clark, Raquel Lopez, Rolanda Doolan and Dana Trotter are all as passionate about horses as me. Seeing them at the Classic and under the tent makes me feel a special connection to them. The horse connection is powerful.


Jackie Dunphy
THE CORCORAN GROUP
EAST HAMPTON
I love horses and riding, and I am proud to report that my daughter Daniella is now a riding instructor, so she’s taken the reins as the horsewoman in the family. The 50th anniversary of the Hampton Classic Horse Show is a great reminder of how deeply horse culture is embedded in the identity of our region. It has directly impacted our market — from building design to restructuring the landscape out here. Over the years, we’ve seen farm fields transformed into equestrian centers, and as a result, growing demand for homes near these world-class facilities or close to horse trails. Equestrian properties have long been a cornerstone of our luxury market – not just for their acreage and amenities, but for the lifestyle they represent. In addition, the influence extends to architecture and design, with many new homes embracing a “modern barn” aesthetic that complements the natural beauty of the landscape. The event itself also acts as a catalyst for real estate interest. Many attendees start as seasonal renters and may eventually become local buyers. The show draws international attention, and its prestige elevates the desirability of nearby properties. Maybe more importantly, it introduces new people from around the world to the magic of the Hamptons.

Bonnie Williamson
DANIEL GALE SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
HUNTINGTON
I have seen investments in homes close to the Bridgehampton showgrounds and the development of a lot more horse farms that have easy access to the showgrounds. There used to be fields and now there are farms. I have recently sold two properties in the last couple of years to equestrians who want to have their own barns and paddocks on their property rather than keep them at a boarding stable. They don’t want to have to compete with others for ring time and jumps and prefer having their own grooms taking care of their prize show horses and know that they are getting fed the proper food and are being well taken care of. Also, after the initial investment, the board, which keeps going up, is more manageable for those with multiple show horses. I remember seeing all the celebrities with their children or celebrity riders like Peter Boyle, Lawrence Fishburn, Joan London and Kelly Kline. I sat outside a show ring, after competing and negotiated the sale of a $25 million estate on my cell phone to a celebrity while pretending I was in my office.

This article appears in the August 28, 2025, edition of Behind The Hedges in Dan’s Papers. Click here to read the full digital edition. For previous Real Estate Roundtable editions, tap this link.

Sports
Volleyball Closes Season Against No. 1 Kentucky in NCAA Tournament
LEXINGTON, KY. – The Wofford volleyball team was defeated by the No. 1 seeded Kentucky Wildcats 3-0 on Thursday night inside of Historic Memorial Coliseum in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Terriers close the season 17-14 with a 10-6 record in conference action. Kentucky will take on UCLA tomorrow night.
“Our mindset was to come out and leave it out there,” said head coach Lynze Roos. “I feel like we competed in some really good points. They got some separation and that was tough, but I’m really proud of the way that these women competed in the season that we had.”
Wofford totaled 27 kills on 26 assists throughout the match. On defense, the team posted 54 digs and four blocks. The Wildcats finished the match with 45 kills on 44 assists. Kentucky also posted 56 digs and four blocks.
Leading Wofford was Bradley Brown who had 10 kills on a .259 hitting percentage. Brown also led the team with three blocks. Following behind was Chloe Smith with six kills. Maddy Frazier dished out a team-high 13 assists, while Taylor Pecht had 10. Laney Klika recorded a team-high 13 digs, along with 10 from Caroline Przystup. Annemarie Rakoski and Natalie Arnold tallied one block apiece.
“We talk a lot about playing relentless defense and going for every single ball. We knew that tonight was going to be a tough task, but you never really know unless you go for it,” said Laney Klika.
“We talked a lot before the game about playing how we play and not letting their offense or defense change the way that we like to play,” added Annemarie Rakoski.
“It was amazing just to be able to have some family and friends that I don’t get to see very much anymore come watch me play. It was super cool to just have that support,” said Chloe Smith.
Kentucky grabbed the first two points of set one, but Wofford responded with a solo block by Annemarie Rakoski. Another solo block from Bradley Brown kept the Kentucky lead within one point. With the Wildcats leading 13-8, Kentucky would add four unanswered points to bring the Wofford deficit to nine points. The Terriers could not overcome the Kentucky lead, losing set one 25-11.
The teams were back-and-forth to start set two, as the Terriers would take an early 5-4 lead. Wofford took its biggest advantage – a 15-13 lead – after a pair of Kentucky attacking errors. The Wildcats fought back to take a 20-19 lead, and the team scored the final five points of the stanza to take set two 25-19. Bradley Brown totaled eight kills and one block in the second set alone.
Wofford jumped out to a 2-0 lead to start the third set of the match by way of a Bradley Brown kill. Kentucky responded with a 7-1 run, however, to regain the lead. The Wildcats would eventually take a 13-4 advantage. Wofford cut the deficit to six points a few rallies later, but the team would lose set three and ultimately the match.
