OCALA, FL (March 12, 2013) – HITS is pleased to announce that the quarantine that has been in effect at the HITS Ocala show grounds for the past three weeks will be lifted Wednesday morning, March 13, in time for the season finale. On Wednesday at 8am, restrictions on horses entering or leaving the show grounds will be lifted, and the Ocala Celebration (HITS IX) will kick off with a bang.

“We are pleased to be in a position to highlight all the great classes and events that are on the schedule for this week,” said HITS, Inc. President and CEO Tom Struzzieri. The final week of HITS Ocala always proves to be special with the $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, the $25,000 Team Barber M&S Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic and the big Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics. The week also features the $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge and the HITS Equitation Championship.

“HITS Ocala elected to test all the horses under observation at the three-week mark, rather than waiting one more week and allowing the quarantine to extend 28 days and time out,” said Struzzieri. “All the horses tested negative which speaks volumes for the excellent bio-security measures practiced by HITS exhibitors and staff alike.” The negative results meant that the quarantine could be lifted for Wednesday.

The protocol measures that HITS began putting in place this winter will be required at all future HITS shows, including HITS Culpeper and HITS Saugerties. “The required protocol we had at HITS Thermal [California] this year will now become required for all future HITS shows,” Struzzieri said. “It is clear that such protocols are in the best interest of horse health and the equine industry as a whole.”

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