Kaitlin Porath and Democracy Voted $50,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Victors at HITS Saugerties :: HITS

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Kaitlin Porath and Democracy Voted $50,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Victors at HITS Saugerties

Saugerties, N.Y. – September 11, 2022 – The final day of the HITS Championship kicked off the competition with hunter riders taking over the Grand Prix Stadium for the 2022 $50,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Finals. Held over three days, the top 25 returned for the third round of competition and were eventually narrowed down to the final four to return for the work-off. Kaitlin Porath commanded the ring from start to finish aboard Democracy, taking home the victory by more than 20 points after two brilliant performances with her talented mount.

“I just started riding that horse – I've shown him once before, so I was pretty nervous,” admitted Porath after her win. “He's so much fun though – so scopey and rangy, that ring really suited him. It was really fun – everything came up how I wanted it, and he really just jumped his heart out.”


Kaitlin Porath and Democracy

Porath took a dominating lead after the first round, earning scores of 85 and 87 for a 172 total with Democracy. Despite the pressure of returning in the lead, she and the 11-year-old KWPN gelding, owned by Truth Be Told LLC and trained by Emil Spadone, continued to showcase their brilliance with a smooth and flowing round that was rewarded with scores of 88 and 90 for a 178 and a two-round total of 350 to garner the winning title.

“I thrive under more pressure, but it was nerve-wracking,” commented Porath about returning in the lead. “I picked up a canter and we went straight to the first jump, and I could tell he was ready for it. I just needed to not get in his way. I turned the corner to the last line and took a deep breath, and I was like, ‘Please keep it together,’ because I knew it was the best round we’ve had!”


Kaitlin Porath and Democracy 

Porath was thrilled to have the opportunity to compete in the $50,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Finals during the HITS Saugerties Series. “It’s so much money for the hunters,” she emphasized. “It's been a goal of mine to come back and do it. It's a beautiful facility with mountains in the background. They have so many good classes for the hunters that can be an oversight in other places. It’s really nice to have that focus for them here every week. There's a Platinum Performance Prix every week and a National Derby just about every week, so it's pretty awesome!”


Victoria Hart and Most Likely 

The second-place prize went to Victoria Hart and Most Likely with a 326 total score, while Molly Walsh and Erosmith placed third with a total score of 320. Tess Lee and Dark Deal took home the fourth-place award with a total score of 318 to round out the final four.


Molly Walsh and Erosmith

Sunday marked the conclusion of the HITS Championship, but one more week of competition remains at HITS Saugerties as riders prepare for the 2022 Marshall and Sterling Insurance League Finals. Exhibitors can also join HITS in Ocala, Florida, for the 2023 winter show season at HITS Post Time Farm. For more information and the complete class listing visit www.hitsshows.com.