HITS-on-the-Hudson
To Benefit Family Of Woodstock
Grand
Opening Kick-Off Set For May 30
SAUGERTIES,
NY – May 5, 2004 – HITS-on-the-Hudson, the newest horse
show grounds for the Saugerties, New York-based Horse Shows In The
Sun, is set to open for the premiere week, May 26-30, 2004, launching
seven weeks of hunter/jumper competition. A Grand Opening Celebration
is planned for Sunday, May 30. Not only is the innovative venue
a boon to riders, trainers, owners, and horses, but also to the
upstate New York community – most notably, Family of Woodstock,
a local charitable organization. Family of Woodstock owns approximately
125 acres of the 200-acre show grounds, which it has leased to HITS
and in addition, the charity will receive 100% of the admissions
gate on Saturdays and Sundays when tickets for adults are $5 each.
It’s a win-win situation, according to Michael Berg, Executive
Director of Family of Woodstock.
Tom
Struzzieri, owner and president of HITS, has been a supporter of
Family of Woodstock for many years. Struzzieri has hosted an annual
fundraising party at his home in Saugerties for the agency since
2000. Berg offered the land to HITS for use as a horse show grounds
four years ago, but it was not until November of 2002 that Struzzieri
walked the land and took him up on the offer. Struzzieri acquired
additional acreage and began plans for HITS-on-the-Hudson. The Family
of Woodstock land, which had been given to the agency years ago
and had at one time been used as a nine-hole golf course, had not
been in use for nearly 15 years. As the agency’s only asset,
the land was reviewed for several possible uses, but according to
Berg, none were as feasible or advantageous to Family of Woodstock
as the partnership with HITS. “The income from the lease and
from the gate is a huge benefit to the agency,” stated Berg.
HITS has leased the land for 15 years with an option to buy.
Family
of Woodstock, Inc., a multi-program human service agency providing
services throughout Ulster County, was launched in 1970 when young
people who attended the Woodstock Rock Festival remained in town
and needed help rather than intervention from the police. What started
as a rudimentary helping hand has developed into the second oldest
continuously operating 24-hour-a-day emergency switchboard in the
United States. Family of Woodstock’s principle focus is crisis
intervention, including emergency shelter and food, services to
teens, childcare and comprehensive services for people with substance
abuse problems, domestic violence issues, HIV/AIDS, and people who
are involved with the criminal justice system. The charity has more
than 100,000 contacts each year through its hotline, social services
programs, and three walk-in centers. Approximately 180 people are
on staff along with 200 volunteers to meet the community needs.
“We’re funded by federal money, grants, and the generosity
of people,” explained Berg, who has been with Family of Woodstock
for 33 years.
The
partnership between HITS and Family of Woodstock also includes jointly
sponsoring upcoming events at HITS-on-the-Hudson. “There are
2,000 to 3,000 people who come to participate in the horse show
from Wednesday through Sunday and we wanted to provide events for
them to experience some of the local businesses as well as to allow
vendors to come to the show grounds. It benefits both,” explained
Berg. Some of the two-day events planned are an antiques show, equine
art show, Taste of the Hudson Valley restaurant sampling, Chili
Cook-Off (which will also qualify the winner to move on to a national
event), Kids Day, and Seniors Day. “There’s no charge
to the vendors we invite to participate, but we do ask for a $50
contribution to Family of Woodstock if they have a successful two
days,” noted Berg, who is working with HITS staff to organize
the events.
Berg
pointed out that the newly built HITS-on-the-Hudson will benefit
the Family of Woodstock, the local businesses, and the entire Ulster
County community not only economically but as a wholesome family
recreation activity also. He is especially pleased with how the
facility has been constructed on the Family of Woodstock land. “It’s
beautiful,” Berg said.
The
Grand Opening celebration for HITS-on-the-Hudson is Sunday, May
30th. Festivities will include a salute and on-field presentation
to equestrian Olympians, equestrian exhibitions, a sampling of Hudson
River Valley delicacies prepared by the area’s gourmet restaurants,
and entertainment by a chamber music group. Highlighting the day’s
competition is the $75,000 HITS-on-the-Hudson Grand Prix.
HITS-on-the-Hudson
Features
HITS-on-the-Hudson
includes a Hunter Arena, Jumper Arena, eight all-weather performance
rings, and four practice rings. There are six permanent barns with
more than 500 stalls. A VIP pavilion overlooks both the Hunter and
Jumper feature rings, and a restaurant and dining courtyard offers
patio seating as well as an enclosed dining area. The 10 vendor
boutiques offer equine-themed merchandise, and Mercedes Benz has
a featured showroom.
Spectators
are admitted free to HITS-on-the-Hudson, Wednesday through Friday.
Tickets are $5 on Saturday and Sunday, which is donated to Family
of Woodstock. Children under 12 are admitted without charge, and
parking is free.
HITS-ON-THE-HUDSON GENERAL INFORMATION
WEDNESDAY
THROUGH SUNDAY, 2004 SHOW DATES
Show
jumping takes place daily, starting at 8:00 AM
HITS-on-the-Hudson
I – May 26-30
HITS-on-the-Hudson II – June 2-6
HITS-on-the-Hudson
III – June 9-13
HITS-on-the-Hudson IV – July 21-25
HITS-on-the-Hudson V – July 28-August 1
New York Horse & Pony Show VI – August 4-8
HITS-on-the-Hudson VII – September 1-5
FEATURED
EVENTS:
$25,000 Grand Prix Every Thursday
$75,000
Grand Prix Every Sunday
SPECIAL
EVENTS:
Week I, Grand Opening - Sunday, May 30th
Week
II, Antique Show – Saturday, June 5th and Sunday, June 6th
Week
III, Equine Art Exhibit – Saturday, June 12th and Sunday, June
13th
Week
IV, Taste of the Hudson Valley – Saturday, July 24th
Week
V, Chili Cook-off – Saturday, July 31st
Week
VI, Kids Day – Saturday, August 7th
Week
VII, Seniors Day – Saturday, September 4th
HITS
produced its first series of horse shows – a three-week circuit
in Gainesville, Florida – in 1982. Today HITS produces five
circuits – Ocala Winter Circuit in Florida; Indio Desert Circuit
in California; Arizona Winter Circuit in Tucson; HITS Culpeper in
Virginia; and HITS-on-the Hudson in New York. Individually, each
is a first rate horse show series; collectively, they represent
the largest group of equestrian events under a single management
group in the United States.
Website:
www.HitsShows.com
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