Exciting Entertainment Lined up for Hampton Classic's Third Annual Fiesta Day, Presented by Hoy.

Business Editors

BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 13, 2003

Exciting entertainment is already lined up for the Hampton Classic, which runs from Sunday, August 24 through Sunday, August 31. The Hampton Classic's third edition of its annual Fiesta Day, promises to be even more exciting when it kicks off on Friday, August 29. Presented by Hoy, the second largest Spanish language daily in the country, the day will feature a variety of entertainers from Bolivia, Ecuador, Medico, Peru, Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries.

Drawn from New York's diverse Latino and Hispanic communities, Fiesta Day is a one-day social and sporting event intended as a tribute to the Greater New York Hispanic and Latino community.

Fiesta Day provides opportunities to honor leading members of the Hispanic communities from a national to regional to local level. These community leaders include representatives of the United States and Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, as well as Hispanic civic leaders from the Hamptons and invited diplomats. One Hispanic individual who has contributed to the horse industry in America will receive the 2003 Outstanding Hispanic Horseman Award, as well as a special jacket and other gifts in the main ring.

In addition, music and dance exhibitions representing many of the 23 countries that make up Hispanic/Latino culture will showcase their varied traditions. There will be food booths scattered throughout the grounds with cuisine from a selection of Hispanic & Latino cuisines, such as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Columbian, and Cuban food.

Following is a listing and brief description of some of the secured acts for 2003 Fiesta Day:

Apryl Cadabra - Apryl is a third-generation Latin American performer whose multiple talents are superbly displayed in her twenty-minute show that involves live animals, balloon art and a great sense of humor reflecting her several years of performing experience.

Mexico Lindo - Mexican Children's Ballet who will be dancing to traditional Mexican Folkloric Music. Ortilia Navas, who is originally from Mexico and now lives in Southampton, teaches children ages 7 to 12 traditional Mexican dances. Their costumes and choreography make the Mexican culture come to life.

Felix Andino - Felix Andino, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, accumulated years of musical influences from Hector Lavoe, Ismael Miranda and other Latin Music greats spanning from Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Boleros and R&B. His CD release entitled "Me toca a mi" shows Felix's versatility as an artist as he takes on the challenge of singing Bachata, a genre of music commonly sung by artists of Dominican descent. Even though Felix is of Puerto Rican descent, he is passionate about his music and his desire to prove to Hispanics and non-Hispanics alike that Latin music, regardless of its origin, can be enjoyed and shared by everyone.

Raices Del Viento - This group, made up of musicians from Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador will perform music from the Andes. They have been playing together for more than seven years. Their music derives from Inca Culture. Their instruments include: Zampona(windpipe), Quena (flute), Charango (small 10 string instrument) drums and guitars. Manager: Max Ulloa.

Pepe Castillo and his Carribean Tropical Trio - Pepe is the Director of the Cultural Comitee for the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. He is a full-time musician who plays many instuments from drums to keyboard and composes on a regular basis. He is of Puerto Rican descent and now lives in Hells Kitchen, New York City.

Traveling Hispanic Theater - Flamenco, Salsa & Tango Performances. Founded in 1971, The Hispanic Traveling Theatre trains and presents dancers which reflect the diversity of Hispanic dance. Admittance to the company is on the basis of annual auditions, which are open to all applicants who express an interest in Hispanic dance.

Punto Y Coma - Long Island's Meringue Latin Sensation. Representing the Dominican Republic, this band is led by Carlos Arvelo who just recently released a new album.

Willie Santana - Willie Santana heads up a 12-piece Salsa band. Santana, who was raised in the Bronx, plays a variety of old classic Salsa and Mambo tunes.

Fiesta Day will have a new Mercado at the Classic in the Exhibition Horse area. It will consist of Latino-owned vendor booths offering arts, crafts, fashion, and other items for sale. It will be open Thursday - Sunday, August 28-31.

Job information and career opportunities will be available to visitors interested in working in the equine field. "Careers in the Horse Industry/Las Carerras en la Industria de Caballo" is a bilingual pamphlet created by the Hampton Classic and unveiled at the first Fiesta Day in 2001. Also available again this year is the bilingual coloring book, The World of the Horse(TM)/El Mundo del Caballo. Both the pamphlet and the coloring book will be available without charge on Fiesta Day and Kids Day at the Hampton Classic as well as at other selected horse events nationwide.

Fiesta Day is being planned in partnership with the US Chamber of Commerce, the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and several Spanish-language publications and radio and television stations.

Fiesta Day's exciting equestrian competition will include the $30,000 Adequan Fiesta Day Grand Prix, featuring some of the nation's top show jumping horses and riders. The Fiesta Day Grand Prix is a qualifier for the for the Hampton Classic's grand finale, the $150,000 Prudential Financial Grand Prix. Other competitions on Fiesta Day include the $7500 Show Jumping Derby Welcome Stake and the $15,000 New Things Open Jumper Speed Derby, as well as a wide variety of Hunter and Equitation classes.

Each year the Hampton Classic Horse Show attracts more than 50,000 spectators and celebrities to watch the country's best horses and riders compete. With the creme de la creme of show jumping riders attending the show and a star-studded audience cheering them on, the Hampton Classic is a weeklong sports and entertainment spectacle.

There simply is no other competition that brings together the thrill and prestige of the hunter-jumper circuit with so many thousands of spectators, extravagant social events, celebrities, and all surrounded by the beaches and elegant villages of Long Island's summer playground--The Hamptons.