Jane Gaston and Handsel Win the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix during the Winston National and Eye the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final

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©ESI Photography. Jane Gaston and Handsel on their way to winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

CULPEPER, VA (August 20, 2012) – This weekend, top amateur rider Jane Gaston of The Plains, Virginia and her own Handsel scored an impressive victory in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Culpeper and proved that they will be a serious contender in next month’s Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.

“Last year was such an amazing experience in Saugerties,” said Gaston. “I am thankful that I will be able to participate again, this year. Anything can happen, but I will certainly be in it to win it.”

Saturday’s Devoucoux Hunter Prix was the first of three remaining qualifiers for September’s Final and welcomed 19 riders, all vying for a spot in HITS Championship Weekend. After round one, Gaston was on top of the leader board with a score of 82. Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas and MTM Farm’s MTM U Call It were not far behind when they received a score of 81 from Judge Irving Evans. The third score in the 80s in the first round went to Miranda Scott of Silver Spring, Maryland aboard Katherine Wheeler-Raheb’s C-Me in Colour.

Gaston and Handsel proved to be the most consistent team of the afternoon when they scored an 85 in the second round for a total score of 167 and the blue ribbon. Fenny and MTM U Call It received a score of 84.5 in round two for a combined score of 165.5 and the red ribbon. Scott and C-Me in Colour matched Gaston’s second round score of an 85 for a 165 total and third place.

Rounding out the top five were Amy Nunnally of Troy, Virginia and Jillian Fellows’ Meeko in fourth and Peg Seals of Virginia Beach, Virginia riding Chelsea Ireland’s Surely in fifth.

“There were some great horses and riders competing in the class and I am thrilled to have come out on top,” concluded Gaston.

Hunter riders will have one more opportunity in Culpeper to qualify for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final when the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix takes the stage during the Constitution Classic next week.

$1,500 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix
Adult rider Chiara Parlagreco of Warrenton, Virginia earned top honors aboard Placido, owned by Skyland Farm, LLC, during the $1,500 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix this weekend. For Parlagreco, Saturday’s triumph was her second trip to the winner’s circle aboard Placido this year with a total score of 165. She is now one qualifier away from being eligible for the HITS $250,000 Hunter Prix Final that will take place during Championship Weekend at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York September 7-9.

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©ESI Photography. Chiara Parlagreco and Placido on their way to a win in the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix

Jennifer Frank of Elverson, Pennsylvania and her horse Pax Mundi finished in second-place with an overall score of 162.

Amy Zettler of Warrenton, Virginia picked up her fifth and final required qualifier for the HITS Hunter Prix Final on Saturday. She already boasts a pair of victories aboard her own Glad Rags and added a third-place finish during the Winston National. Her two-round total was 161.

Rounding out the top five in the class was Frank on her second ride Alana Andrews’ Born to Roll in fourth place, and Devan Graham of Chevy Chase, Maryland riding her own Ferragamo in fifth.

About Devoucoux
Devoucoux, makers of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to the phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix will be a featured event at all HITS horse shows this season as riders from around the country set out to qualify for the second-annual Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final, which will take place September 8-9 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

About Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern
Just 100 miles outside of New York City, nestled in the Village of Saugerties, Diamond Mills is a 30-room luxury hotel featuring stellar accommodations, fine dining at The Tavern and full-service events at a state-of-the art Special Events Center. Diamond Mills is a proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, an unsurpassed collection of over 520 luxury hotels around the world. Saugerties’ newest luxury hotel is also the proud sponsor of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, which will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson as part of the HITS Championship Weekend. For more information about Diamond Mills or the special VIP packages available to HITS-on-the-Hudson exhibitors, please visit DiamondMillsHotel.com or call 845.247.0700.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

Place Horse Owner Rider Prize $
1 Handsel Jane Gaston Jane Gaston $1500
2 MTM U Call It MTM Farm Tracy Fenney $1000
3 C-Me in Coulour Katherine Wheeler-Raheb Miranda Scott $700
4 Meeko Jillian Fellows Amy Nunnally $500
5 Surely Chelsea Ireland Peg Seals $400
6 Consigliere Kelsi Okun Amy Nunnally $350
7 Tinka’s Lad Tess Lee Tess Lee $300
8 Skara Glen’s Palenque Sara Ladley Sara Ladley $250

$1,500 HITS 3′ Hunter Prix

Place Horse Owner Rider Prize $
1 Placido Skyland Farm, LLC Chiara Parlagreco $450
2 Pax Mundi Jennifer Frank Jennifer Frank $300
3 Glad Rags Amy Zettler Amy Zettler $200
4 Born To Roll Alana Andrews Jennifer Frank $150
5 Ferragamo Devan Graham Devan Graham $125
6 Texas Hold’em Sally Lamb Colleen Kenten $100

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.comHitsShows.com

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