Hunters Take the Stage during Week IV at HITS Culpeper

Culpeper, VA (August 22, 2016): Hunter riders gathered at HITS Commonwealth Park for a prestigious hunter victory in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. The classes served as Virginia’s fourth qualifying opportunities for the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix and the $250,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix at the HITS Championship in September.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
The blue ribbon went home with Louisa Brackett of Grayslake, Illinois, aboard King Bee. They scored an 83 in the first round, and an 82 in the second round, garnering the win with a total score of 165. The victory at HITS Culpeper marks Brackett’s first $5,000 Devoucoux win.

Ocala, Florida equestrian Rachael Bebb was second in the ribbons. She and Lion, owned by Sarah Jo Scott, brought in a first-round score of 77. In the second round of the classic, Bebb and Lion received a 79.5, totaling 156.5 for their efforts.

Third place was awarded to Odds Are, owned by Twin Oaks Farm, LLC., and ridden by Jill Wilson of Louisa, Virginia. They received a first-round score of 78, followed by a second-round score of 77 for a total of 155.

Shannan Gossman of Mitchells, Virginia, took fourth with Castanio, owned by Turning Pointe Ventures, LLC., with scores of 75 and 79 respectively for a total of 154. Gossman has showed in the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix this season, placing consistently in the top five. This week, the equestrian leveled up to join the competition in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

Rounding out the top five was Kate Phillips of Montpelier, Virginia, and Chino, owned by Derek Reed. They brought in a first-round score of 75.5, and received a second-round score of 78 for a total of 153.5, claiming fifth place for their efforts.Philips and Chino also competed in the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix at HITS Culpeper and moved up to compete in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix. 
 
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1/2 Total
1 King Bee Louisa Brackett Louisa Brackett $1,500 83/82 165
2 Lion Sarah Jo Scott Rachael Bebb $1,000 77/79.5 156.5
3 Odds Are Twin Oaks Farm, LLC. Jill Wilson $700 78/77 155
4 Castanio Turning Pointe Ventures, LLC. Shannan Gossman $500 75/79 155
5 Chino Derek Reed Kate Phillips $400 75.5/78 153.5
6 Cupido Z Jamie Wolff Hannah Isop $350 68/76 144
7 Kiing City Jordyn Holcomb Jordyn Holcomb $300 71/70 141
8 Make it Rain Edward Lane Caitlin Lane $250 43/85 128

 

(C) ESI Photography 
Louisa Brackett and King Bee on their way to a $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix win. 
 
(C) ESI Photography
Louisa Brackett and King Bee winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. 
 
$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania equestrian, Sara Ladley, stole away with the blue-ribbon victory in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix during Week IV at HITS Culpeper. Ladley rode her own Skara Glen’s Intense to a first-round score of 79, improving to an 84 in the second round for a total of 163.

Second in the ribbons was Victoria Walton of Hampstead, Maryland, and Iberia, owned by Patricia Walton. Walton and her bay mount were awarded consistent scores of 80 in both rounds to total 160.

The yellow ribbon went to Peyton Ruddy of Midlothian, Virginia, and her mount Clair de Lune. They brought in third place with a score of 73 in the first round, with a major improvement to a score of 83 in the second round — they totaled 156 for their efforts.

Kirsten Good of Washington, DC, was fourth piloting Chenin Noir. They earned a 72 in the first round, followed by a 71 in the second for a total of 143.

The top five closed out with Virginia Frediani of Richmond, Virginia, aboard Silvio. They earned a 68 in the first round, improving to a 74 in the second round to total 142, just behind Ruddy, for fifth place.
 
 
 
 
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1/2 Total
1 Skara Glen's Intense Sara Ladley Sara Ladley $450 79/84 163
2 Iberia Patricia Walton Victoria Walton  $300 80/80 160
3 Clair de Lune Peyton Ruddy Peyton Ruddy $200 73/83 156
4 Chenin Noir Kirsten Good Kirsten Good $150 72/71 143
5 Silvio  Virginia Frediani  Virginia Frediani $125 68/74 142
6 Co Pilot Jeanie Romanelli Kaitlyn Brennan $100 72.5/67 139.5
7 Quiet Riot Madison Warner Madison Warner $100 75/61 136
8 Gabie Stone Diane Semer Christy Burns $75 45/79 124
 
(C) ESI Photography 
Sara Ladley and Skara Glen's Intense on their way to a $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix win. 
 
 
The Charles Owen Leading Hunter Rider of the week is Grace Long riding Paisley, owned by Tracy Mathews in the Pre-Green Low Hunter Division
 
 
 
 
About HITS, Inc.
HITS, Inc. produces high-quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the Village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York, and Virginia.

While hosting the richest weekend in show jumping at HITS-on-the-Hudson, HITS also formed the Triple Crown of Show Jumping. This includes the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida and Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS! Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail media_info@HitsShows.com.