Thermal, CA  - With the start of the 2012 HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, California just a few months away, HITS, Inc. announced today a revision to the Open Jumper schedule for the West Coast’s most popular six-week winter series. The 2012 HITS Desert Circuit will begin Tuesday, January 24 and run until Sunday, March 11, with an off-week slated for February 13-19.

Highlighting the schedule for Open Jumpers, the HITS Desert Circuit will host four FEI World Cup Qualifiers, held in the popular indoor arena, and a total of 16 qualifying Grand Prix for the third-annual $1 Million Grand Prix, which will take place September 9, 2012 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. DC II (January 31 – February 5), III (February 7 – 12), IV (February 21-26) and V (February 28 – March 4) are designated World Cup weeks.

The crux of the schedule change for Open Jumpers includes an adjustment to the location of some important classes during the four World Cup weeks. An FEI-rated $31,000 Desert Classic will take place on Thursdays outdoors in the Grand Prix ring, followed by a $50,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix indoors on Saturday nights. Sundays will feature a $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, which will close out the week outdoors in the Grand Prix ring.

In addition, during World Cup weeks a $5,000 Level 8 Kick-Off will take place outdoors on Wednesdays, followed by an indoors Level 7, giving World Cup riders the opportunity to warm up for the Saturday night qualifiers. On Fridays, another $5,000 Level 8 jumper will take place outdoors.

“These adjustments should create new opportunities for customers during World Cup weeks and allow for them to bring along their young horses, as well as their World Cup and non-World Cup rides,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. “We were asked by the members of our Trainer Committee to examine how this schedule could be tweaked and I’m confident that this approach will serve their needs nicely.”

Canadian Olympic Silver Medalist Jill Henselwood is a fixture at the HITS Desert Circuit and was pleased to hear about the new schedule changes for the Open Jumpers.

“This is a fantastic solution and I’m thrilled that Tom [Struzzieri] and HITS has made this adjustment,” she said. “I always appreciate his consideration for the riders and this change will really open up the opportunities in Thermal.”

Henselwood will be using this year’s circuit to not only prepare a new crop of young horses and qualify for the 2012 $1 Million Grand Prix, but she also will be aiming to qualify for the Canadian 2012 Olympic Team.

During non-World Cup Weeks, DC I (January 24-29) and DC VI (March 6-11), all Open Jumper classes will be held outside starting with a $2,500 Level 8 Kick-Off on Wednesdays, followed by a Level 7 on Thursday. The $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix will be the highlight of the schedule on Fridays, followed by a $15,000 Level 8 Jumper on Saturday. The $50,000 EMO Grand Prix will close out DC I while the season finale, the $200,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert, presented by Lamborghini of Newport Beach, will close out the season on Sunday, March 11.

The prize list for the 2012 HITS Desert Circuit is currently in production and is expected to mail in the next few weeks. To request a copy of the prize list, please visit HitsShows.com or call 845.246.8833.

2012 HITS Desert Circuit Dates
DC I: January 24-29
DC II: January 31 - February 5
DC III: February 7-12

OFF-WEEK: February 13-19

DC IV: February 21-26
DC V: February 28 - March 4
DC VI: March 6-11

Open Jumper Schedule: NON-World Cup Weeks (I and VI)
Wednesday:
$2500 Level 8 Kick-Off – Outdoors
Thursday:
Level 7 – Outdoors
Friday:
$25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix – Outdoors
Saturday:
$15,000 Level 8 – Outdoors
Sunday:
$50,000 Grand Prix (DC I – Outdoors)
$200,000 Grand Prix (DC VI – Outdoors)

Open Jumper Schedule: World Cup Weeks (II, III, IV, and V)
Wednesday:
$5,000 Level 8 Kick-Off – Outdoors
Thursday:
Level 7 – Indoors
$31,000 Desert Classic (FEI-rated – Outdoors)
Friday:
$5,000 Level 8 – Outdoors
Saturday:
$50,000 World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix (CSI-2* Indoors, evening)
Sunday:
$30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix - Outdoors