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OCALA, FL (January 9, 2009)—In
just six short days, horses will be jumping again at HITS Post Time
Farm in Ocala, Florida with the start of the 2009 HITS Ocala Winter
Circuit. As always, the season kicks off with two consecutive unrated
weeks of competition starting on Wednesday, January 14 followed with,
for the first time ever, six weeks of AA-rated competition beginning on
February 3.
The highlight of the two unrated weeks will be two $25,000 HITS Grand
Prix events and the return of the $20,500 Marshall & Sterling
Children's/Adult Jumper Championship. The Marshall & Sterling
Championship is a popular four-leg event scheduled for the first two
Fridays and Saturdays with prize money increasing from $2,500 in the
first leg to $5,000 in the final leg, plus an additional $5,000 in
bonus prize money awarded to the top-eight competitors who have
accumulated the most points throughout the four legs of the competition.
Exhibitors
have already started to arrive at Post Time Farm excited for the season
ahead. Canadian Billie de Route returns to HITS Ocala this year after
competing at another horse show in 2008 and brings an impressive
resume. She was named the Best
Canadian Junior Rider of the Year in 2008 by the Canadian Equestrian
Federation and competed in her first World Cup Qualifier at just 15 years of age. Now
17, de Route notes that HITS Ocala is an all-around a great place to
be. “It’s more fun than any other show,” she
said. “The people here are so nice. Plus, the horses love the
permanent barns and the paddocks."'
de Route will be showing her seasoned Grand Prix horse Sweet Dreams
this year in the Grand Prix classes and her younger mount Kilian 61 in
some other jumper classes.
Another exhibitor already onsite preparing for the 2009 HITS Ocala
Winter Circuit is Massachusetts native Marybeth Casey. ”This is
my first year at HITS Ocala,” said Casey. “I think Ocala is
the best place for the horses. It is so nice with all of the paddocks,
permanent barns and the general layout of the show.” Casey
trains under the watchful eye of Amanda Steege and is excited to show
her pre-green horse over the course of the entire circuit.
Casey and de Route, along with hundreds of other exhibitors, will enjoy several new improvements at Post Time Farm. Starting
from the ground up, HITS has completed footing upgrades to the property
by resurfacing Hunter 6 and the Hunter Annex ring, which were the only two
rings not completed for last year's circuit. A new drainage
system was also installed in the Main Hunter ring and the adjacent
schooling area.
Stabling
area improvements include 2,000 brand new temporary stalls and new
tents, similar to what was used at HITS Saugerties this summer. These
new stalls feature
wood and steel dividers and are a substantial upgrade for exhibitors who opt for tented stabling. New concrete wash
racks throughout the stabling areas have also been added.
Other
structural improvements include moving the horse show office to a building near
the front entrance to the show grounds to allow for better flow of
traffic and people. And ringside, exhibitors and spectators will enjoy
covered bleacher seating at each ring complete with small space heaters
for those chillier mornings early on in the circuit.
Aesthetic
enhancements include new gardens installed in the corners of the Hunter
rings as well as new islands in all the Hunter rings for additional
color and beauty.
"I'm
excited for our customers, both returning and new, to see the
improvements to the Ocala property," said Tom Struzzieri, HITS
President and CEO.
"This has always been just a spectacular property and we have made
every effort to make this an all-around great season for our customers.
We are looking forward to a great horse show."
HITS
recently announced that ship-in fees for Ocala have been eliminated
this year and that exhibitors will have the opportunity to purchase
discounted warm-up tickets booklets for the season.
VIP
customers will enjoy catered Sunday brunches courtesy of some of
Ocala's most popular restaurants. And new for this season, On the
Flipside Cafè will be catering a special breakfast
President's Day weekend during the Ocala Masters (Week III) and
again for the all-new $5,000 Pony Commotion, which will be held
during the Ocala Winter Finals (Week V).
Finally,
thanks to the addition of the eighth week to this year's circuit, HITS
has made some extra special changes to the schedule and class
offerings. Highlights include more Saturday night classes, increased
Grand Prix prize money during Week III, the return of the $10,000
USHJA/Software Solutions International Hunter Derby, new hunter
classics for both Children and Adults, the addition of the Ronnie
"R.W." Mutch Equitation Classic and of course, the season's grand
finale, the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by
Great American Insurance Group, which will close out the season during
the new Ocala Winter Celebration on Sunday, March 15.
Entries
for the six-week rated circuit close on Wednesday, January 14. Entry
blanks and the complete HITS Ocala Winter Circuit Prize list are
available online at www.HitsShows.com.
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.
©Lili Weik Photography
Callan Solem and Mianta win the $50,000 Duggan Equipment Grand Prix HITS Ocala.
2009 DATES
Ocala Pre-Circuit 1
January 14-18 Entry Pre I
Ocala Pre-Circuit 2
January 21-25 Entry Pre 2
OFF-WEEK, January 26 - February 1
Ocala I, February 3-8
Entry | Schedule
Ocala II, February 10-15
Entry | Schedule
Ocala III, February 17-22
Entry | Schedule
Ocala IV, February 24 - March 1
Entry | Schedule
Ocala V, March 3-8
Entry | Schedule
Ocala VI, March 10-15
Entry | Schedule
PRIZE LIST INFORMATION
Prize List
Feed & Bedding Order Form
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