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OCALA, FL
(February 16, 2007) — It doesn't seem to matter what day of the week it is at HITS Ocala for Sergio Campos, who won his third consecutive Grand Prix at HITS Post Time Farm securing the blue ribbon in Thursday's $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix aboard Shakira Do Jacare.
Campos won both $25,000 Footing Authority™ Grand Prix classes on the first two Sundays of the unrated horse show at HITS Ocala. And he certainly got off on the right foot during the Ocala Winter Classic securing $7,500 in prize money as he bested a field of 24 riders. The victory marks the first win ever in the new Grand Prix ring at Post Time Farm.
"The ring is beautiful," said course designer Ken Krome. "It is a classic place to show jumpers. We had a really great class and I am very pleased that I was able to set the first Grand Prix in that ring."
Campos was the fastest of five riders on Krome's jump-off course. Campos had the third trip in the jump-off and set the Great American Time to Beat at 38.807. Callan Solem and Mianta were next to go in the jump-off. The horse/rider combination went clear but they could not stop the clocks fast enough, as their time of 39.834 was only good enough for second place. Solem collected $5,500 in prize money for Quiet Winter Farm.
Aaron Vale had the envious last to ride position. Aboard Serval, he experienced heartbreak at the final hurdle dropping jump 16. His time of 38.345 would have been good enough to secure the victory. That same jump tripped up Vale and Centus 4 and Libby Mckinney and Gun Du Desfi as they finished fourth and fifth, respectively
"It was certainly an exciting jump-off," said Krome. "Aaron Vale had actually beat Sergio's time but that last rail got him. It was a little roll back turn with a liverpool underneath. And Sergio had set the pace so fast that everyone else had to roll the dice to see who could catch him."
The Ocala Winter Classic continues all weekend with show jumping from 8 am until 5 pm. Spectators will be treated to several special events this weekend. The Morrisville State College Six-in-Hand Belgian Draft Horse Hitch is scheduled to perform Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the horse show. The Morrisville Belgian Hitch is an impressive exhibit that consists of six horses from four to nine years of age ranging from 17.2 to 18.3 hands and weighing anywhere from 1,900 to 2,300 pounds each.
Visitors to the horse show on Sunday will also be treated to chocolate tasting courtesy of the Melting Pot and relaxing chair massages courtesy of The Ranch Fitness Center from noon until 2 pm.
HITS is proud to host competitions in its new Grand Prix ring and new Main Hunter ring with a raised berm for VIP seating that overlooks both rings. These rings are located at the east end of the current show ring area. Both rings feature state-of-the-art footing provided by Footing Authority™, a division of International Surfaces Group, Inc. The Grand Prix ring will feature Polyrite™; the industry's most advanced polymer-coated synthetic footing, while the Main Hunter ring will provide a soft ride on EuroFelt ® -enhanced footing.
Since its introduction
in 1982, the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit has become
a fixture on the East Coast show jumping circuit.
Each winter, the Ocala Circuit attracts national
and international participants from the United
States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Classes offered
range from the Grand Prix show jumping classes
to a selection of divisions for both the beginning
and experienced rider. Located in Ocala/Marion
County, the heart of Florida's horse country,
the area is home to over 600 horse farms and hundreds
of supporting facilities and businesses. HITS
moved the Ocala horse shows from the 100-acre
Golden Hills International Show Grounds to the
circuit's new home, the 300+ acre Post Time Farm
in 2002. HITS Post Time Farm is located just a few
miles west of the Golden Hills International Show
Grounds on Highway 27. The Post Time Training
Center was originally built for thoroughbred racehorses.
The facility is professionally landscaped and
features gated entrances, 52 miles of four-board
fencing, 26 permanent barns that house 500 stalls,
numerous paddocks, bridle paths, and additional
buildings for the horse show office, restaurant,
and on-site school.
In January 2006 HITS
entered into a private equity arrangement with
Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. in Los Angeles.
As a result, HITS, Inc. is able to develop and
execute exciting operational and strategic initiatives
that both solidify its well-established position
as the leader in horse show management and allows
for new growth opportunities including the construction
of the new HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California.
HITS generates significant economic impact in
each of its five venues in California, Arizona,
Florida, Virginia and New York.
©Lili Weik Photography
Sergio Campos and Shakira Do Jacare win the $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix.
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Placing
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Horse
|
Rider
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Owner
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Prize
Money
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Rd
1 Faults
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JO
Faults
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JO
Time
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1
|
Shakira Do Jacare
|
Sergio
Campos
|
Sergio Campos
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$7,500
|
0
|
0
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38.80
|
|
2
|
Mianta
|
Callan Solem
|
Quiet Winter Farm
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$5,500
|
0
|
0
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|
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3
|
Serval
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Aaron Vale
|
Serval Group
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$3,250
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0
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4
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38.34
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|
4
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Centus 4
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Aaron Vale
|
Aaron Vale
|
$2,000
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0
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4
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40.22
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5
|
Gun Du Desfi
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Libby Mckinney
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Libby Mckinney
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$1,500
|
0
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4 |
40.91
|
|
6
|
Tarco Van Ter Moude
|
Tracy Magness
|
Mr. and Mrs. John Bartko
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$1,250
|
4
|
|
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