Hampton Classic rides on after Irene

A Tropical Storm Irene riddle: How is it the storm didn't blow over a single huge, white spectators' tent or shopping boutique at the 36th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show, and yet all the tents were on the grounds when it was all over?

Answer: After the grounds were set up ahead of schedule for Sunday's planned opening, the staff, trying not to cry at the enormity of the task, took down the 18 stable tents with their 1,600 horse stalls, dismantled 40 boutique, seating and VIP tents, and packed up all the rented tables and chairs.

"We build a city here every year," said Dennis Suskind, president of the Classic's board. "When the eye of the storm was coming toward Bridgehampton, I thought we might have to cancel the show."

Instead, staffers worked furiously to take it all down and reconstruct it three days later.

The show opened Wednesday on a beautiful summer day on Snake Hollow Road in Bridgehampton. It has been condensed from eight days to five, and a revised schedule is available at hamptonclassic.com. Admission is $10 per person; $20 per car.

Sleek horses guided by riders leaped regally over fences in the Grand Prix ring Wednesday. The five other rings were jammed with competitions to make up for lost days.

Boutiques sold everything from Classic T-shirts to Jaguars.

Mario Deslauriers flew in after competing in Europe to jump with his gray horse, Vicomte.

"It's the best show in the United States, because of the atmosphere, because of the Hamptons," he said.

Robert Zimmerman, of Southampton, said he has attended the Classic for at least 15 years.

"Unlike a lot of other Hamptons events, people aren't just here for the cocktails," he said. "They're here to watch world-class equestrian competition."