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Horse Shows In The Sun
Announces $100,000 Grand Prix Every Week at HITS Catskills in Ellenville, New
York |
RHINEBECK, NY (March 2, 2000)--Horse Shows In the
Sun, Inc. (HITS), producer of six world class hunter/jumper horse show circuits
nationwide, has announced that HITS Catskills, a five-event summer series of
horse shows in Ellenville, New York, will offer a $100,000 Grand Prix every
Sunday in 2001.
HITS Catskills experienced an increase in exhibitors last year--the biggest
increase in attendance of all the HITS show circuits--stabling from 1,500 to
2,000 horses each week. "HITS Catskills is a great cross-section of the
people involved in the sport," said Tom Struzzieri, owner and president of
HITS. "This series appeals to all different types of exhibitors--from the
family who brings one child on a pony to Olympians on their Grand Prix horses.
Three members of the 2000 Olympic team competed at HITS Catskills last year
just before the Sydney Olympic Games. The majority of the East Coast's top show
jumpers compete at these shows. It is appropriate for HITS to respond to this
type of participation by offering high stakes prize money. We also are working
to build a stronger spectator base. By establishing a show with top level prize
money and riders, we expect to attract additional attention to the show and to
the sport." The increase in the Grand Prix prize money now puts HITS
Catskills total prize money at over $1,000,000.
From May to September, each of the five shows will run for five consecutive
days and offer 250 hunter, jumper and equitation classes every week. Up to
eight rings are in action simultaneously. Kicking off the season is HITS
Catskills I, May 23-27, featuring the $100,000 EMO GRAND PRIX. After a
three-day intermission, HITS Catskills II goes into action from May 30-June 3,
with the finale $100,000 HITS GRAND PRIX closing out the show. Horses return to
the show grounds seven weeks later for HITS Catskills III July 25-July 29
featuring the $100,000 COSEQUIN GRAND PRIX. HITS Catskills IV--the New York
Horse and Pony Show, starts three days later, August 1-5, and showcases the
$100,000 HITS GRAND PRIX. Following a three-week break, competition resumes
with the final event in the summer series, HITS Catskills V, August
29-September 2, which features the $100,000 RIO VISTA GRAND PRIX.
This is the sixth consecutive year that HITS has produced the Catskills series
of horse shows at the 70-acre Kelly Farm in upstate New York. Each year, HITS
has enhanced and improved the grounds. Extensive plans to upgrade the show
grounds for the coming season are currently underway. The planned changes are
both cosmetic and structural. Immediate plans are to re-configure the ring
set-up, improve the roads, parking and tent pads, install a permanent lunging
area, and put in an additional well.
Website: www.hitsshows.com
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