Phelps Media Group, Inc. International Public Relations and Marketing for the Horse Industry 561.753.3389 info@phelpsmediagroup.com
ATTACHED PHOTOS
Click on the above photos for details and a high resolution version.
Photographs may be used free of charge only in relation to the PMG press releases they pertain to.
Revamped Hunter Footing Scores Well in Pre-Season Test at HITS Saugerties
Written by: Jennifer Wood Client:HITS-on-the-Hudson and Culpepper Release Date:2009-05-14
Saugerties, NY - May 14, 2009 - With the opening week of the HITS Saugerties Spring Series fast approaching, HITS management opened the newly resurfaced Main Hunter Ring to trainers for a pre-season test to ensure satisfaction prior to opening day of the horse show.
HITS High Performance Committee Chairman McLain Ward tested the new Grand Prix Ring footing two weeks ago and gave his approval. This week, Olympic gold medalist Michael Page and trainer Leah Epstein were there to try out the footing in the Main Hunter Ring.
Olympian Michael Page arrived at HITS-on-the-Hudson along with almost a dozen students from the Kent School. Page and company hacked around in the Main Hunter Ring, and the Gold Medalist liked what he saw.
“This is great footing,” said Page. “The most noticeable thing that I can relay to other exhibitors is that there is no cupping. When the horse show starts next week and exhibitors start to ride on this footing, everyone will be pleased. HITS really got it right.”
“I am very optimistic about the footing,” said Epstein, head trainer at Ithilien. “I was thrilled to have the opportunity to come and test the footing at HITS and so far, it rides nicely.”
The HITS Saugerties Spring Series will run from May 20-24 and is followed by Week II on May 27-31 and Week III on June 3-7. The shows are held at the beautiful HITS-on-the-Hudson facility and will host more than 1,000 horses in hunter, jumper, and equitation divisions.
The hunters will have the opportunity to win their share of prize money at the HITS Saugerties Spring Series. The Amateur-Owner Hunters, Small Junior Hunters, Large Junior Hunters, and Small, Medium, and Large Pony Hunters will each have a $1,000 classic every week. The M&S/NAL Adult Hunters, M&S/NAL Children’s Hunters, and Bit O’ Straw Classics will each give $500 in prize money every week as well.
In the HITS Saugerties Summer Series, which runs from July 15 to August 2 and August 26 to September 13, there are even more special hunter events available for exhibitors. One highlight is the 2009 USEF Junior Hunter East Coast Championships on July 27-29. Some of the best junior hunters in the nation will converge at Saugerties to compete for $50,000 in prize money.
The Championships feature competition for Small Juniors 15 and Under, Large Juniors 15 and Under, Small Juniors 16-17 and Large Juniors 16-17. Also held during this competition is the popular and prestigious Hunterdon Cup, which offers an exciting equitation championship for junior riders. Equitation classes continue with the USEF/Pessoa Hunter Seat Medal, the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal, and the WIHS Equitation Classic.
Pony riders can look forward to the $5,000 Pony Commotion Hunter Classic on Thursday, July 30. This class will be held in the Grand Prix Ring and is a great dress rehearsal for the USEF Pony Finals the following week.
The $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Dietrich Insurance and featuring Walsh Harness and Saddlery, will return this year to Saugerties. The popular class is likened to a “grand prix for show hunters” and features two rounds of competition over natural obstacles. The class will be held this year on Thursday, July 30, and will again be held in the Grand Prix Ring.
To close out the year in Saugerties, HITS will host the 19th annual Marshall & Sterling League National Finals on September 10-13. The Finals is the Grand Finale of the season and highlights the League’s most accomplished riders in 12 different divisions. In addition to the four-day competition, it features the Annual Top Ten Awards Dinner, which honors the leading riders in each division based on their performance throughout the season. The League awards more than $30,000 in prize money during the National Finals.
These four special hunter events will be highlights in eight weeks of competition at HITS Saugerties this year. The hunters will have a chance to be front and center by riding in the Grand Prix Ring and earning top prize money. Don’t miss your chance at this opportunity!
The HITS Spring and Summer Show Series prize list is available online. Entries for the summer competition (starting with Week IV) are due on June 17, so please visit www.HitsShows.com for more information and to reserve your spot today.
PRIZE LIST INFORMATION
Prize List | Schedule
Online Feed & Bedding Order
HITS Saugerties Spring and Summer Show Series and the 19th Annual Marshall & Sterling League National Finals Fast Facts
EVENT:
HITS Saugerties Spring and Summer Show Series presented by HITS, Inc.
WHAT:
An eight-week hunter/jumper horse show series produced by HITS, Inc. that runs from May through September annually. The HITS Saugerties Spring and Summer Show Series offer two Grand Prix events each week. Every Grand Prix offered at HITS Saugerties is a qualifying event for the $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix, which is held each year during the USGPL Finals at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia.
The 19th Annual Marshall & Sterling League National Finals is the Grand Finale of the season and highlights the League's most accomplished riders in 12 different divisions. The Marshall & Sterling Finals marks the final week of the HITS Saugerties season each year and, in addition to the four-day competition, features the Annual Top Ten Awards Dinner, which honors the leading riders in each division based on their performance throughout the season. The League awards more than $30,000 in prize money during the National Finals.
