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HITS Saugerties Spring Horse Shows Deemed Great Success
Written by: Jennifer Wood Client:HITS-on-the-Hudson and Culpepper Release Date:2009-06-09
New Footing Is a Big Hit!
Saugerties, NY - June 9, 2009 - The HITS Saugerties Spring Horse Shows have finished their three week run at the HITS-on-the-Hudson facility in Saugerties, NY. The horse shows received many compliments over the three week period for the upgrades and changes made for this year. Across the board for both hunters and jumpers, the biggest draw was the new footing that was installed in the show rings and schooling rings.
“What a difference a year makes,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. “I’m very pleased with the reaction we’ve had to the improvements we made here in Saugerties from the footing, to the schedule, to the prize money, exhibitors seemed to like what we’ve done and it’s shown by the success of our spring shows. Entries increased drastically week after week, and summer is already looking to be better than our projections.”
The footing in the show rings and schooling rings is what made a big difference for many competitors this year. Struzzieri put all-new footing in the Grand Prix Ring, all of the jumper rings and schooling areas, as well as many of the hunter rings.
The main comments heard at the show were about the footing, and the feedback on the facility as a whole is a huge motivating factor for the HITS team. Another very popular adjustment for 2009 was the affordable rates for stabling and nomination fees, which were the lowest in recent memory for exhibitors. Stabling packages for the summer start as low as $180 for weekly tent stalls and range to just $600 for permanent gold stalls for all three weeks of the circuit, while nomination fees remain at $100 for the entire Open Jumper Division.
“We’ve offered exhibitors affordability across the board, and it has enabled customers to really get the most out of their experience in Saugerties this season,” added Struzzieri.
The horse shows had strong entries, and the amount of horses at the show grew significantly each week. Along with the growth in numbers, there was a growth in prize money awarded in the grand prix event each Sunday. What started out at $50,000 quickly grew to $75,000 and then $125,000 this past Sunday. This was something that brought many top show jumpers to Saugerties this spring and why even more plan to attend the Summer Series.
In addition to fantastic prize money, grand prix riders only had to pay a low nominating fee of $100 and no separate nominating fee for the grand prix class. Giving trainers and riders some flexibility in choice, a horse showing in otherwise non-nominated classes are able to move up to show in one (1) Level 5 Jumper Class without having to pay the nominating fee.
High Performance rider Bob Kraut offered his opinion of the shows during Week III. “It’s been a great show, and the footing is great. It’s nice because it feels solid without having that hard jamming like you get in Florida, and it’s been that way for three weeks in a row. And it’s not just one thing; we’ve had great course designers, nice jumps, beautiful decorations and great footing!”
The HITS Saugerties Summer Show Series will begin on July 15, and thanks to the positive response after the Spring Series, the summer shows 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 on June 17 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.
