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SAUGERTIES, NY (July 27, 2007)—As an opening to the second series of Saugerties horse shows, Thursday night HITS, Inc. invited exhibitors and special guests to enjoy a night of jazz, fabulous food and fine art at New World Home Cooking Co. in Saugerties, New York.
Ric Orlando and team spared no detail as towers of beautiful food, including selected cheeses, fruits, colorful dips, exotic tapas and passed hors d'oeuvres provided the centerpiece to the evening.
Food was not the only delight at the event. A varied collection of fine equine art adorned the walls with everything ranging from handsome sculptures to semi-abstract paintings. A number of horsemen took an interest in purchasing one or more pieces displayed last night.
"It was a great turnout for a really unique evening of art and sport,"said Tony Hitchcock, Sr. Vice President of HITS, Inc. "It was great to see such a diverse group of local businessmen and women mixing with the artists and our HITS customers. It was an especially nice opportunity for some of the talented artists in our area to shine."
And shine they did, as groups of people circled the room taking in the works of eleven different artists and more than 22 pieces of art. "I was constantly surprised at the level of interest in the event," said Leslie Phillips, Art Director for HITS, Inc. and lead organizer for the evening. "It started as a nice idea at a meeting one day and grew into a terrific evening. It was more than we could have hoped for and we intend to continue with the tradition."
Phillips and other members of the HITS team will be moving the installation from New World over to the HITS show grounds on Washington Avenue in Saugerties, where the works will be displayed for the next several weeks.
The night was also a success for Family of Woodstock, Inc., HITS' Official Charity for the Saugerties shows. Director Michael Berg and Registration Specialist Jessica Pierce were on hand to mix and mingle, and raise money for their annual Big $$$ Raffle which will be held on Sunday, August 12 at 3 pm at HITS-on-the-Hudson. Family was able to raise $650 during the evening!
"Everyone was incredibly supportive. It was just amazing," said Pierce. "These donations will go a long way to help people who are in great need. It was a lovely evening and we were glad to be a part of it." For more information on Family of Woodstock, Inc. and the Big $$$ Raffle visit: http://www.familyofwoodstockinc.org.
Week IV of show jumping at HITS Saugerties continues all weekend and culminates on Sunday, July 29 with the $75,000 Tavern on the Green Catering Grand Prix. The $22,500 Children's/Adult Championship and the $40,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship close out three consecutive weeks of shows on August 10-12 at HITS Saugerties. The summer series concludes with one final week of show jumping beginning on September 5, followed by the Marshall & Sterling League Finals, September 13-16 when acclaimed singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega will be performing for the Year-End High Point Awards Celebration that will be catered by Tavern on the Green Catering.
The HITS equestrian facility is nestled at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, just one mile outside the village of Saugerties. The facility offers an on-site food service pavilion, an ice cream parlor featuring an assortment of frozen delights and Starbucks® coffee. The HITS Bar and Grill serves up pizza and cold beer in a spacious air-conditioned lounge. Spectators can grab some lunch and find a grassy spot on the berms while watching some of the world's best show jumping right here in the Hudson Valley. It is a great family outing.
HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS produced its first horse show circuit in Gainesville, Florida in 1982. Since that time, HITS has grown into a nationwide company with world-class hunter/jumper circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com
Media should contact Chris Mayone at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com
All Photos (C) 2007 Danette Kadlic for HITS, Inc.
Wayne Corts and artist Katherine Savage enjoy a great evening at New World Home Cooking Co. Corts' daughter Tori Corts is an up-and-coming rider and trains under Olympian Todd Minikus.
Mary Drueding (left), Don Stewart and Nancy Stewart all made it to the Equine Art Gala after an exciting day of showing at the ring. 
Two exhibitors enjoy the fine art and the food at New World Home Cooking Co.
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