(c) ESI Photography. Amanda Steege and Zidane jumping at HITS Ocala in February 2015.
SAUGERTIES, New York (July 3, 2015): Beginning this fall, HITS will host four $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derbies at its circuits throughout the country as part of the 2015-2016 USHJA International Hunter Derby series.
“HITS is fully committed to the USHJA and especially this program,” said HITS President and CEO Thomas Struzzieri. “We have decided that in order to do our part to help grow the sport, we should get behind all USHJA programs. This one was particularly easy because it reinforces our previous support for the high performance hunter riders.”
USHJA International Hunter Derbies highlight the tradition of the longstanding hunter discipline. HITS will host four of these derbies – with total prize purses of $100,000 each – in affirmation of its commitment to hunters, much like its offering of four FEI CSI-5* events for jumpers.
“We believe that, as the leaders of the sport, it is our responsibility to offer prize money that raises the bar,” continued Struzzieri. “These Hunter Derbies will offer the highest prize money awarded at any qualifier for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Final in the country.”
Hunter rider and trainer Amanda Steege, owner of Ashmeadow Farm in Bedminster, New Jersey, was thrilled to hear of HITS’ plan to offer these classes. Steege said, “The USHJA Derby Final is something that we gear our whole year towards – we try to go to as many derbies as we can.”
Steege, who campaigns three mounts that are exclusively derby horses, continued, “All of us at Ashmeadow Farm are thrilled that HITS is not only offering four USHJA International Hunter Derbies, but that they’re offering four classes with prize money of $100,000 each. I’m really looking forward to it and I’m so appreciative to Tom and his staff for putting this together. To have the chance to participate in derbies that are offering that much prize money is amazing. It’s great that HITS is doing them.”
HITS 2015-2016 $400,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Tour:
- National Sunshine II – November 4-8, 2015
- Ocala VI – February 23-28, 2016
- Desert Circuit VIII – March 15-20, 2016
- Saugerties VI – August 3-7, 2016
For more information on the HITS 2015-2016 $400,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Tour, click here. For more on USHJA International Hunter Derbies, click here. To request a Prize List for any HITS Series of shows, please visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
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