Wofford concludes the season 17-14 with a 10-6 mark in Southern Conference play. The team entered the conference tournament as the No. 3 seed and defeated both No. 6 Samford and No. 2 Furman to reach the championship match. The Terriers took down No. 1 ETSU to win their third-straight conference championship and earn another bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Sports
Demon Deacons Open Season at Liberty Kickoff
Junior Seren Rodgers secured a third place finish in the pentathlon, totaling 3,771 points. With the result, the Taunton, England, native now sits sixth all-time in program history in the women’s indoor pentathlon.
Overall, Rodgers recorded three podium finishes during the competition, including a pair of runner up results in the long jump, where she recorded a jump of 10.32 meters, and the 800m, crossing the line in 2:19.62. Rodgers also claimed third place in the 60m hurdles after clocking a time of 8.86 seconds.
Meanwhile, freshman Julia Aere also competed in the pentathlon, securing eighth place with 3,462 points in her collegiate debut. The Delray Beach, Fla., native placed inside the top-10 in all five events, highlighted by a third place finish in the shot put after recording a distance of 11.13 meters, as well as a fifth place result in the 800m after recording a time of 2:27.34.
Notable Finishes
Pentathlon
2025-26 Indoor Track and Field Top-10 Marks in School History
From the Staff
“I’m really pleased with how the competition progressed today. Julia and Seren competed well and this meet was a great measure of how hard we have worked throughout the fall semester. It gave us a chance to get out, perform at a high level and still recognize that we left some points on the table, which is exciting. We are in a great place heading into the holiday break and this will keep us motivated and hungry. These two ladies set the tone early for the team and we are eager for the rest of the team to compete this weekend.” – Assistant Coach Ryan Grinnell
Up Next
The Demon Deacons return to action on Saturday with a pair of meets. One group of Wake Forest athletes will travel to Boston to compete in the 5K race at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Meanwhile, several Deacs will compete at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-off at the JDL Fast Track.
Sports
Lopes unveil 2025-26 indoor slate
After the Lopes dominant WAC indoor run of 14 conference titles between the men’s and women’s teams, GCU will compete in its first season as a Mountain West member.
Grand Canyon’s indoor schedule will feature meets in trips to Flagstaff, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Reno, Nevada.
“Again, we are really excited about our indoor schedule,” Flood said. “We will again be competing at some of the finest indoor facilities in the country and against some of the best track and field programs in the country.”
The 2025-26 season begins Thursday as the Lopes travel to Reno, Nevada, before taking a break until the new year. From there, they will travel to Flagstaff and Albuquerque before heading back to Reno for the Mountain West Indoor Championships.
GCU aims to represent at the NCAA Indoor Championships, which will be held March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
For the full indoor schedule, click here.
Sports
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field 2026 Season Preview
A new era in Hope College track and field begins today with the first indoor meet of the 2026 season.
Beginning at noon, the Flying Dutch and Flying Dutchmen are competing at the Grand Valley State University Holiday Open under the leadership of first-year head coach Jordan Bartolazzi, the 11th women’s head coach in program history and the 13th men’s coach.
Bartolazzi, who built his alma mater, Elmhurst University (Illinois), into a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin power before coming to Hope, is thrilled with the progress both teams made during preseason workouts.
“There was a lot of good stuff going on here to build on,” Bartolazzi said. “Our focus, with every practice, has been preparing to compete, whether we’re an All-American or trying to crack the conference lineup. We have a lot of student-athletes working really hard. We’ve been having a ball. There has been really good energy. I think it’s been a good start for us.”
The Flying Dutch, who finished third in the MIAA Women’s Indoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches Poll, feature a roster of 73, with 17 seniors, 17 juniors, 14 sophomores and 25 freshmen.
The Flying Dutchmen, who also tookl thjird in the MIAA Men’s Indoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches Poll, have a roster of 64, with 18 seniors, nine juniors, 17 sophomores and 20 freshmen.
Coaching Staff
Head coach: Jordan Bartolazzi, first season
Distance coach: Mark Northuis
Distance assistant coaches: Dan Campbell, Mike Northuis
Throws coach: Paul Markel
Jumps coach: Addy Gerig
Pole vault coaches: Jon Lunderberg, Ben Turner
Women’s Roster
Senior Sara Schermerhorn (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) is Hope’s top returner after claiming All-America honors in four events for the second consecutive season in 2025: indoor and outdoor 200 meters and indoor and outdoor 400 meters.
The exercise science major swept MIAA Most Valuable Indoor and Outdoor Track Athlete honors as a junior and earned MIAA Most Valuable Indoor Track Athlete accolades in back-to-back seasons. She became the first sprinter in league history to win titles in the 60, 200 and 400 at the same meet.
Schermerhorn set MIAA records in the indoor 200 and 400 meters last season. She also ran on the MIAA champion 4×400 relay, which returns two other sprinters: senior Frances Cozzens (Lyman, New Hampshire / Saint Johnsbury Academy) and sophomore Sofia Fisher (Lombard, Illinois / Montini Catholic).
Hope returns three runners from the MIAA champion distance medley relay: senior Molly Durow (Glenview, Illinois / Glenbrook South), junior Amanda Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / William Fremd) and sophomore Lily Sackrider (St. Johns, Michigan / St. Johns).
