Vale and Fenney Accelerate on the Road to the Pfizer Million, Woodhall Farm Owns the Hunter Rings and Odor-No-More Honors the Grooms at HITS Culpeper
CULPEPER, VA (July 22, 2010) — The road to the Pfizer Million passed right through the heart of Virginia’s horse country for the HITS Culpeper July horse shows and saw two major contenders in the race for the top prize in the Pfizer $ 1 Million Grand Prix pull off a pair of big wins at HITS Commonwealth Park, in Culpeper, Virginia.
Aaron Vale got the party started during the Showday National (July 7-11) when he rode Paparazzi 10 to the blue ribbon in the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, to climb into the top 15 of the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings for the big-ticket class that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson on Sunday, September 12.
Texas’ Tracy Fenney scored the biggest prize of the Cavalier Classic (July 14-18) when she won the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, riding MTM Centano. Fenney is currently third in the Eligible Rider Rankings with $73,950 in prize money won aboard her leading Grand Prix Horse MTM Timon. Fenney will be showing at HITS Saugerties for three weeks hoping to climb the ladder even further in the standings as she inches towards securing the precious last-to-go spot in the Pfizer Million Order of Go.
Currently, New Zealand’s Guy Thomas and Peterbilt are in second place with $83,950 in prize money won, and Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood and Bottom Line are in the lead with $104,100 in prize money won. However, with six Grand Prix classes at HITS Saugerties over the next three weeks, including the $125,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, during HITS-on-the-Hudson VI, anything could still happen in the race for the top spot.
“It looks like I am still within striking distance,” said Fenney. “Obviously, any time you go last in a class is a huge advantage. You can triple the importance to go last in a class with the magnitude of the Pfizer Million.”
Winning Ways! Woodhall Farm excels at HITS Culpeper
Led by trainer Peter Foley, the exhibitors from Woodhall Farm were unstoppable at HITS Culpeper in July. In the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby, Sue Lyman started the party for the Virginia-based barn when she won the blue riding The Lion’s Share at the Cavalier Classic. Lyman also secured the sixth-place ribbon riding Catherine Brown’s March Lion as she took home the majority of the prize money in the popular Derby.
Lyman’s success began early in the week when she piloted The Lion’s Share to the weekly championship in the Second Year Green Hunters. Also in the Rated Divisions, Mark Ferris rode Ruth Douglas’ Promo to the division title to kick off the week for Woodhall Farm.
In the Adult Hunters 36-45, Glad Rags, ridden by Amy Zettler, was the weekly champion for the second week in a row at HITS Culpeper, adding more tri-color ribbons to the Woodhall Farm trophy case. During the Showday National, Glad Rags’ full brother Glad Again, ridden by Catherine Thompson, won the weekly crown for owner Sally McVeigh as the awards continued to pile up.
The success transferred into the Pony ring when Ashton Alexander rode Mary Lou Glover’s West Wing to the title in the Medium Pony Hunters. “Our horses seem to love Culpeper,” said Foley. “We are at all of the shows and the horses always perform well. It was a great two weeks for us.”
Great Groom!
The July shows at HITS Culpeper recognized the unsung heroes at the barn, too, when Odor-No-More presented a Groom’s Award during the Showday National and the Cavalier Classic. At the Showday National the Groom’s Award was presented to trainer Jenny Miller and Sierra Run Farm, while trainer Pam Baker and Hillcrest Farm earned the title during the Cavalier Classic for their overall cleanliness and appearance of the barn.
The barn area was inspected by members of the HITS staff and the winning grooms received an engraved trophy and samples of Odor-No-More to use at home and on the road. “It’s good to give thanks to the grooms,” said Baker. “They are constantly running around making sure the horses are ready to show. The award means a lot to our guys.”
Odor-No-More Products are eco-friendly solutions which provide animal owners the ability to save time and money maintaining their animal’s enclosures. The products consist of a proprietary blend of micro-nutrient salts that are commonly found in animal feed supplements and hoof care products, to safely eliminate odors and wetness. For more information on Odor-No-More, please visit www.odornomore.com.
What to look for at HITS Culpeper in August!
Show Jumping at HITS Culpeper now takes a short break and will return in August with the Winston National (August 18-22), which will include the return of the Zone III Junior Equitation Finals on Saturday, August 21, and the Constitution Classic (August 25-29). The August shows feature a $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby each week and a weekly $40,000 Grand Prix class that will serve as critical qualifiers for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson on Sunday, September 12.
In order to qualify for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, a rider must compete in eight or more HITS Grand Prix classes. The top 40 riders, based on money won by horse/rider combination, will be eligible to ride for the Pfizer Million. For more detailed information on the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, including ticket prices and the special concert by music legend John Fogerty, please visit our website at www.HitsShows.com.
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 will take the industry to new heights when it hosts the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties on September 12.
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.
[nggallery id=25]
HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • 845.246.6371 Fax • www.HitsShows.com