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Tracy Magness and Tarco Van Ter Moude Retain Lead in U.S. Grand Prix League Standings
Written by: Jennifer Wood Client:HITS-on-the-Hudson and Culpepper Release Date:2009-06-17
Ward Jumps Up to Second Place After Huge HITS Saugerties Spring Performance
Saugerties, NY - June 17, 2009 - The HITS Saugerties Spring Horse Show Series has ended, and the six grand prix events held during the three-week competition were all qualifying events in the United States Grand Prix League (USGPL). The top rider and horse combinations are ranked by prize money won, and they are vying for a spot to compete in the 2009 $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix, which will be held in Culpeper, VA, on Sunday, September 27.
The grand prix events that are qualifiers for this year’s Invitational Grand Prix have been held at the HITS Arizona and HITS Ocala Winter Series. They also include grand prix events in Saugerties and Culpeper.
Leading the standings as of June 17, 2009, is Tracy Magness of Baltimore, MD. Magness and Tarco Van Ter Moude, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, won an amazing four grand prix events and placed second in four other grand prix classes at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit and picked up another victory in Culpeper in April. She is leading the list with $92,750 in qualified prize money won, almost twice what the second place rider has earned so far. Magness said of her mount, “He has always been consistent, but this year has been amazing!”
Magness also competed at the first week of the HITS Saugerties Spring Series this year and was very pleased with the changes she saw. “They have done quite a few improvements there, and there were lots of good riders. They changed the footing in the Grand Prix Ring; it’s a huge and beautiful ring to show in, and now the footing is really good. It’s also really nice to have a separate schooling area for the grand prix horses and only they are allowed in that ring.”
Magness has ridden in the USGPL Invitational Grand Prix many times on different horses, and she finished second to Canadian Olympic silver medalist Jill Henselwood last year. She appreciates that the Invitational is free to riders who qualify. “That’s always nice that the show does something like that for the riders. It’s fun too. At the Invitational, they go in reverse order, so if you have a good year you go at the end of the class. It’s a good series,” she said. “I show in Ocala and Culpeper every year, so the Invitational is a goal every year. It’s such a nice class, and there are so many reasons for me to want to be there.”
Two-time Olympic gold medalist and HITS High Performance Committee Chairman McLain Ward sits in second place in the standings. He and Phillipa won three grand prix events during the HITS Saugerties Spring shows to rocket to the top of the rankings.
Laura Linback and As Di Villagana are sitting strong in third place with $47,250 in money won, and Aaron Vale on Tarco is fourth with $43,750. Tracy Fenney and MTM Centano round out the top five with an even $30,000 in prize money won.
The full updated list of riders for the USGPL Rankings can be found at: http://www.hitsshows.com/pdf/09_usgpl_riderrankings.pdf
Top 20 Qualified Rider Rankings for the 2009 $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix
Last Updated: 6/8/2009
RANKING RIDER / HORSE COMBINATION PRIZE MONEY
1 Tracy Magness / Tarco Van Ter Moude $ 92,750.00
2 McLain Ward / Phillipa $ 57,500.00
3 Laura Linback / As Di Villagana $ 47,250.00
4 Aaron Vale / Tarco $ 43,750.00
5 Tracy Fenney / MTM Centano $ 30,000.00
6 Margie Engle / Hidden Creek's Coraya Z $ 29,000.00
7 Callan Solem / VDL Torlando $ 27,850.00
8 Beth Underhill / Cantero Z $ 24,500.00
9 Manuel Torres / Chambacunero $ 22,000.00
10 Daniel Bluman / Fatalis Fatum $ 20,750.00
11 Michael McCormick / MTM Remington $ 19,000.00
12 Bill Lowry / Rio Corde $ 17,500.00
13 Michelle Spadone / Melisimo $ 16,250.00
14 David Jennings / Marcus Aurelius $ 16,000.00
15 Roberto Teran / Distant Star 3E $ 15,250.00
16 Kyle King / Gigolo $ 15,000.00
17 Lacy Morrone-Cramer / Ulysses Van De Krekebeke $ 14,500.00
18 Rebecca Johanson-Hofmann / Corona $ 10,562.50
19 Mary Lisa Nicholson-Leffler / Gerona 92 $ 9,400.00
20 Megan Edrick / Kandel $ 8,750.00
Qualifying events for the $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix will continue when the HITS Saugerties Summer Show Series starts up again on July 15. The HITS Saugerties Summer Show Series will be popular and stalls are expected to go fast. HITS is still offering exhibitors price breaks of up to 50% off stabling fees for the summer shows available for tent, silver and gold stalls in weekly, semi-circuit and circuit packages.
Three ways to save for the HITS-on-the-Hudson Summer Series on July 15 – August 2:
Entries for the summer competition (starting with Week IV) are due TODAY, and exhibitors looking to enjoy savings on their stalls must have their entries in on time. 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 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 hunter/jumper horse show series produced by HITS, Inc. that runs from May through September annually. The HITS Saugerties 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 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.
