Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) is pleased to announce that Ocala Style Magazine will be the title sponsor of the Ocala Style Award that will be presented on March 16, 2008. This special award will be presented to the rider who exhibits the best American style of riding and possesses the respectful, dignified, courteous and workmanlike manner of a true sportsman at the 2008 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. The award winner will be revealed prior to the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group.

The recipient may be of the junior, amateur or professional ranks, and will be chosen by the jumper judges at the Ocala Winter Circuit, and by the horse show personnel in positions of knowledge, to include the show management, back gate personnel, stewards and announcers, among others.

"I am very excited that we will be presenting this award this year," said HITS Ocala Office Manager Kristen Vale. "It's an opportunity to recognize those riders whose hard work and dedication have put them where they are today. It's a chance to recognize their 'off-field' performance as well as their 'on-field' success."

Ocala Style Magazine is HITS Ocala's Official City publication. For more information on Ocala Style Magazine or to subscribe, please call (352) 732-0073 or visit www.Ocalastyle.com.

The 2008 Ocala Winter Circuit will also feature the new $10,000 United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Style Challenge Derby Classic and increased prize money for the Junior/Amateur-Owner Low and High Jumper Classics. As always, HITS Ocala will feature two grand prix events during each week of the rated shows. On Thursdays each week, the $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix will take center stage. On Sundays, all eyes will be on the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by the Waldorf Astoria Collection®, $50,000 Duggan Brothers Equipment Grand Prix, $50,000 Purina Grand Prix and the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Bel-Lago, respectively, during Weeks I-IV. On Week V, the stakes are even higher on Sunday, March 16, with the grand finale of the circuit, the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group.

The 2008 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit will kick off with the return of the popular $20,500 Marshall & Sterling Children's/Adult Jumper Championship during the two unrated shows in January. More commonly known as the "Are You a Champion?" series, the Jumper Championship was first offered in Ocala during the 2007 Winter Circuit and was an immediate success. Offered for one of the fastest growing segments in the sport today, this unique four-phase event also includes bonus prize money of $5,000 awarded to the top-eight finishers overall and points from the second and fourth legs count towards the Marshall & Sterling League.

For more information on the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, visit www.HitsShows.com or call (845) 246-8833.

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, FL, 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 on the HITS horse shows and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com.