WHERE:
HITS-on-the-Hudson
454 Washington Avenue Extension
Saugerties, NY 12477
Phone: 845.246.5515 (during horse shows)
WHEN:
Daily, Wednesday–Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during show weeks
HITS-on-the-Hudson I: May 20-24
HITS-on-the-Hudson II: May 27-31
HITS-on-the-Hudson III: June 3-7
HITS-on-the-Hudson IV: July 15-19
HITS-on-the-Hudson V: July 22-26
USEF Junior Hunter East Coast Championships: July 27-29
NY Horse & Pony Show (VI): July 29 - August 2
HITS-on-the-Hudson VII: August 26-30
New in 2009! HITS-on-the-Hudson VIII: September 2-6
Marshall & Sterling League National Finals: September 10-13
ADMISSION:
Wednesday – Friday: Free
Saturday & Sunday: Adults $5, children under the age of 12 get free admission. All proceeds from the gate go directly to Family of Woodstock, Inc., a non-for-profit organization serving Ulster County.
DIRECTIONS:
The HITS Saugerties Show Series are held at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York, located just two miles from Exit 20 on the NYS Thruway.
Trucks From The North: Exit 20 off of Interstate 87 (New York State Thruway) After tollbooth, turn right onto State Route 32 North and go 1.5 miles Bear slight right at Y, and go 0.1 miles to 4-way stop Turn right at 4-way stop onto Malden Tpke. (County Rt 34) and go 1.6 miles Turn right onto Route 9W South and go 0.4 miles Turn right onto Krout Road Show grounds will be on left
Trucks From The South: Exit 20 off of Interstate 87 (New York State Thruway) After tollbooth, turn left onto Ulster Avenue and go 0.2 miles Turn right and follow State Route 32 North for 1.6 miles Bear slight right at Y and come to 4-way stop. - 0.1 miles Turn right at 4-way stop and go 1.6 miles Turn right onto Route 9W South and go 0.4 miles Turn right onto Krout Road. Show grounds will be on left
Cars From The North: Exit 20 off of Interstate 87 (New York State Thruway) After tollbooth, turn right onto State Route 32 North and go 1.0 miles Turn right onto Peoples Road and go 0.9 miles Turn left after train tracks onto Canoe Hill Road and go 0.5 miles Canoe Hill Road becomes Krout Road - 0.8 miles Show grounds will be 1.8 miles on right
Cars From The South: Exit 20 off of Interstate 87 (New York State Thruway) After tollbooth, turn left onto Ulster Avenue 0.2 miles Turn right onto State Route 32 North and go 1.0 miles Turn right onto Peoples Road and go 0.9 miles Turn left after train tracks onto Canoe Hill Road and go 0.5 miles Canoe Hill Road becomes Krout Road - 0.8 miles Show grounds will be 1.8 miles on right
SPECTATOR PARKING& ENTRANCE: Gates D or E only. Parking is free.
EXHIBITOR ENTRANCES:
Gate A – Permanent Stabling, Gold Stalls
Gates B & C – Permanent Stabling, Silver Stalls
Gates D & E – Tent Stabling & Ship-In
Gate F – Trailer and RV Parking
THE FACILITY:
HITS-on-the-Hudson, Saugerties, New York The HITS equestrian facility is nestled at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, just one mile outside the village of Saugerties. The show grounds feature 10 different competition rings, including a Grand Prix ring, a Main Hunter ring, two jumper rings, four hunter rings, an equitation ring and six separate schooling areas. Spectator seating is available at every ring and in the VIP Pavilion, which overlooks the Grand Prix ring. Spectator parking is located off the Washington Avenue entrances at Gates D or E. For a map of the property, please click here.
REFRESHMENTS:
HITS-on-the-Hudson offers an on-site Food Service Pavilion and Ice Cream Parlor featuring an assortment of frozen delights and Starbucks coffee. The HITS Bar and Grill serves up pizza and cold beer in a spacious air-conditioned lounge. Spectators can grab some lunch and find a grassy spot on the berm while watching some of the world's best show jumping with the entire family right here in the Hudson Valley.
SHOPPING:
The HITS Saugerties Mall features clothing, tack, fine jewelry, custom footwear, art and photography, and custom HITS souvenirs.
LODGING:
(in Saugerties & Kingston, more listed online and in the prize list)
Holiday Inn | 845.338.0400
Comfort Inn | 845.246.1565
Marriott Courtyard | 845.382.2300
Howard Johnson Inn 845.246.9511
Quality Inn & Suites | 845.339.3900
Rodeway Inn 845.331.2900
HITS-TORY:
The HITS-on-the-Hudson equestrian facility was inaugurated in the spring of 2004. In just five years, the HITS Saugerties horse show circuit has become a mecca for East Coast horsemen hosting the largest hunter/jumper horse shows offered during the spring and summer in the United States.
During the course of the circuit, the HITS-on-the-Hudson equestrian facility offers stabling for over 2,000 horses, more than 250 different classes each week, and over $1 million in prize money, more than any other circuit during the spring and summer. Riders of all levels, including current and former Olympians – as well as some of the most popular up-and-coming riders – compete at HITS Saugerties. Each year, on average more than 3,000 horses, 4,500 horseman and 2,500 spectators attend HITS Saugerties and more than $1 million in prize money is awarded throughout the seven-week season.
The economic impact of the HITS Saugerties Show Series on the surrounding community is estimated at $50 million, which reflects spending on food, lodging, living expenses and entertainment in the area during the series of shows.
