The final summertime week of the HITS Chicago show circuit kicked off on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at the iconic Lamplight Equestrian Center venue, bringing top hunter, jumper, and equitation competition to the Chicago area. Boasting a full season of action starting in May, the series has played host to weekly prize money classes across the various disciplines, as well as host to a coveted World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) week during Summertime III. Taking center stage on Saturday, August 9, the $35,000 HITS Grand Prix welcomed top-level show jumping and saw Diego Bedoya make off with the lions share of the prize money.
A field of 22 horse-and-rider combinations elected to contest the Catsy Cruz (MEX) designed opening track, with eight of those contenders producing a flawless first round effort and securing a seat in the jump off. With three entries in the class and two qualified for the short course, Bedoya gave himself good odds. At the class’s completion, his time of 33.449 seconds stood out from the other three entries managing to produce a double clear effort, and he led the lap of honor aboard NRG Farm LLC’s 11-year-old Anglo European mare, Baglioni.
One of HITS Chicago’s most-winning riders, Lisa Goldman-Smolen produced yet another fault-free effort aboard her longtime partner, Barbara Disko’s 12-year-old KWPN gelding (H5 Elvaro x Celano), Ivaro N, landing just under a second off the mark in 34.264 seconds. Young competitor Nico Gamboa rounded out the top three, stopping the clock in 34.615 seconds aboard Ella Heineking’s nine-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (Favorit Ask x Lambrusco Ask),Twilight.
Featuring in the hunter ring on Friday, August 8, the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby saw an impressive clean-sweep performance from Hidden Ridge Inc’s Evan Coluccio(Marshall, Virginia). With 39 contenders vying for the final derby win of the summer, Coluccio didn’t hold back. After navigating the track with a total of four entries, Coluccio’s performances on three different mounts proved to wow the judges as he took home not only the winning performance, but second and third as well. Once again a winning partner for Coluccio, Hidden Ridge’s seven-year-old KWPN gelding (Cornet Obolensky x Chacco Blue), Nice Guy Especiale, rose to the top of the podium, while Mary Antonini’s nine-year-old Mecklenburg gelding by Last Man, High Demand captured second place, and Mary Antonioni’s eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Unikato, Showcase, rounded out the top three, all with Coluccio in the irons.
HITS Chicago will host one final week of thrilling hunter, jumper, and equation competition as the Lamplight Fall Classic I kicks off on September 10, 2025. For full results, please visit showmanagementsystem.com.
