Harold Chopping and Caramo Win $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix as Summer Showing Starts at HITS Culpeper
CULPEPER, VA (July 8, 2013) – Harold Chopping celebrated Fourth of July weekend at HITS Culpeper with two big wins, first in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix on Saturday, then in the $40,000 Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, on Sunday.
Chopping, of Southern Pines, North Carolina led the way to victory in the hunter ring, piloting the 16.3, Danish-bred bay gelding Caramo, owned by Caroline Russell Howe, to a win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix on Saturday.
Chopping and Caramo bested a field of 17 over a course designed by Rian Beals of Saugerties, New York. The pair led the first round with a score of 87 and returned in the second round to post an 85 for a total score of 172.
“This was his [Caramo] first time in the ring this week, but he is one of the most consistent, reliable horses I have ridden,” said Chopping, who has been riding Caramo for two years. “He’s just a great guy to ride. He can walk in any ring for the first time and jump fair.”
Nipping at the heels of Chopping and Caramo in the second round, Paul Mathews of Somerset, Virginia and Terry Morrison’s Carino combined a high score of 89 with a first-round score of 79.5 for a total of 168.5, to finish in second.
Third went to Katherine Newman of Wellington, Florida and Mimi Abel Smith’s Lofty. They rode to a pair of 84s for a final score of 168. Ian Silitch of Ocala, Florida rode Party Girl, also owned by Mimi Abel Smith, to fourth with a total score of 164. Silitch finished the first round one point behind Chopping with an 86 and pocketed a 78 in the second round. Denice Perry of The Plains, Virginia and Mr. & Mrs. Ernest M. Oare’s Tryonite rounded out the top five, posting scores of 81 and 79 for a final score of 160.
Before this weekend’s blue, Chopping and Caramo sat comfortably in the eighth spot in the preliminary Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final Rider Rankings. As qualifying for HITS Championship weekend and the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final kicks into high gear during the coming weeks, Chopping is confident that Caramo will make a respectable showing in the exciting year-end event.
”Some horses don’t do 3’3” well after being successful at 4’, but Caramo can come down and be great – he’s definitely headed for the final in September,” concluded Chopping.
©ESI Photography
Harold Chopping and Caramo jump their way to a win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Culpeper this weekend.
©ESI Photography
Harold Chopping and Caramo are presented with winning honors after the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. Awards included a $200 gift certificate for the Le Fash show shirting and polo shirting collections. Le Fash is the first-ever cross over clothing brand suitable for equestrian competition and the fashion forward. They fill the void between standardized riding attire and high end equestrian inspired sportswear by creating one product line that can cross seamlessly into both markets. For more information on Le Fash and their products, visit www.lefashny.com.
$1,500 HITS Hunter Prix
After three HITS Hunter Prix wins during the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, a win at HITS Culpeper in April and another at HITS Culpeper this weekend, Amy Zettler and Glad Rags, are officially on a roll in the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix, classes.
The Aldie, Virginia rider and her 10-year-old gelding, whom she affectionately calls “Primo”, currently lead the preliminary HITS Hunter Prix Rider Rankings by a sizable margin and are eager to make another appearance in the HITS $250,000 Hunter Prix Final this fall. Zettler, who trains with Peter Foley and Dale Crittenberger at Woodhall Farm in Northern Virginia, placed second in the inaugural HITS Hunter Prix Final in Saugerties, New York last year during HITS Championship Weekend.
Zettler and Glad Rags earned the top score of 83 in the first round and bested herself with a score of 87 in the second for a final score of 170 and the win.
“This horse is just fantastic and today was no different,” said Zettler after the class. “I love showing in Culpeper since it is so close to home for me. Our priority while we are here this summer is to qualify for the HITS Hunter Prix Final again - I plan my whole year around that class.”
Second place was awarded to Emma Fass of Newport News, Virginia and her own Son of a Soldier. They rode to scores of 74 and 77 for a two-round total of 151. Shelby Trible of McLean, Virginia and her own Costar were third after a 66 and an 84 for a final score of 150. Fourth place went to Dudley MacFarlane of Darien, Connecticut and her own Asante’ with a final score of 145, after earning a 65 and an 80. Allison May of Haymarket, Virginia and JLA May’s Milestone rode to fifth with a 76 and a 68 for a total of 144.
©ESI PhotographyAmy Zettler and Glad Rags kept their streak alive this weekend with another $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix victory at HITS Culpeper.
©ESI PhotographyAmy Zettler and Glad Rags accept winner’s awards after the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix at HITS Culpeper. The pair have their sights firmly set on another appearance in the HITS $250,000 Hunter Prix Final.
Riders in both the Devoucoux and HITS Hunter Prix with their sights set on qualifying for the Diamond Mills and HITS Hunter Prix Finals will have weekly opportunities to earn points as HITS Horse Shows continue in Culpeper, Virginia and return to Saugerties, New York July 17. Both finals will be highlighted during HITS Championship Weekend, September 4-8, in Saugerties. To stay current on all qualifying, visit HitsShows.com.
About Devoucoux
Devoucoux, makers of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to the phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix will be a featured event at all HITS horse shows this season as riders from around the country set out to qualify for the third-annual Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final, which will take place September 7-8 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.
About Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern
Just 100 miles outside of New York City, nestled in the Village of Saugerties, Diamond Mills is a 30-room luxury hotel featuring stellar accommodations, fine-dining at The Tavern and full-service events at a state-of-the art Special Events Center. Diamond Mills is a proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the WorldTM, an unsurpassed collection of over 520 luxury hotels around the world. Saugerties' newest luxury hotel is also the proud sponsor of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, which will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson as part of the HITS Championship Weekend. For more information about Diamond Mills or the special VIP packages available to HITS-on-the-Hudson exhibitors, please visit DiamondMillsHotel.com or call 845.247.0700.
|
$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
|
$1,500 HITS Hunter Prix
| Place | Horse | Owner | Rider | Prize $ | Rnd. 1 | Rnd. 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glad Rags | Amy Zettler | Amy Zettler | $450 | 83 | 87 |
| 2 | Son of a Soldier | Emma Fass | Emma Fass | $300 | 74 | 77 |
| 3 | Costar | Shelby Trible | Shelby Trible | $200 | 66 | 84 |
| 4 | Asante' | Dudley Mac Farlane | Dudley Mac Farlane | $150 | 65 | 80 |
| 5 | Milestone | JLA May | Allison May | $125 | 76 | 68 |
| 6 | Valente | Jenna Zimmerman | Jenna Zimmerman | $100 | 64 | 78 |
| 7 | Luca Toini | Kendall Walsh | Kendall Walsh | $100 | 70 | 63 |
| 8 | Over Achiever | Bucephalus, LLC | Paige Messick | $75 | 63 | 60 |