Horses - Cosequin® U.S. Grand Prix League Finals Qualifiers To be Held at HITS Tahoe Horse Show, June 27-July 22- June 2001 - Equiworld

Cosequin® U.S. Grand Prix League Finals Qualifiers To be Held at HITS Tahoe Horse Show, June 27-July 22

SAUGERTIES, NY (June 20, 2001)--Horse Shows In The Sun has announced that HITS Tahoe, the new four-week hunter/jumper horse show circuit in Minden, Nevada, will again host qualifiers for the Cosequin® United States Grand Prix League Invitational Finals. The Finals will be held this year from September 26 through 30 at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia. The League is an association of more than 45 major equestrian events nationwide that offer qualifying classes in four categories: Grand Prix Jumpers, Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers (High and Low) and Pre-Green Hunters. The top 30 riders in each division nationally are invited to compete in the finals without entry fees. The top jumpers are determined by money won and the top pre-green hunters are determined by points earned.

Every Sunday during the four-week HITS Tahoe circuit, three Cosequin® USGPL Finals qualifiers will be held in the Grand Prix ring, for a total of 12 qualifying classes:

$5,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Low Classic (July 1, 8, 15 & 22)
$10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic (July 1, 8, & 15)
$25,000 Junior/Young Rider/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic (July 22)
$50,000 Cosequin® Grand Prix (July 1)
$50,000 EMO Grand Prix (July 8)
$50,000 Coldwell Banker ITILDO Grand Prix (July 15)
$100,000 Rio Vista Grand Prix (July 22)

A number of top-ranked Cosequin® USGPL riders competed at the inaugural HITS Tahoe and they are expected to return for this year's circuit: Kandi McCoy, 2000 Rookie of the Year with Careful 019; Cyndi Margolis, 2000 Leading Rider with Heartbreaker in Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High; Peter Pletcher, 2000 winner of the Cosequin® USGPL Pre-Green Hunter Final with Diamond Way; Damian Gardiner, 1998 Cosequin USGPL Rider of the Year; and Richard Spooner, the Cosequin USGPL Leading Grand Prix Rider two years in a row (1999 and 2000).

HITS Tahoe is a four-week hunter/jumper horse show circuit that will be held for the second consecutive year in Minden, Nevada, 12 miles from Lake Tahoe. The horse show features approximately 300 competition classes each week from June 27 through July 22. More than $800,000 in total prize money will be awarded. The show grounds are open Wednesday through Sunday from 8:00am until 3:00pm. Competition is featured in six rings. On-site parking is free. No charge for admission Wednesday through Saturday, adults are $5 on Sunday--proceeds benefit local charities.

HITS TAHOE CIRCUIT 2001 SHOW JUMPING ACTION:
HITS TAHOE 2001 SHOW DATES:
Week I June 27-July 1
Week II July 4-8
Week III July 11-15
Week IV July 18-22
FEATURED EVENTS
$50,000 Cosequin® Grand Prix Sunday, July 1 1pm
$50,000 EMO Grand Prix Sunday, July 8 1pm
$50,000 Coldwell Banker ITILDO Grand Prix Sunday, July 15 1pm
$100,000 Rio Vista Grand Prix Sunday, July 22 1pm
SPECIAL EVENTS
Resort Sports Network's Kids Day presented Sunday, July 8 10am-1pm
by Douglas County Parks and Recreation
Department and Douglas County Library

Seniors Day presented by Douglas Sunday, July 22 10am-1pm
County Senior Services

DIRECTIONS: From the Reno/Tahoe airport (about 40 miles), travel south on Highway 395 to Minden; at Stockyard Road, turn left; show grounds entrance is on the left. From Lake Tahoe (about 12 miles), take Route 207 (Kingsbury Grade), cross Foothill Road to Mottsville, proceed 3 miles; turn left onto State Highway 395 North; turn right at Stockyard Road; show grounds entrance is on the left. From Minden (about 2 miles), follow 395 North; turn right at Stockyard Road; show grounds entrance is on the left.

. Website: www.HitsShows.com