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California Dreaming – Facility
Improvements, Grand Prix Standings, FEI World Cup Qualifiers and New
USHJA Hunter Derby Classic in Thermal, California.
The HITS
Desert Horse Park had an incredible start to the season. Desert
Premiere was the first of two new weeks added to the circuit and was
the first chance for exhibitors to experience all the new facility
improvements, including new rings, new landscaping, new footing, and so
much more!
Grand Prix
rider Richard Spooner, the Desert Circuit’s all-time leading
money winner, started off strong with two back-to-back wins, first on Gerry the Grey and then on Ezrah. Spooner is only the second rider in the United States to win 100 Grand Prix events, a very impressive achievement!
Speaking of
impressive, the new covered ring in Thermal, which is home to all four
$50,000 Tourneau FEI World Cup Qualifiers, presented by Adequan, has
been quite the hit! Rich Fellers and Flexible
have taken blue in the first two FEI classes, helping him in the point
standings as he’s comfortably in the top 5 for the West Coast.
Other HITS Desert Circuit Grand Prix winners include:
During the
first half of the HITS Desert Circuit, $375,000 of the $925,000 total
Grand Prix prize money has been awarded. Since every Grand Prix at HITS
Thermal is a qualifier for the season finale, the $200,000 Invitational
Grand Prix on Sunday, March 16, all eyes will be on the second half of
the circuit to see who will make the cut for this exciting event. The
top 30 pairs will be invited to compete. Click here for the current rankings.
Hunters also had their chance in the Grand Prix ring when the $10,000 ASG Software Solutions/ USHJA International Hunter Style Derby Classic closed out DC III. It was Jenny Karazissis and Swoon
who bested 26 other exhibitors to take home the blue and $3,000 for
owners El Campeon Farms. The $10,000 Hunter Derby Classic will be
offered again as part of the Desert Championship week on Sunday, March
16.
©Flying Horse Photography
Richard Spooner and Ezrah compete in the $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix at HITS Thermal during DCI.
©Flying Horse Photography
Rich Fellers and Flexible have won both
$50,000 Tourneau FEI World Cup Qualifiers, presented by Adequan at HITS Thermal.
Here's to you! HITS Thermal Salutes Its First Half Heroes.
The pony ring
at HITS Thermal has been dominated by Tara Spencer so far in 2008.
Spencer is just 11 and has owned the competition so far by grabbing 24
blue ribbons and earning 19 red ribbons. Her list of impressive
accolades include two Mid-Circuit Championships aboard Brookway
Stables' Tuscany in the Medium Pony Hunter Division and Keep Dreamin'
in the Large Pony Hunter Division. To cap off an exciting first half of
the circuit for Spencer, she was also named the Best Child Rider in the
Pony division for all three weeks. Spencer is now off to HITS Ocala and
will be riding for Bibby Hill and Don Stewart. Good Luck in Ocala, Tara!
Also shining at HITS Thermal was John French, who was named Mid-Circuit Champion on his mount Obelix
in the Adequan Hunter Division, and Alison Baileys, who was awarded the
Jennifer Marlborough Freeman Memorial Trophy. The Jennifer
Marlborough Freeman Memorial Trophy is awarded to the High Point
Mid-Circuit A-O Hunter 18-35. Baileys, who rides under the watchful eye
of French, won thanks in part to her mount Tache Rouge.
Click here to see all of the Mid-Circuit Award winners from HITS Thermal.
Photo Provided. Tara Spencer and Storytime knocking socks off in the pony ring at HITS Thermal.
©Flying Horse Photography
Alison
Baileys winner of the Jennifer Marlborough Freeman Memorial
Trophy with Vickie Marlborough, family friend Barbara Bordges and
Tony Hitchcock of HITS.
Party time! HITS Thermal features fun out-of-ring activities
The special
events calendar at HITS Thermal is in full swing and has already
featured several entertaining events for all exhibitors to enjoy in
2008. So far at HITS Thermal, there was a dog costume contest, the
ever-popular Kids Day and a hilarious HITS Thermal Equine Idol
competition judged by Huntover Farm's Mark Bone, Showbiz Magazine's
Kathy Hobstetter and Waldenbrook's John French.
The second half features much more out-of-ring excitement, including a fashion show, presented by Horse Connection Magazine, an exhibitor golf tournament at Indian Palms and the annual WCAR Party at La Quinta Resort & Club.
©Flying Horse Photography
Nancy Shaw's dogs all dressed in a theme from the Wizard of Oz.
©Flying Horse Photography
A group of young horse lovers get face paintings by the Clown from Kids Day at HITS Thermal.
©Flying Horse Photography
The "Pink Ladies" perform Carly Simon's "You're So Vain"
©Flying Horse Photography
The HITS Thermal Equine Idol Judges - Mark Bone as Randy Jackson, Kathy
Hobstetter as Paula Abdul, and John French as Simon Cowell
What's On Tap!
The second
half of competition at HITS Thermal is right around the corner as show
jumping returns to HITS' state-of-the-art equestrian facility on
Tuesday, February 19 for four consecutive weeks.
Plenty more
Grand Prix prize money is up for grabs as nine Grand Prix classes
remain on the schedule for 2008, including two more $50,000
Tourneau FEI World Cup Qualifiers, presented by Adequan and the
first-ever $200,000 Invitational Grand Prix on Sunday, March 16.
The
Invitational is one of several special classes that will take place
during the all-new Desert Championship (March 11-16) at HITS
Thermal. The second installment of the $10,000 ASG Software
Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Classic returns to HITS
Thermal and the R.W. “Ronnie” Mutch Equitation Classic makes its inaugural appearance on the West Coast on Sunday, March 16.
Desert
Championship will also feature the presentation of the Second-Half
Circuit Awards and the Overall-Circuit Awards during the Parade of
Champions on Sunday, March 16.
The Parade of
Champions will showcase several perpetual trophy award winners.
The Hillcrest Pot O' Gold High-Point Pony Award, SHALANNO Style of
Riding, Jimmy Kohn Style of Riding, Michael Patrick Perpetual Trophy
and the Potcreek Meadow Junior Sportsmanship Award will all be awarded
in the HITS Grand Prix ring prior to the $200,000 Invitational Grand
Prix.
©Flying Horse Photography
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife Maria Shriver pose
with their sons and some friends at the HITS Desert Horse Park during
DC II.
©Flying Horse Photography
Dan Silverstone, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Jim Hagman and Maria Shriver enjoy a sunny afternoon at the 2008 HITS Desert Circuit.
©Flying Horse Photography
Another new addition to the HITS Desert Circuit, beautiful new jumps by Olaf Petersen.
©Flying Horse Photography
With snow-capped mountains in the background, exhibitors take to the field at the HITS Desert Circuit during DC II.
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.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com.
Media should contact Chris Mayone at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com
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