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HITS Announces Special Savings Opportunities and Grand Prix Schedule for 2010 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit
Written by: Jennifer Wood Client:HITS Desert Circuit and HITS Ocala Winter Circuit Release Date:2009-09-08
All Fourteen Grand Prix Events Are Qualifiers for $1 Million USGPL Grand Prix in September 2010
Ocala, FL - September 8, 2009 - HITS is pleased to announce that the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, held at the HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, FL, will offer circuit pricing packages for exhibitors. The HITS Ocala Winter Circuit will have two weeks of pre-circuit competition running from January 19-31, and then six weeks of circuit shows on February 9-March 2, including an off-week February 2-7.
The HITS Post Time Farm has 22 permanent barns all located on the show grounds and has 540 permanent stalls. An additional 27 tents house another 2,000 stalls. There are nearly 100 turn-out paddocks, a permanent food service facility, numerous RV parking sites, and ample parking. The Grand Prix Ring and Main Hunter Ring are featured along with 10 additional show rings and seven warm-up rings.
Exhibitors planning to show for the entire winter series will enjoy the most significant savings, while a discounted circuit rate will also be available for tent stalls. The Ocala Tent Series stalls (Eight weeks, two unrated and six rated) are at a savings of 20% from last year’s prices, and Ocala Tent Circuit stalls (Six rated weeks) are a savings of 16% from last year.
Permanent stalls are always in high-demand in Ocala and the majority of the stalls are reserved for repeat permanent stall customers, but each year HITS reserves a small inventory of permanent stalls for customers interested in upgrading their stabling from the tents to the permanent stalls.
For the first time ever, HITS will also offer a discount on permanent stalls for all eight weeks of shows at 17% off the series rate from last year. These stalls are available from November to March.
Paddock and RV prices for both series and circuit are unchanged from last year’s rates.
“Our Winter Circuit in Ocala is very special and has always been very competitively priced,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. “I believe these additional savings will enable more customers to take advantage of all that Ocala has to offer and, hopefully, improve their experience at the circuit.”
More details on the circuit pricing and all other specifics for the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit will be available in the 2010 Ocala Prize List, due to mail this fall.
Since the announcement about the $1 Million USGPL Grand Prix, Struzzieri and his team at HITS have been gearing up for a really big 2010. “We are looking forward to a great season and are excited about the new $1 Million USGPL Grand Prix that will be held next September in Saugerties. The HITS Ocala Winter Circuit will be the first opportunity for riders on the East Coast to start qualifying for the event and we expect an exciting circuit with lots of great competition, not only at the high-performance level, but throughout all the different divisions.”
Grand Prix riders at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit will have 14 opportunities throughout the series to qualify for next year’s $1 Million USGPL Grand Prix in Saugerties, NY, on September 12.
The HITS Ocala Winter Circuit grand prix schedule is as follows:
Ocala January Classic: January 19-24 - $25,000 HITS Grand Prix on Sunday
Ocala January Festival: January 26-31 - $25,000 HITS Grand Prix on Sunday
Off-Week, February 2-7
Ocala Winter Classic: February 9-14 - $25,000 Grand Prix on Thursday; $50,000 EMO Grand Prix on Sunday
Ocala Winter Festival: February 16-21 - $25,000 Grand Prix on Thursday; $50,000 Grand Prix on Sunday
Ocala Masters: February 23-28 - $25,000 Grand Prix on Thursday; $75,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix on Sunday
Ocala Tournament: March 2-7 - $25,000 Grand Prix on Thursday; $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix on Sunday
Ocala Winter Finals: March 9-14 - $25,000 Grand Prix on Thursday; $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix on Sunday
Ocala Winter Celebration: March 16-21 - $25,000 Grand Prix on Thursday; $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group on Sunday
Through the eight weeks of competition, HITS will award $575,000 in Grand Prix prize money.
Laura and Troy Linback own Woodrun Farm in Mundelein, IL, and they have been showing at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit for many years. Last year, Laura and As Di Villagana won the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra grand prix finale.
Laura noted, “We love Ocala. It’s very horse and people friendly, and it’s a beautiful facility. Our son is able to go to the school there for awhile, and the show is just a nice fit for us.”
Troy added, “There are vast areas to ride on the property. I thought the Grand Prix Ring last year with footing and jumps was spot-on. I felt the footing was great all six weeks, and the courses were great. The level of competition is always high there. It’s fun too, the whole atmosphere with the helpful staff and the exhibitor parties. We just have a fun, good time there. I can’t wait to get there this year.”
Laura feels that the circuit provides ample opportunities for jumper riders. “They have great money for the amateur-owner jumpers and the grand prix riders. It’s really nice to have the $100,000 class at the end of the circuit,” she said.
By competing in the grand prix classes, Laura will have the opportunity to qualify for next year’s $1 Million USGPL Grand Prix in Saugerties, NY, on September 12. Both Laura and Troy are excited about the class.
Troy smiled, “I’m already planning my schedule around it for next year. Now with a million dollars, I think we’ll find a lot more West Coast people coming out to Saugerties. The money has increased so much in Saugerties for the whole circuit, and I think it’ll be pretty tough next year.”
In addition to the 14 qualifying grand prix events, HITS Ocala will also be home to the all-new 3’3” Marshall & Sterling Hunter Derby, a unique two-round classic which will be offered each week of the circuit. This popular new division was a huge success at HITS Saugerties this past summer and is the Marshall & Sterling League’s 13th hunter division that riders can earn points for.
Another important event on the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit schedule is the $20,500 Marshall & Sterling League Child/Adult Jumper Championship, which will be held on January 19-31. The Marshall & Sterling Championship is a popular four-leg event scheduled for the first two Fridays and Saturdays of the circuit with prize money increasing from $2,500 in the first leg to $5,000 in the final leg, plus an additional $5,000 in bonus prize money awarded to the top-eight competitors who have accumulated the most points throughout the four legs of the competition.
Announcements on special classes, judges, course designers, prize money, and more will be made regularly for the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. To learn of the latest news, please become a fan of HITS’ page on Facebook and sign up to receive HITS’ Twitter updates.
The prize list for the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit is in development, and HITS plans to mail the book in mid-October so that exhibitors can begin making their plans early. For more information or to request a copy of the 2010 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit prize list, please visit www.HitsShows.com.
