HITS Del Mar resumed hunter/jumper competition during the HITS Del Mar Sunshine Classic on July 8-12, 2026. With a beach breeze and bright blue sky, the beloved venue in Del Mar, California, welcomed back many of Southern California’s best equestrian athletes. An action-packed week from start to finish, the numerous highlights included the California Professional Horsemen’s Association (CPHA) Junior and Amateur Hunt Seat Medal Finals and the Standlee USHJA National Hunter Derby Regional Championships. Of course, the marquee event, the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Great American Insurance Group, took center stage on the iconic Grand Prix Grass Field on Thursday, July 9, where Jamie Sailor reigned supreme with Love Story.
The winding course set by Scott Starnes of Coto de Caza, California, saw 17 horse-and-rider combinations traverse across the grass in a hunt-and-go derby format. Judges Kathryn Griffiths, of Shadow Hills, California, and Mark Bone, of Wellington, Florida, oversaw the roster, awarding a score for the classic portion, a score for the handy phase, and bonus points for high option fences.
Toward the end of the order, Jamie Sailor and Love Story, an eight-year-old Oldenburg Gelding by Chacoon Blue owned by KHC Farms Inc., laid down a masterful trip, tallying scores of 85 and 91.5 in the classic and handy portions, respectively, as well as two high option points in each phase, for a total score of 180.5.
“This was his first international derby win, so it’s a big win for him,” enthused Sailor, who has had the ride on the talented bay for a couple of years. “I’m super proud of him. He has been a star, and I’m just thrilled with him today.
“This was a lovely course,” she continued. “There were some nice, flowing lines, but also some interesting turns and inside tracks available in the handy phase. I was especially happy with how ‘Romeo’ handled all of the turns today since he is still developing and has only recently stepped up to this level. It is always nice to have the hunters showcased on the grass. Del Mar is a beautiful venue, and HITS puts on a great show.”
Second-place honors went to Nina Alario with Oganos Edition, an eight-year-old Oldenburg stallion owned by Fort House Aero LLC. Lindsay Ransom and Wonderful, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Vagabond de la Pomme owned by Marilyn Miller, were just that to complete the top three in third.
The HITS Del Mar Sunshine Classic continues with top hunter, jumper, and equitation competition through Sunday, July 12. The venue then prepares to welcome the West Coast’s top junior riders for the prestigious Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships – West and USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic – West on July 23-26. For complete results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.
