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SAUGERTIES, NY (July 21, 2009)—
Show jumping competition returned to Saugerties, New York last week and
HITS is expecting it to be quite a summer. Entries are up, the rings
are alive with energy and exhibitors are flocking to Saugerties to get
in on the action. For the next two weeks, both Hunters and Jumpers will
have their share of the limelight with the return of the USEF Junior
Hunter Finals, the $10,000 USHJA/Chronicle of the Horse International
Hunter Derby and some high-stakes Grand Prix classes worth a total of
$250,000.
Speaking of high-stakes, with the USGPL Finals approaching, a handful
of HITS Saugerties High-Performance Riders inched closer to the top of
the standings and appear to be assured of a qualifying spot for the
$100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix to be held at HITS Culpeper in
late September.
With his win in Thursday’s $25,000 HITS Grand Prix aboard Sagamore Farm’s mare Phillipa, McLain Ward continues to hold a tight grip on second place. However, Aaron Vale and Joan Kalman’s Tarco
are close behind in third place and, with a trip to Saugerties planned
later in the year, the two superstars look like they will fight it out
for the second spot.
At the moment it seems unlikely that any rider can catch up to
Maryland’s Tracy Magness and Mr. and Mrs. John Bartko’s Tarco Van Ter Moude, who
have held the number one spot since basically the start of the year.
Thanks to nearly $100,000 in Grand Prix prize money won in 2009 at HITS
Ocala, Culpeper and Saugerties, Magness is looking to hold onto her
lead and the coveted last-to-go spot when the Invitational rolls
around; however, with six more qualifying Grand Prix classes in
Saugerties, including the big ticket $125,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix
on Sunday, August 2, there are no guarantees!
Creeping up in the standings last week were Bill Lowry and Winsor Farm Sales’ Rio Corde.
They moved into the top ten with a big win in Sunday’s $50,000
HITS Grand Prix. For a complete list of the standings, click here.
©Lili Weik Photography
Bill Lowry and Rio Corde cracked the top ten in the USGPL Standings with a win in Sunday's $50,000 HITS Grand Prix.
Two-Time Gold Medal Winner McLain Ward leads the way in the Catena Leading Grand Prix Rider Award
With his win in Friday's $25,000 HITS Grand Prix aboard Sagamore Farm's Phillipa, two-time Olympic Gold Medal Winner McLain Ward remains in the lead of the standings for the 2009 HITS Saugerties Catena Leading Grand Prix Rider Award.
The rider rankings are calculated using the World Cup Point System and
riders receive points for their top-placing horse in each of the 14
Grand Prix classes offered at HITS Saugerties during the 2009 show
series. Ward, with 100 points, appears to have a commanding lead, but
once again, with six more Grand Prix classes left in Saugerties this
year, there are still plenty of opportunities for riders to add to
their points. Bill Lowry is in second place with 44 points followed by
Margie Engle with 39 points.
The 2009 Leading Grand Prix rider at HITS Saugerties will receive a
timepiece from Catena, USA, which will be presented at the end of the
season following the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix during HITS-on-the-Hudson
VIII on Sunday, September 6. For a complete list of the standings, click here.
©Lili Weik Photography
McLain Ward is leading in the rankings for the Catena Leading Grand Prix Rider Award.
Footing wins the blue ribbon despite heavy rain
Countless ribbons
were handed out during HITS-on-the-Hudson IV but without question the
footing was the Grand Champion of the week drawing rave reviews from
some of the sports top riders.
Even after nearly two inches
of rain poured down on Friday evening, the horse show resumed on
Saturday without a hitch. "I am just amazed how well the footing was
after all that rain," said Laura Chapot. “I have been in all
three jumper rings and haven't seen one horse slip."
"We got the worst kind of
rain," said Olympian Todd Minikus. "We got two inches of rain in an
hour and you could have ridden on the footing immediately after it
stopped. It was outstanding."
Exhibitor-favorite restaurant greets trainers
A HITS Saugerties favorite,
New World Home Cooking Co., was the site of a by-invitation-only
trainer reception on Thursday night. Guests were greeted with fine food
and libations from renowned chef Ric Orlando. Beval provided buckets
for trainers that included sponsor items from Novus Nutrition (Arenus),
SmartPak, Reist Industries, Rotogroomer and Equilite Sore No More
products.
Ramiro Quintana, Nona Garson
and Don Stewart were a few of the trainers who slipped away from the
show grounds for a few hours to unwind with fellow trainers.
©HITS Staff
Bevel buckets full of goodies ready for the taking at the HITS Saugerties Trainer dinner.
©HITS Staff
Nona Garson and the gang from The Ridge enjoy a night out at New World Home Cooking Co.
©HITS Staff
Grand Prix riders Ramiro Quintana and Federico Sztyrle, Trainer Theresa Mills, David Attell of Devoucoux and friends get some home cookin at New World.
On tap for this weekend's special event calendar is the annual DIG Fashion Show
set to take place on Friday night at the show grounds. The show will
feature fine equestrian apparel from the vendors at HITS Saugerties, as
well as some trendy apparel from DIG. The Partition Street Wine Shop will also be on-site for a special wine tasting.
The action continues for two
more weeks in Saugerties with HITS-on-the-Hudson V (July 22-26),
featuring the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix on Sunday, July 26 and
HITS-on-the-Hudson VI (July 29 - August 2) featuring the $10,000
USHJA/Chronicle of the Horse International Hunter Derby, $5,000 Pony
Commotion and the big summer finale, the $125,000 Strongid C 2X Grand
Prix to close out the series on Sunday, August 2. HITS is also hosting
the USEF Junior Hunter Finals between Weeks V and VI, July 27-29.
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.
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