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HITS Culpeper to Host Five $40,000 Qualifiers for Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix
Written by: Jessica Nemzoff Client:HITS Desert Circuit and HITS Ocala Winter Circuit Release Date:2010-02-02
Culpeper, Virginia – February 2, 2010 - HITS Shows, Inc. is pleased to announce that the HITS Culpeper Spring and Summer Show Series will be home to five Grand Prix Qualifiers for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. One $40,000 qualifier will be held each Sunday of Weeks I-V, 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, New York on September 12.
Beginning in April, the six-week show series will commence with the Commonwealth National April 21-25, 2010 that will feature a $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, a $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby, and a $10,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.
Located in the heart of horse country, HITS Culpeper has drawn top equestrians from around the world to compete during the spring and summer. The five Pfizer Million qualifiers, coupled with many new classes offering impressive prize money, will undoubtedly have riders and spectators flocking to Culpeper in 2010.
This year, all HITS Culpeper horse shows will feature a $5,000 3’3” Devoucoux Hunter Derby which offers riders the opportunity to accrue points for the 20th Annual Marshall & Sterling National Finals, which are held in Saugerties, New York on September 16-19
Leveling the playing field for Children and Adult competitors, this year HITS has decided to split what were once the combined Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic into two respective sections - hosting a $3,000 Marshall & Sterling Children’s Jumper Classic, as well as a $3,000 Adult Jumper Classic each week.
Along those same lines, HITS also decided to split the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Low Classic, and will now offer a $5,000 Junior Jumper Low Classic and a $5,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Low Classic each of the first five weeks and, to wrap up the season, Week VI will have a $15,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Low Classic. The High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Division will have a $10,000 Classic Weeks I through V, and a $25,000 Classic Week VI.
For the hunters, HITS has added a 2’6” hunter division each week providing a great opportunity for professionals and amateurs, alike, as it will allow young horses to gain experience, and give amateur riders the opportunity to get more time in the ring for practice. Additionally, for the 12th year, Week VI will host the popular $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic.
Circuit Pricing for stalls and RV’s is back at HITS Culpeper this season and will give competitors the opportunity to take advantage of a special, one week free. “The circuit pricing we offered in 2009 helped to make it one of our best seasons in Culpeper,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. “This year, with the return of the circuit discounts, plus having five $40,000 Qualifying Grand Prix events for the Pfizer Million, and the new $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derbies, HITS Culpeper is sure to be a focal point for both high-performance jumper riders as well as top hunter riders.”
According to Struzzieri, the April shows in Culpeper remain one of the top destinations for East Coast riders finishing up their winter show schedules. “Our show grounds in Culpeper are perfectly located for exhibitors making their way back north for the spring show season. We see a lot of our friends from Ocala, plus some folks we didn’t get to see in the winter. We are planning on making some further facility changes in Culpeper late this spring in time for the July shows. One of those changes will be huge, so stay tuned for the announcement!”
Prize lists for the 2010 HITS Culpeper Show Series are currently in production and expected to be mailed by mid-February. To request a copy of the Culpeper prize lists, 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.
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 will take the industry to new heights when it hosts the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties on September 12.
HITS CULPEPER SPRING & SUMMER SHOW SERIES FAST FACTS
EVENT:
HITS Culpeper Spring & Summer Show Series presented by HITS, Inc.
WHAT:
Six-week hunter/jumper horse show series produced by HITS, Inc. that runs from April through September each year. The HITS Culpeper Spring & Summer Show Series offers a Grand Prix event each week. Every Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper from May through August will be a qualifying event for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, which will be held on Sunday, September 12 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.
WHERE:
HITS Commonwealth Park
13256 Commonwealth Parkway
Culpeper, VA 22701
Phone: 540.825.7469 (during horse shows)
WHEN:
Daily, Wednesday - Sunday 8 am to 4 pm during show weeks.
Commonwealth National: April 21-25
Showday National: July 7-11
Cavalier Classic: July 14-18
Winston National: August 18-22
Constitution Classic: August 25-29
Culpeper Finals: September 29 – October 3
WEEKLY GRAND PRIX HIGHLIGHTS, PRESENTED BY PFIZER ANIMAL HEALTH:
Sundays: $40,000 Grand Prix
Sponsored by EMO on Sunday, April 25
ADMISSION:
Free
DIRECTIONS:
The HITS Culpeper Show Series is held at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia located just off of Route 522.
From the North (Warrenton): Take US 15/29 south to the Culpeper area. Take the US 522/VA Route 3 Exit west, towards Fredericksburg. Turn Left off the ramp and then turn right onto 522 South. Commonwealth Park will be on the left, about 4 miles south of route 522/3.
From the South (Charlottesville): Take US 29 north to the Culpeper area. Take the US 522/VA Route 3 Exit west, towards Fredericksburg. Turn right off the ramp and then turn right onto 522 South. Commonwealth Park will be on the left, about 4 miles south of route 522/3.
From the East (Fredericksburg): Take VA 3 west towards Culpeper. Turn left (south) on US 522. Commonwealth Park will be on the left, about 4 miles south of route 522/3.
THE FACILITY:
HITS Commonwealth Park, Culpeper, Virginia
The show grounds feature seven different competition rings, including a Grand Prix ring, a Jumper ring, five Hunter rings and three separate schooling areas. Spectator seating is available at every ring and in the Pavilion, which is located between the Grand Prix ring and the Main Hunter ring. Spectator parking is located just off the main entrance to the right.
REFRESHMENTS:
HITS Culpeper features a full-service food concession, the Showday Café. The Café offers a complete and diverse menu of food and beverages. Hours: 6 am – 4 pm Wednesday – Sunday.
SHOPPING:
HITS Culpeper features numerous shops offering horse-themed gifts, clothes, art, antiques and jewelry.
LODGING: For a complete list of available lodging in and around Culpeper, please check our Lodging Partner Page.
Premium Hotel Partners:
Comfort Inn | 540.825.4900
Microtel Inn & Suites | 540.829.0330
Holiday Inn Express & Suites | 540.825.7444
Moderate:
Best Western Culpeper Inn | 540.825.1253
RVs:
Freedom Rvs | 804.798.3379
HITS-TORY:
The first Culpeper Horse and Colt Show was held at Monte Vista Park in 1897 and it continued for the next 54 years. In the 1980s, show jumping returned to Culpeper in a grand fashion with the opening of the Commonwealth Park, one of the finest horse sport facilities in the country. Some of the richest show jumping events in America have been held at Commonwealth Park, including the $200,000 United States Cup, the Grand Finale for the United States Grand Prix League in 1986. HITS purchased Commonwealth Park in 1997 and began restoring the grounds to its former glory. In 1998, HITS reintroduced the United States Grand Prix League, and has presented the USGPL Finals at Commonwealth Park since 1998. Each year, on average more than 3,000 horses, 4,500 horseman and 2,500 spectators attend HITS Culpeper and nearly $1 million in prize money is awarded throughout the six-week season.
The economic impact of the HITS Culpeper Show Series on the surrounding community is estimated at $20 million, which reflects spending on food, lodging, living expenses and entertainment in the area during the six weeks of shows.
