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Culpeper, VA (March 28, 2008)—Now
that the 2008 HITS Winter Circuits have come to a close, all eyes are on HITS Culpeper set to open its season with the
Commonwealth National, April 16-20 featuring the $40,000 EMO Grand Prix
on Sunday, April 20.
The
spring show at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia will be
exhibitors' first chance to experience the new facility improvements
and
revamped schedule. With the addition of the new Jumper 1 ring, a larger
more inviting ring now positioned near the Grand Prix Schooling area,
jumpers will now be concentrated in the same area of the property. The
ring that was formerly assigned as Jumper 1 will now become the
new Pony Hunter ring, which will have an adjacent schooling area
for
ponies.
New
rings mean new classes and divisions! The 2008 HITS Culpeper schedule
features classes that have proved popular at other HITS Circuits,
including Level 1 Jumpers, Adult Maiden and Adult Limit Equitation. Also
new for 2008 is the $5,000 Hunter Classic, offered Weeks I-V. This
Classic will be held in the Grand Prix ring each Saturday afternoon and
is open to horses showing in any A-rated hunter division.
Equitation
riders will also have their chance in the Grand Prix ring with the
addition of an Equitation Classic during Weeks I-V. This class will be
held on Saturdays, following the new Hunter Classic, at two different
heights (3' and 3'6") and will be judged together as one class. Riders
may elect to jump at either height and the Circuit Champion for the
Equitation Classic will receive an automatic invitation to the Marshall
& Sterling League Finals for their respective Medal Final.
"With
the expansion of the grounds, we expect the shows will expand as well,"
said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. "I believe our new jumps
and some of the other things we successfully implemented during
our winter shows will be quite popular in Culpeper. I'm looking forward
to being there in April to be a part of the new Culpeper. "
Jumps
from Olaf Petersen, similar to what exhibitors experienced at HITS
Ocala, will be used in Culpeper to add terrific color and style to the
courses. HITS is also working to implement online services for
exhibitors to view jump orders, which was very popular in Ocala and
helpful in prioritizing trainer schedules and the overall flow of the
show.
The
back end of the property will also see improvements, as HITS is
regrading the aisles and roads to facilitate better drainage and
improve the overall ground and footing for horses, people and cars. In
addition, a new camper area with 25 additional camper hook-ups with
brand new electric and water service will be up and running this
season. The original camper sites will also enjoy upgraded and rewired
electric service.
For
those who prefer the non-camper experience, HITS is pleased to announce
that two new hotels are opening right in the heart of Culpeper, and
several other new hotels have opened in the surrounding area, providing
exhibitors even more lodging options.
Microtel
Inn & Suites just opened on Willis Lane in Culpeper. Microtel
offers guests luxurious accommodations in either singles, doubles or
suites featuring free high-speed wireless and wired Internet,
queen size pillow-top beds, coffee makers and hair dryers in
every room. The hotel is pet friendly and also provides deluxe
continental breakfast.
Microtel
owner Tejas Desai is excited about the HITS Culpeper shows returning to
town. "We are looking forward to our relationship with HITS and to
welcoming HITS exhibitors to our establishment,” said Desai.
“I’m confident that exhibitors will find the accommodations
at Mircotel to be top-notch; after all, our slogan is ‘You’ll sleep well at Microtel’ which I imagine is very important after a long day of exciting competition.”
Microtel
has received the J.D. Power and Associates award for customer
satisfaction for the past six years in row, an unprecedented
achievement that Desai refers to as “the ultimate 6-pack!”
For more information on Microtel, please visit microtelinn.com or call 1.540.829.0330 for reservations. In addition, a Holiday Inn Express is also slated to be open later this summer.
The
Commonwealth National is the first of six weeks of horse shows at HITS
Culpeper. Each week features hundreds of classes at every level,
including a $40,000 Grand Prix each Sunday during Weeks I-V. HITS is
proud to once again host the Zone III Junior Equitation Finals on
Saturday, August 23 during the Winston National. As always, the 2008
HITS Culpeper season will conclude with the USGPL Finals, September
24-28, featuring the $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix.
Additional Highlights:
• $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix: Weeks I-V
• $10,000 Low Jr/A-O Jumper Classic: Weeks I-III
• $5,000 Low Jr/A-O Jumper Classic: Weeks IV-V
• $15,000 High Jr/A-O Jumper Classic: Weeks I-III
• $10,000 High Jr/A-O Jumper Classic: Weeks IV-V
• Central Equine Junior Medal: Weeks I-VI
• Adequan Hunter Division: Weeks I-VI
USGPL Finals (September 24-28):
• $100,000 Invitational Grand Prix
• $25,000 Devoucoux Wild Card Grand Prix
• $25,000 High Jr/A-O Jumper Classic
• $15,000 Low Jr/A-O Jumper Classic
• $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic, sponsored by Stillwell-Hansen, Inc. & Four Winds Farm
2008 HITS Culpeper Dates:
Commonwealth National: April 16-20 - Entry 1
Showday National: July 9-13 - Entry 2
Cavalier Classic: July 16-20 - Entry 3
Winston National: August 20-24 - Entry 4
Constitution Classic: August 27-31 - Entry 5
USGPL Finals: September 24-28 - Entry 6
2008 HITS Culpeper Prize List
2008 HITS Culpeper Schedule
The
first Culpeper Horse and Colt Show was held at Monte Vista Park in 1897
and it continued for the next 54 years. In the 1980s, show jumping
returned to Culpeper in a grand fashion with the opening of
Commonwealth Park, one of the finest horse-sport facilities in the
country. Some of the richest show jumping events in America have been
held at Commonwealth Park, including the $200,000 U.S. Cup, the grand
finale for the United States Grand Prix League in 1986. HITS purchased
Commonwealth Park in 1997 and began restoring the grounds to its former
glory. In 1998, HITS reintroduced the United States Grand Prix League,
and has presented the USGPL Finals at Commonwealth Park ever since.
Approximately $1 million in total prize money is offered at the six
HITS Culpeper events.
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
©2007 Lili Weik Photography
In 2007, Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood and Special Ed seized the
$100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper. The 2008
$100,000 USPGL Invitational Grand Prix will take place on Sunday,
September 28.
©2007 Lili Weik Photography
Flags fly high over the Grand Prix ring at HITS Commonwealth Park. In
2008, the Grand Prix ring will host the new $5,000 Hunter Classic and
Equitation Classic Weeks I-V.
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