SAUGERTIES, NY (November 9, 2010) — HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce that the qualifying specifications for the world’s richest hunter class have been finalized and are now available on-line at HitsShows.com.
The $500,000 HITS 3’3” Hunter Prix Final will take place the weekend of September 10-11, and will be featured alongside the second annual $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. This unprecedented Hunter Prix Final will be the culmination of more than 30 qualifying events that will take place at each of the five HITS horse show circuits starting in January 2011.
The Devoucoux Hunter Prix will be the official qualifying class for the $500,000 HITS 3’3” Hunter Prix Final and will be offered as a weekly event at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit in Ocala, Florida; HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, California; HITS Arizona Winter Circuit in Tucson, Arizona; HITS Culpeper Show Series in Culpeper, Virginia and HITS Saugerties Show Series in Saugerties, New York. Each Devoucoux Hunter Prix held through September 4 will count toward the 2011 HITS Hunter Prix Final Rider Rankings. In addition, HITS will host one Wild Card class at HITS-on-the-Hudson VIII, September 7-11, from which the winner, if not already qualified, will earn a spot in the Final.
In order to become eligible for the $500,000 HITS 3’3” Hunter Prix Final, a rider on any horse/horses will need to compete in five or more Devoucoux Hunter Prix at any combination of HITS Shows during the qualifying period. Once a rider has competed in five Devoucoux Prix, they will become eligible and their points on their leading horse will place them in HITS Hunter Prix Final Rider Rankings. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix qualifiers will be open to all riders, with fences not to exceed 3’3”, and will not limit the number of horses an exhibitor may ride.
Scores for each qualifying Devoucoux Hunter Prix will be calculated from place-based points, as well as from points for the number of competitors in the first round of the class (entry-based points). Points will be awarded from 1st to 12th place on the following basis: 30, 20, 14, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1; while additional points will be added to each place-based score to account for the total number of competitors in the first round. For example, in a class with 25 entries, first place would earn a score of 30 for their finish and then an additional 25 entry-based points for the number for a total of 55 points, second place would receive 20 for their finish and the same 25 entry-based points for a total of 45 points and so on down the line until 12th place.
The top 75 riders based on the HITS Hunter Prix Final Rider Rankings will be qualified to compete in the $500,000 HITS 3’3” Hunter Prix Final and will include no fewer than five qualified riders from HITS Thermal. In addition to the one Wild Card slot, HITS Management will also have the opportunity to award five invitations at its discretion.
The $500,000 HITS 3’3” Hunter Prix Final will be held over two days on the weekend of September 10-11 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. The Final will be scored under the open numerical judging system with at least two judges. Like in the qualifying classes, fences will be set at 3’3”, and spreads will not exceed fence height. The first and second rounds will take place on Saturday, September 10. The first round shall be over a Classic-type course of 12-16 fences. The top 50 from the first round will return to jump a second course of 8-10 fences in reverse order of their scores from the first round. Scores from both rounds will be added to determine the top 25 to return for the third round which will take place on Sunday morning, September 11, prior to the $1 Million Grand Prix. The order for the third round will be reverse order of total scores from the first and second rounds; however, scores will not carry over to the third round.
The order will be reverse order of the Final Hunter Prix Final Rider Rankings. The Wild Card will go first. The Manager’s discretionary spots will be placed in the next five slots, and their order to be drawn, followed by any additional discretionary spots, order to be drawn.
Prize money for the $500,000 HITS 3’3” Hunter Prix Final will be awarded as follows:
| 1. | $150,000 | 6. | $20,000 | 11. | $8,000 | 16. | $5,000 | 21. | $3,000 |
| 2. | $90,000 | 7. | $15,000 | 12. | $7,000 | 17. | $5,000 | 22. | $3,000 |
| 3. | $60,000 | 8. | $12,000 | 13. | $6,000 | 18. | $4,000 | 23. | $3,000 |
| 4. | $40,000 | 9. | $10,000 | 14. | $6,000 | 19. | $4,000 | 24. | $3,000 |
| 5. | $25,000 | 10. | $9,000 | 15. | $5,000 | 20. | $4,000 | 25. | $3,000 |
For complete qualifying specifications for the $500,000 HITS 3’3” Hunter Prix Final, please click here.
The first opportunity for riders to start qualifying for the $500,000 HITS 3’3” Hunter Prix Final will be at the three HITS Winter Circuits. The HITS Ocala Winter Circuit gets underway January 19 and runs through March 20. The HITS Desert Circuit begins January 25 and runs until March 13, while the HITS Arizona Winter Circuit runs from February 2 until March 13.
Prize lists for the HITS Winter Circuits have all been mailed and are also available on-line at www.HitsShows.com. To request a prize list, please click here or call 845.246.8833.
HITS, Inc. produces high-quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia. In 2010, HITS took the industry to new heights when it hosted the first-ever Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix on September 12, in Saugerties, New York.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com. Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com.
HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • 845.246.6371 Fax • www.HitsShows.com
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