(c) ESI Photography. Jennifer Jones on Clear Sailing take first place in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.
Contina and Jacqueline Maggiore Take $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
Ocala, Florida (January 19, 2015): HITS Ocala Winter Circuit celebrated the victories of Jennifer Jones riding Redfield Farm’s Clear Sailing in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and Jacqueline Maggiore riding Contina, owned by Woodridge Farm, in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix, in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium.
Jones — who also took third place with Castello, owned by Colleen McKenzie — finished first on Clear Sailing with scores of 87 in the first round and 90 in the second. The runner up, Amanda Steege, on Zidane, owned by Susan Darragh, came close with scores of 89 and 87.
“This was Contina’s first horse show this year,” said Jones, of Marion, South Carolina, who nevertheless successfully navigated the course designed by Doug Russell of Ocala, Florida in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium.
A 13-year veteran of HITS Ocala events, Maggiore, of South Boston, Massachusetts, secured her top spot with a strong first round score of 86, followed by a 78 in the second round. Earning a second-place finish was Mindy Whitman of Marstons Mills, Massachusetts, on Holman Imports LLC’s Herrold, with scores of 73 in Round 1 and 85 in Round 2.
“The course rode wonderfully,” said Maggiore, “and my horse is reliable and consistent.” She believed that the HITS course, also designed by Russell, was a major boost, saying, “There is plenty of time to think and relax in the stadium because it is so big.”
The $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix is a qualifier for the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final at the HITS Championship in Saugerties, New York this September. The $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix is a qualifier for the $250,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final, also in Saugerties.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!
HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com