HITS Shows is pleased to announce the dates for HITS Saugerties Spring and Summer Show Series, as well as the 20th Annual Marshall & Sterling League National Finals. Throughout the nine-week hunter/jumper show series, May 26-September 19, 2010, HITS Saugerties will host 14 Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix Qualifiers, giving riders the chance to accumulate the Grand Prix classes and the prize money they will need in order to try to qualify for the unprecedented Pfizer Million, which will be held in Saugerties, NY, on September 12.

Two Pfizer Million Qualifiers will be held Weeks I-VI, with a $25,000 Grand Prix every Friday, as well as $50,000 Sunday Grand Prix classes Weeks I and IV, $75,000 Sunday Grand Prix classes Weeks II and V, and $125,000 Sunday Grand Prix classes Weeks III and VI. In addition to the two Pfizer Million Qualifiers, the Open Jumper division will also feature both a $10,000 Welcome Stake and a $5,000 Open Speed every week.

Junior and amateur jumpers can look forward to three heights (low, medium, and high). Additionally, the Classics will be split for Mediums and Highs each week, with $5,000 each for the Mediums and $10,000 each for the Highs. The Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic will offer $2,500 in prize money. Substantial prize money will also be up for grabs in the Children's/Adult Jumpers as they will have the opportunity to jump for a $10,000 purse Weeks I & IV in the $10,000 Marshall & Sterling Children's/Adult Jumper Classic.

Hunters will have a number of new beneficial additions to the HITS Saugerties schedule. This year, hunter derbies will be featured each week with a $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby Weeks I, II, III, V, and VI, as well as a $10,000 Chronicle of the Horse/United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Hunter Derby Week IV. The popular Bit O'Straw Hunter Classic returns again this year, and will take place each week of the series. Additional opportunities to earn Marshall & Sterling League points can be seen every week in both the newly expanded Adequan Hunter Division, which is now a full division with five classes, as well as the HITS 2'6" Hunter Division.

Pony hunters will have their chance to shine in the $5,000 Pony Commotion Hunter Classic Week VI, while the Children's Pony division takes advantage of the newly split Marshall & Sterling Children's Pony Medal. Unlike previous years, the M&S Children's Pony Medal will be split Small/Medium and Large with points being tracked separately for year-end awards, as well as for the Marshall & Sterling Finals.

"Coming off an incredible season in 2009, we are looking forward to another great season in Saugerties," said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. "We will once again offer circuit discount pricing for stalls, which was quite popular last year and enabled customers to make Saugerties their home base for summer showing. When you average $125 a week for beautiful portable stabling, you simply have the best deal in the sport. The prize list will have some new and exciting offerings across the board, with a little something for everyone. And, last but not least, we are moving forward with some property enhancement suggestions taken from our Trainer and High-Performance Committees that will really dress up the show grounds."

The HITS Saugerties Spring Show Series will run three consecutive weeks from Wednesday, May 26, through Sunday, June 13. After a short break, show jumping returns to HITS Saugerties for another three weeks starting on Wednesday, July 21, and continuing until Sunday, August 8. On September 1, show jumping returns with HITS-on-the-Hudson VII (September 1-September 5), which will feature two of the final grand prix qualifiers for the Pfizer Million, and HITS-on-the-Hudson VIII (September 8-11), which recently received an FEI rating and will feature two FEI classes, including a World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix and the only Grand Prix Wild Card class for the Pfizer Million.

The week after the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, HITS Saugerties will host the 20th annual Marshall & Sterling League National Finals September 16-19. The 20th Anniversary marks a milestone in the league's history, as the Finals will highlight the league's most accomplished riders for 2010 in 14 different divisions. The four-day Finals is cherished by many as it has established itself as a year-end goal and an equestrian tradition. During the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals week, HITS Saugerties will host the Annual Top Ten Awards Dinner, honoring leading riders in each division based on their performances throughout the season.

Nestled in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, just one mile outside the village of Saugerties, the HITS facility features 10 different competition rings, including a spectacular Grand Prix ring, a Main Hunter ring, two jumper rings, four hunter rings, an equitation ring, and six separate schooling areas. This year, exhibitors and spectators can both look forward to new property enhancements that include two new bridges, a 'horse-only' path, a 'golfcart-only' path, a new jumper ring, and a beautifully landscaped island down the heart of the show grounds.

The prize list for the 2010 HITS Saugerties Spring and Summer Show Series (May 26-August 8) is currently in production and is expected to mail in mid-March. A separate prize list will be produced and mailed over the summer for the HITS Saugerties September shows (September 1-11), the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix (September 12) and the Marshall & Sterling Finals (September 16-19). To request a copy of the HITS Saugerties prize list, please visit HitsShows.com or call (845) 246-8833.

In order to qualify for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, a rider must compete in eight or more HITS Grand Prix classes. The top 40 riders, based on money won by horse/rider combination, will be eligible to ride for the Pfizer Million. For more detailed information on the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, please visit our website at HitsShows.com.