HITS Ocala Holiday Classic Recap

 
The HITS Ocala Holiday Series wrapped up with another week of beautiful weather, and a turnout of exceptional horses and riders.

To kick-off the week in the jumper rings, Aaron Vale took home first and fourth place honors in the $2,500 Johnson Horse Transportation Open Welcome aboard BONZINI S and EXCLUSIVE, respectively. Second place was Erin Haas and COACHELLA, followed by Agustin Rosales and VOIGTSDORFS QUONSCHBOB in third. Dorothy Douglas would round out the top five standings aboard CHACCO LAIT.

On Friday, the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix was held, where Erin Haas won the blue ribbon aboard COACHELLA. Receiving the second and third place honors was Kyle Dewar aboard CLEVER VAN DE HELLE and DARKO’S PROMISE, respectively. Morgan Ward rode to a fourth place finish aboard DIACORD, followed by Kirk Webby and BRANDO DU ROUET in fifth place.
 
Erin Haas and COACHELLA on their way to capture the blue ribbon in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

Dorothy Douglas and MTM ICARLY claimed the first place ribbon in the $10,000 1.45m Open Prix on Saturday. Taking home the red ribbon was Karl Beyer and ABALOU, followed by Stephen Moore and FEIN UMBRA in third place. Fourth place honors went to Agustin Rosales and VOIGTSDORFS QUONSCHBOB. Morgan Ward and BIJOU DU PONT RIHEN would round out the top five.

HITS wrapped up the week in the jumper ring with the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix on Sunday where Kirk Webby and BRANDO DU ROUET rose to the top of the standings. Following Webby in second place was Darragh Kenny and IMPORTANT DE MUZE. Winning the third place ribbon was Jared Petersen aboard CATANO 29, followed by Dorothy Douglas and CHACCO LAIT in fourth place. Derek Petersen aboard DIAMANT’S LEGACY rounded out the top five in the feature event.

Kirk Webby aboard BRANDO DU ROUET after claiming the blue ribbon in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix

Saturday was a successful day for hunter riders as two hunter prix, the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix and the $2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, took place. In the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix, Elizabeth Phillips and SIENNA would score a two round total that would put her to the top of the standings. In second place was Emma Witham and CARTIER, followed by Taylor Masters and ROCK HARBOUR to round out the top three in the class.

With a combined score high enough to take home first place honors in the $2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, Morgan Ward and HUEHUETENANGO won the class. Second place was awarded to Melissa Deryn Foster and CARRILOU, followed by Shachine Belle and LANVAUX in third place.

Elizabeth Phillips and SIENNA jumping to a first place finish in the
$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
Morgan Ward aboard HUEHUETENANGO on their way to a win in the
$2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

The HITS Ocala Winter Circuit will return for its 37th year on January 16, 2018. We are proud to announce that it will again feature the Longines FEI Nations CupTM Jumping of the USA 2018, a CSIO5*, including two new sections this year for Children and Junior riders, during Week V.  Additional feature jumper classes and events include an FEI CSI3* Division during Week VI and the $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix during Week IX, all leading up to the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix on March 25. There are also a number of special hunter classes including two USHJA International Hunter Derbies during Weeks IV and X, the World Championship Hunter Rider during Week VIII, and the Devoucoux and Platinum Performance Hunter Prix each week which are qualifiers for the 2018 HITS Championships.

The Prize List for the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit is now available online. Entries for the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit are due on January 3. For more information or to submit your entries electronically, visit HitsShows.com.

All photography is courtesy of ESI Photography.