The 19th Annual HITS Desert Circuit featuring the $150,000 Grand Prix of the Desert on Sunday, March 22

EVENT: HITS Thermal Desert Circuit

WHAT: Eight-week hunter/jumper horse show circuit produced by HITS, Inc. that runs from January through March annually. The Desert Circuit has been a mainstay of West Coast competition for the past 19 years and offers classes ranging from Grand Prix show jumping to a selection of divisions for both the novice and experienced rider. In addition, four of the 16 Grand Prix events at HITS Thermal are FEI World Cup qualifiers. Total Grand Prix prize money offered for the 2009 season is valued at $725,000, which includes the $150,000 Grand Prix of the Desert during the eighth and final week of the Circuit. The HITS Desert Circuit is the winter show home to some of the most accomplished equestrian riders in the world, including Grand Prix rider Richard Spooner who is the all-time leading money winner at the HITS Desert Circuit, as well as some world-famous current and former Olympians

DIRECTIONS:
From points West: From I-10 E. Keep RIGHT to take CA-86 Spur S toward Brawley / El Centro. 6.5 miles. Turn RIGHT onto Airport Blvd. 2.2 miles. End at 85-555 Airport Blvd.

From points East: From I-10 W. Take the Dillon Rd exit toward CA-86S Expressway / Coachella. 0.2 miles. Turn LEFT onto Dillon Rd. 0.7 miles. Turn LEFT to take the CA-86S-Expressway S ramp. 0.2 miles, Merge onto CA-86 Spur S. 5.2 miles Turn RIGHT onto Airport Blvd. 2.2 miles. End at
85-555 Airport Blvd.

SPECTATOR PARKING & ENTRANCE:
Main Entrance, off of Airport Boulevard. Parking is free.

EXHIBITOR ENTRANCES:
Stabling Entrance – Permanent and Temporary Stabling
Main Entrance – Horse Show Office and Competition Rings

THE FACILITY: HITS Desert Horse Park, Thermal, California
The newest addition to the HITS facilities, the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California is one of the largest hunter/jumper horse show venues in the United States and is the new home to the HITS Desert Circuit. This 230-acre, state-of-the-art facility officially opened in January of 2007. There are 14 competition rings for hunter, jumper and equitation classes, including a covered ring for all FEI World Cup Qualifiers offered at Thermal. Shaded spectator seating is available at every ring. Spectator parking is located off Airport Boulevard at the main entrance gate.

For a map of the property, please click here.

REFRESHMENTS:
The HITS Desert Horse Park offers one of the best on-site Food Service Pavilions in equestrian sports today. The HITS Bar and Grill serves 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 with the entire family in the heart of the Coachella Valley.

SHOPPING:
The Desert Marketplace located near the Grand Prix arena features dozens of shops offering quality equestrian gear, apparel, jewelry, videos and more.

LODGING:
For a complete listing of lodging options near the show grounds, please check out our HITS Thermal Lodging Partners

HITS-TORY:
HITS operated its first West Coast winter circuit back in 1991 with great success. In 1992, HITS produced the Desert Circuit in Indio, California where the circuit continued to grow in popularity and success for the next 15 years. In 2007, HITS debuted its newest facility, the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California, just five miles from the former Indio location. The newest addition to the HITS facilities, the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California is one of the largest hunter/jumper horse show venues in the United States and is the new home to the HITS Desert Circuit. This 230-acre, state-of-the-art facility officially opened in January of 2007 and boasts more than $20 million in improvements over the former location in Indio, including stabling for more than 3,400 horses and 14 competition rings, featuring a covered ring for all FEI World Cup Qualifiers offered at Thermal. The Desert Circuit has been a mainstay of West Coast competition for the past 19 years and offers classes ranging from Grand Prix show jumping to a selection of divisions for both the novice and experienced rider. In addition to offering more than 250 different classes each week, four of the 16 Grand Prix events at HITS Thermal are FEI World Cup qualifiers. Each year, more than 3,000 horses, 10,500 horsemen and 25,000 spectators attend HITS Thermal and more than $1.5 million in prize money is awarded.

The economic impact of the HITS Desert Circuit on the surrounding community is estimated to be more than $120 million, which reflects spending on food, lodging, living expenses and entertainment in the area during the eight-week circuit.

ON-SITE SCHOOL: For information on HITS' School Station please contact Mary Cunning 802.318.6924 or mycunning@msn.com or schoolstation@msn.com

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Directions | Lodging | Press | Results | Special Events | Map of the Horse Park
Advertising Contract | School Station | HITS Facility Rental | Vendor Contract | Thermal Home

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	For information during the horse shows, please contact: HITS Desert Horse Park | 85-555 Airport Blvd. | Thermal, CA 92274 760.399.9200  | fax: 760.399.1952
	For information prior to the start of the horse shows, please contact: HITS, Inc. | 319 Main St. | Saugerties, NY 12477 info@HitsShows.com | www.HitsShows.com 845.246.8833 | fax: 845.246.6371