Durow is coming off an All-America cross country campaign this fall. The special education major finished 32nd at the Division III national championships and was runner-up at the Great Lakes Regional and MIAA Championships.
“We have great leadership,” Bartolazzi said. “Not only do we have some great upperclassmen, but we have some really wonderful seniors who have made an effort to welcome our freshmen and newcomers to the program. It’s a gift to have great senior leadership in year one.”
Men’s Roster
Hope returns senior sprinter Liam Danitz, the 2025 First Team All-MIAA honoree and MIAA Most Valuable Men’s Indoor Track Athlete.
Danitz (West Branch, Michigan / Ogemaw Heights) set an MIAA record in the 200-meter dash (21.59), earned First Team All-America honors with a fifth-place national finish in the 200 (21.93), and took second in the 60-meter dash (6.83) for All-MIAA Second Team honors.
The exercise science major also contributed to an All-MIAA Second Team 4×400 relay alongside returning junior Dylan Terpstra (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville).
Senior Erickson Kunzler (Marne, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central) returns as the MIAA 800-meter champion after posting a winning time of 1:56.09.
Senior Carston Cole (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) and junior Carter Dean (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) also return from last year’s All-MIAA First Team distance medley relay.
Cole recorded Hope’s top cross country finish at nationals this fall. The Flying Dutchmen placed 23rd in the nation as a team and made history with their first Great Lakes Regional title since 1980 and first MIAA crown since 1986.
Sophomore Logan Begeman (Portage, Michigan / Portage Central) ran away with the Great Lakes Regional and MIAA individual championships.
“They’re hungry,” Bartolazzi said of the Flying Dutchmen. “Having that breakthrough season in cross country is such a gift. They felt like they were close and believed they could compete at the conference and national levels. They showed they could. That carries over to the track season.”
Schedule
The Flying Dutch and Flying Dutchmen are scheduled to compete in 10 indoor meets and eight outdoor meets.
The MIAA Indoor Championships are Saturday, Feb. 28, at Trine University.
The NCAA Indoor Championships are Friday-Saturday, March 13-14, in Birmingham, Alabama.
Hope will host the MIAA Outdoor Championships on Friday-Saturday, April 30-May 1, at Brewer Track.
The NCAA Outdoor Championships are Thursday-Saturday, May 21-23, in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
“One thing I wanted to do this year was get our student-athletes on banked tracks a little more,” Bartolazzi said. “Nationals will be on a banked track, so I want them to know what that feels like. It’s a great thing in West Michigan — you don’t have to go far to race against really good people.”
Sports
Mustangs Open Track and Field Season This Weekend
Blue-Gold Invite
Loftus Sports Center – South Bend, Indiana
Friday, December 5, 2025
Live Results
McFerrin-12 Degree Invite
Fasken Indoor Track – College Station, Texas
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Live Results | Watch
Sharon Colyear Danville Season Opener
BU Track & Tennis Center – Boston, Massachusetts
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Live Results | Watch
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SMU Mobile App Apple | Google Play
DALLAS, Texas (SMU) — The Mustangs will open up their 2025-2026 track and field season across three different meets this weekend. The distance ponies will split between Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold Invite and Boston University’s Sharon Colyear Danville Season Opener. The rest of the team will travel to Texas A&M’s McFerrin-12 Degree Invite.
This meet will serve as a soft opener for the Mustangs with the remainder of the season beginning in mid-January. The distance athletes are coming off a successful cross country season, which concluded with an appearance at the national championship for Rose Mburu, but this will be the first competition for the sprints, jumps, and multis after fall training.
The action will begin on Friday at Notre Dame and continue at the other two meets on Saturday.
Sports
Sooners Set to Host OU Winter Field Fest Season Opener
The meet is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. and will include a combination of field and sprint events.
Admission is free to fans. Live results from the OU Winter Field Fest can be found via TimingInc.
The Sooners are coming off their first season in the SEC, where they claimed seven individual conference titles.
OU Winter Field Fest Schedule of Events
Triple Jump (M) – 1:30 p.m.
Weight Throw (M) – 1:30 p.m.
High Jump (W) – 2:30 p.m.
Triple Jump (W) – 3 p.m.
Pole Vault (W) – 3 p.m.
Weight Throw (W) – 3 p.m.
60M Hurdles Prelims (W) – 3 p.m.
60M Hurdles Prelims (M) – 3:15 p.m.
60M Dash Prelims (W) – 3:30 p.m.
60M Dash Prelims (M) – 3:45 p.m.
Long Jump (M) – 4:30 p.m.
Shot Put (M) – 4:30 p.m.
60M Hurdles Finals (W) – 4:30 p.m.
60M Hurdles Finals (M) – 4:40 p.m.
60M Dash Finals (W) – 4:50 p.m.
60M Dash Finals (M) – 5 p.m.
Pole Vault (M) – 5:30 p.m.
Long Jump (W) – 6 p.m.
High Jump (M) – 6 p.m.
Shot Put (W) – 6 p.m.
For more information on Oklahoma Track & Field, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Track) and like Oklahoma Sooners Track & Field and Cross Country on Facebook.
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