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Ocala, Florida
(October 24, 2006)-Two
unique jumper events will be offered for Children's
and Adult jumper riders at HITS Ocala this winter
when the "Are You a Champion" equestrian
series makes its debut at Post Time Farm. The
$20,500 Marshall & Sterling Children's/Adult Jumper
Championship will kick-off the Circuit during
the two January shows, while the ever-popular
$25,000 Marshall & Sterling Children's/Adult Jumper
Classic will wrap-up the series in March.
The Children's/Adult
Jumper Championship will be a four-phased event
held during the January I and 2 (unrated) shows
(Jan. 24-28 and Jan. 31 - Feb. 4). Scores from
each phase will carry over and the Champion will
be crowned at the conclusion of the Final Leg
on Sunday, February 4. Two legs of competition
will be held each week, starting with a $2,500
Speed Class for the first leg, followed by a $4,000
Jump-Off Class for the second leg, a $4,000 Jump-Off
Class for the third leg and a $5,000 Jump-Off
Class for the fourth leg. The event will conclude
with bonus prize money of $5,000 awarded to the
top eight finishers overall. Points from the Second
and Fourth legs will count towards the Marshall
& Sterling League.
"This fast growing
segment of the show jumping world has demonstrated
their enthusiasm and competitive nature at horse
shows all over the country. These riders and their
horses are rapidly becoming the largest division
of jumper riders on the horse show circuit today,"
said HITS President Tom Struzzieri. "It’s
a unique competition that we started in Saugerties
with great success. We are excited to expand it
to HITS Ocala for the 2007 Winter Circuit."
The HITS Ocala Winter
Circuit will conclude on Sunday, March 18, with
the richest day of show jumping at HITS Ocala.
More than $150,000 in prize money will be awarded
this day, starting with the $25,000 Marshall &
Sterling Children's/Adult Jumper Classic. This
year will mark the ninth anniversary for this
class at HITS Ocala, which offers the most prize
money for any single Children's/Adult Jumper class
in the country. Last year, this was one of the
most exciting and talked about events of the Circuit.
Other special jumper classes held the final week
of HITS Ocala include the $100,000 Grand Prix
of Ocala, the $25,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner
Jumper Classic and the $10,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner
Classic.
Also on HITS’ agenda
for 2007 is the installation of a new Grand Prix
Ring and a new Main Hunter Ring with a raised
berm between them for VIP seating overlooking
both rings. These rings will be placed at the
east end of the current show ring area. Both rings
will feature the new polymer sand-EuroFelt Polyrite
footing provided by Footing
Authority™.
To learn more about
these classes and more at HITS Ocala in 2007 be
sure to look for your prize list in the mail in
early November. To request a prize list, call
HITS’ corporate office at 845.246.8833 or e-mail
info@HitsShows.com.
HITS, Inc. is a special
events management company primarily focused on
producing hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in
upstate New York in the village of Saugerties,
HITS produced its first horse show circuit in
Gainesville, Florida in 1982. Since that time,
HITS has grown into a nationwide company with
world-class hunter-jumper circuits in California,
Florida, Arizona, New York, and Virginia. In January
2006 HITS entered into a private equity arrangement
with Leonard Green & Partners, LP in Los Angeles.
As a result, HITS, Inc. will be able to develop
and execute exciting operational and strategic
initiatives that both solidify its well-established
position as the leader in horse show management
and allow for new growth opportunities.
2007 Horse Show
Dates
Ocala Unrated
1
January
24-28
Ocala
Unrated 2
January
31 - February 4
Off Week- February
5-11
Ocala Winter Classic
(I)
February
14-18
Ocala Winter
Festival (II)
February
21-25
Ocala Masters
(III)
February
28 - March 4
Ocala Tournament
(IV)
March 7-11
Ocala
Winter Finals (V)
March 14-18
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