Thermal Spectator

The 19th Annual HITS Desert Circuit featuring the $300,000
HITS Grand Prix of the Desert, presented by Pfizer Animal Health,
on Sunday, March 14, 2010
EVENT:
HITS Thermal Desert Circuit

WHAT:
Six-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 20 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 2010 season is nearly $1 million, which includes the $300,000 Grand Prix of the Desert, presented by Pfizer Animal Health during the sixth 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 U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Will Simpson and Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood.

WHERE:
HITS Desert Horse Park
85-555 Airport Boulevard, Thermal, California 92274
Phone: 760.399.9200 (during horse shows only)

WHEN:
Daily, Tuesday - Sunday 8 am to 4 pm during show weeks.
DC I: January 26-31
DC II: February 2-7
DC III: February 9-14
DC IV: February 23-28
DC V: March 2-7
DC VI: March 9-14

2010 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
All Grand Prix events at the HITS Desert Horse Park will be qualifiers for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix to be held September 12, 2010 at the HITS-on-the-Hudson facility in Saugerties, New York. West Coast riders will have 16 opportunities to qualify for this historic event.

		All Grand Prix classes are presented by Pfizer Animal Health except as otherwise noted
Desert Circuit I
Friday, January 29	$25,000 HITS Grand Prix
Saturday, January 30	$5,000 PCHA Jimmy Williams Classic
Sunday, January 31	$10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby, $5,000 Jr/A-O Jumper Classic Medium, $10,000 Jr/A-O Jumper Classic High, $50,000 EMO Grand Prix
Desert Circuit II
Thursday, February 4	$25,000 HITS Grand Prix
Friday, February 5	$5,000 HITS Team Championship
Saturday, February 6	$5,000 PCHA Jimmy Williams Classic, $50,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix CSI-W
Sunday, February 7	$10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby, $5,000 JR/A-O Jumper Classic Medium, $10,000 JR/A-O Jumper Classic High, $25,000 HITS Grand Prix
Desert Circuit III
Thursday, February 11	$25,000 HITS Grand Prix
Saturday, February 13	$10,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby, $5,000 PCHA Jimmy Williams Classic, $50,000 HITS Grand Prix CSI-W
Desert Circuit IV
Thursday, February 25	$25,000 HITS Grand Prix
Friday, February 26	HITS Relay
Saturday, February 27	$5,000 PCHA Jimmy Williams Classic, $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix CSI-W
Sunday, February 28	$10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby, $5,000 JR/A-O Jumper Classic Medium, $10,000 JR/A-O Jumper Classic High
Desert Circuit V
Thursday, March 4	$25,000 HITS Grand Prix
Saturday, March 6	$5,000 PCHA Jimmy Williams Classic, $50,000 HITS Grand Prix CSI-W
Sunday, March 7	$10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby, $5,000 JR/A-O Jumper Classic Medium, $10,000 JR/A-O Jumper Classic High, $25,000 HITS Grand Prix
Desert Circuit VI
Friday, March 12	$25,000 HITS Grand Prix, $3,500 JR/A-O Young Rider Qualifying Class
Saturday, March 13	R.W Mutch Equitation Championship, $15,000 Bergdorfgoodman.com/PCHA Jimmy Williams Classic
Sunday, March 14	$10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby, $10,000 JR/A-O Jumper Classic Medium, $25,000 California Horse Trader JR/A-O Jumper Classic High, $300,000 Grand Prix of the Desert

ADMISSION:
No admission charge Tuesday t hrough Saturday. Sunday admission is $5 per person, children under 12 are free.

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 is 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 20 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.

Media Contacts:
Chris Mayone or Danette Kadlic
Phone: 845.246.8833 | E-mail: media_info@HitsShows.com

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

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