Previously held in Los Angeles, the American leg of the Grand Slam will be moving to New York and will now serve as the grand finale of the Longines Masters Series.
One glance at the Longines Masters Facebook page and it was clear: people are, in a word, torn that the American leg of the third annual Longines Masters Grand Slam series will be officially moving to New York from Los Angeles for the 2018 year. It marks a new beginning for the Longines Masters, now known as a signature event in the world of showjumping. No longer will horses and their passionate owners be expected to be pent up in the hot and humid (but, frankly, beautiful) LA weather. Now they’ll take their jumps freely on Long Island, at the newly renovated NYCB Live in Nassau county. The move cements Paris, Hong Kong, and New York as the destinations selected for the 2018 Series.
Longines celebrated the new home in high style (and in a way only New York can) with a opulent bash atop the luxurious The Peninsula Hotel in midtown, just off 5th Avenue. Taking over the entire rooftop bar, Salon De Ning, Longines turned the space into an all-out celebration of all things Masters. In partnership with event developer EEM, guests were treated to introduction videos and speakers (including heads of Longines and EEM, as well as expert rider McLain Ward) that give a view of what a Masters event would look like in NY. No doubt the excitement will be well preserved, and LA would certainly be missed but not a point of mourning, if the crowd at Salon De Ning was any indication. Friends of the famed timepiece brand spoke about its commitment to the world of horses while oysters (How could you not? The Longines Masters will be hosted on Long Island, after all), gold-encrusted Foie Gras, spring rolls, Reuben sandwiches and more were passed as a trio played soft jazz and drinks were available at the open bar.
The evening also marked an opportunity for Longines and EEM to reveal the artwork for the upcoming season of the Masters. This year’s artist is Sirichai, who’s worked at nearly every fashion house and many brands. His commitment to emotive style was on full-display for his three-piece series for the Masters. Dynamic and abstract views of horses and their riders marked the minimalist posters. When speaking to Sirichai, he remarked that he likes his “work to be subtle, you must work for it [to have meaning]”. The pieces on view were stunning and absolutely cemented Longines Masters as one of the most sophisticated and expressive equestrian events on earth.
Other notables in attendance included Georgina Bloomberg, Ariana Rockefeller, Mario and Lisa Deslauriers, Katie Dinan and Reed Kessler.
Save the date: April 26 – 29, 2018 for the grand finale of the 2018 Longines Masters Grand Slam.
