Saugerties, NY - Last week, HITS-on-the-Hudson ran 11 simultaneous rings and welcomed over 1,700 horses to its Saugerties show grounds, rising to the top of summer show jumping and paving the way for two more weeks of sold-out shows. Grand Prix and Hunter Prix riders alike continue on the road to qualifying for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix and Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final as exhibitors continue to flock to Saugerties for Weeks V and VI.
High-Performance riders shine at HITS-on-the-Hudson
In the jumper ring, Kevin Babington established himself as a prime contender for September’s Pfizer Million. The Irish Olympian and his own Mark Q are on a roll, winning their second Pfizer Million qualifier in three weeks. At HITS Culpeper, Babington won the $40,000 Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Heath. They traveled north last week to capture the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV.
“This is a new horse that I didn't realize would be such a strong contender for the [Pfizer] Million, but I think we'll be ready,” said Babington. “We got a late start on qualifying because I didn’t think he would be this good so soon. But, it looks like I was wrong!”
Babington has pocketed an impressive $27,000 in prize money this month and has four of the eight Grand Prix needed to become eligible, putting him within striking distance of earning a place on the Pfizer Million Top 40 Rider Rankings.
Another High-Performance rider to win big during HITS-on-the-Hudson IV was Olympian Margie Engle. She picked up right where she left off, this spring, when she piloted Ashland Farms’ Lord Spezi to victory in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Engle finished 10th in Sunday’s class aboard Lord Spezi and now has $22,000 in prize money and five of the eight classes needed to become eligible for the Pfizer Million.
HITS will host four more Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix qualifiers over the next two weeks in Saugerties, including the $100,000 Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, on Sunday, August 7.
Marshall & Sterling Child/Adult Jumper Classic welcomes big numbers
Alissa Kinsey, Marshall & Sterling League veteran, took the blue in the $10,000 M&S Children's/Adult Jumper Classic in the Strongid® C 2X Stadium in the irons of her own top mount Grisset. The Atkinson, New Hampshire pair put away 79 total starters in the class to capture the win.
“These classes always get really good numbers, but 79 is huge,” said Kinsey. “I had high expectations going into the class – my horse has been going well lately, but I saw a lot of really competitive rounds before the jump-off. I just kept thinking, how fast do I need to go to win?”
Kinsey plans to return to HITS Saugerties to compete in the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals September 14-18.
Hunters set their sights on the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final
New York City native Lillie Keenan led the way in the hunter rings as she piloted Donald Stewart’s Confidential to victory in Saturday’s $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, moving one step closer to September’s Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final.
Keenan is just 14, and dominated the Junior Hunters this week. In the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under, she took the Championship aboard her own Madison and was Reserve Champion in the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under aboard Confidential. Keenan also rode to victory in the $3,500 M&S Junior/Amateur Jumper Low Classic aboard Chansonette Farm LLC ‘s Firework.
“I am here to qualify for the [Diamond Mills] $500,000 [Hunter Prix] Final,” said Keenan, who trains with Andre Digneli at Heritage Farm. “Showing Confidential would be my first choice in the class. He is a tremendous horse and fun to ride.”
Mary Lisa Leffler of Brooksville, Maryland leads the way in the preliminary Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final Rider Rankings on Wilder Mountain Farm, LLC's Zivago and Ellen Toon of South Salem, New York on her own Invincible follows in second. Jane Gaston of The Plains, Virginia and her own Lumiere sit third.
Don Stewart Stables is all business at HITS Saugerties
The Ocala, Florida based Don Stewart Stables had three different riders score impressive wins in the equitation rings. Meg O’Mara won the USEF Medal, Hannah Spiegler won the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal and Hasbrouck Donovan captured the USEF Talent Search Medal
“We are here for the entire circuit and can’t wait for the Junior Hunter Finals,” said Stewart. “In my mind, this is one of the premier horse shows in the country and we are thrilled to be a part of it."
Stewart’s group has set their sights on the USEF National Junior Hunter Finals - East Coast , scheduled for August 1-3 at the HITS Saugerties show grounds. They are also eager to toss their hats in the ring for a chance to earn a wild card spot in the first ever Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.
"Nowhere else can you compete for that kind of prize money,” added Stewart.
The Champion Rider from each of the four sections of the Junior Hunter Final will be given a Wild Card berth in the inaugural Hunter Prix Final – a chance to compete for a record-breaking $150,000 winner’s purse.
Up next in Saugerties
Show jumping in Saugerties resumes Wednesday, July 27 with a sold-out HITS-on-the-Hudson V, where exhibitors will enjoy a full schedule of competition, including Saturday’s $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, which will be the next chance to qualify for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.
Outside of the ring, exhibitors will enjoy the second installment of the Party Trifecta at the HITS Bar as David Lerner Associates is proud to sponsor the remaining Happy Hour Exhibitor Parties in the HITS Bar each Friday this summer.
Week V welcomes the Arenus Focus Week to HITS-on-the-Hudson. Long time sponsors Arenus will be on-site to select the winner of the Arenus Performance and Conditioning Award. Keep on the lookout for Arenus representatives as they make their rounds through the barns!
About Arenus
Arenus is a premier provider of innovative health and nutrition products for pets and horses. They are a growing division within Novus International, Inc., a global company dedicated to animal performance, health and longevity. Their staff includes more than 75 veterinarians and other animal health professionals, who take to heart the company’s core principles: “Valuing Research, Relationships, and Results™”.
They are an audited member of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC), an industry group dedicated to protecting the health of companion animals and horses. NASC is responsible for the Quality Seal Program, a way for consumers to know that when they buy a product, they are buying from a reputable company that has successfully completed a facility audit.
To learn more about their products, or find an Arenus event near you, call (866) 791-3344, or visit www.Arenus.com.
HITS, Inc. produces high-quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia. In 2010, HITS took the industry to new heights when it hosted the first-ever Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. HITS will once again offer the most innovative weekend in show jumping history in 2011 when it hosts the second annual Pfizer Million and the inaugural Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, September 10-11, at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!