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OCALA, FL
(February 5, 2007) — Sergio Campos may not have wanted the week to end at HITS Ocala as he won his second consecutive $25,000 Footing
Authority™ Grand Prix at HITS Post Time Farm aboard Zizou to conclude the HITS Ocala January series.
HITS Ocala is now in a one week hiatus and returns on Wednesday, February 14 with the Ocala Winter Classic that begins five consecutive weeks of A-rated horse shows. On Thursday, February 15 the first of five $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix will premier at HITS Post Time Farm and on Sunday, February 18, the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix will take centerstage.
Campos is hoping his success continues over the next five weeks. "Winning both Grand Prix classes is a start that I would not have imagined, " said Campos. "Ocala has some very good riders competing here so to keep this winning streak going will be hard, but I will do my best."
Campos and nine other horse/rider combinations came back to challenge course designer Jamie Alder's jump-off route. Campos was the fastest out of four riders that went double-clear. Going second in the jump-off, he set the pace early stopping the clocks at 34.486.
Next to go clean was Mark Jungherr and Olinoeska;
however, his time of 40.863 was not good enough to catch the Great American Time to Beat set by Campos, leaving Jungherr in fourth place.
Beth Underhill and Magdaline navigated the course perfectly in their jump-off round. But she was nearly two seconds off Campos' pace, leaving her in second place. The last double-clear round belonged to Tracy Magness and Tarco Van Ter Moude. Their time of 36.690 was good enough for third place and $3,250 in prize money for owners Mr. and Mrs. John Bartko.
Callan Solem and Mianta had the last to ride position but she dropped a rail on fence 4 giving Campos $7,500 in prize money to take home for owner Rae Marie Kennedy as he gets ready for the Ocala Winter Classic.
Aside from world-class show jumping during the Ocala Winter Classic, spectators will be treated to several special events during the week. The Morrisville State College Six-in-Hand Belgian Draft Horse Hitch is scheduled to perform Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the horse show. Exact performance times are to be determined. 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.
On HITS' agenda for
2007 in Ocala is the unveiling of a new Grand
Prix Ring and a 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 will 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.
"The new Grand
Prix Ring looks amazing," said Campos. "We
didn't get to jump in it yet but I am looking
forward to competing in it when the rated horse
shows begin. The entire facility looks great."
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.
©Flying Horse Photography
Sergio Campos and Zizou win the $25,000 Footing Authority™ Grand Prix.
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Placing
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Horse
|
Rider
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Owner
|
Prize
Money
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Rd
1 Faults
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JO
Faults
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JO
Time
|
|
1
|
Zizou
|
Sergio
Campos
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Rae Marie Kennedy
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$7,500
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0
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0
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39.05
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2
|
Magdaline
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Beth Underhill
|
Beth Underhill
|
$5,500
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0
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0
|
|
|
3
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Tarco Van Ter Moude
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Tracy Magness
|
Mr. and Mrs. John Bartko
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$3,250
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0
|
0
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40.59
|
|
4
|
Olinoeska
|
Mark Jungherr
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Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Waters
|
$2,000
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0
|
0
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40.44
|
|
5
|
Cliff 28
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Derek Peterson
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Patrick Gruninger
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$1,500
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0
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4
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41.64
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6
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Hojagergards
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Jeffrey Martin
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Cyndy McWilliams
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$1,250
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0
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4
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42.07
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Adequan Open Hunter
- Untold, ridden and owned by Jodi Czaplick,
Speonk, NY
Farnam
Adult Hunter 18-35
- Gold Edition , ridden and owned by Kathleen Selke,
Schomberg, Ontario, Canada
Farnam Adult
Hunter 36 & Over - Winchester, ridden and
owned by Dorothy Ammerman,
Waitsfield, VT
M&S
Child/Adult Hunter Classic - C R Conde,
ridden and owned by Bridgette Burke,
Ocala, FL
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