Peg Seals and Surely Capture the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Culpeper on the Last Stop to the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final

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©ESI Photography. Peg Seals and Surely on course in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

CULPEPER, VA (August 30, 2012) – Peg Seals and Chelsea Ireland’s Surely returned to HITS Culpeper to capture their second victory in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at the Constitution Classic. Earlier in the summer at the Showday National, Seals and Surely picked up the blue ribbon to become one of Virginia’s top contenders for the second-annual Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final September 7-9, as part of HITS Championship Weekend in Saugerties, New York.

“This is a great class and a great opportunity to win such a large amount of prize money,” said Seals of Virginia Beach, Virginia. “I really enjoyed this class and I’m lucky to be able to ride such a nice horse that’s very competitive at this height.”

The two-round class was designed by Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida and Seals was one of many outstanding junior, amateur and professional riders. She, however, posted the top score of 89 in the first round and coupled it with an 86.5 in the second for a total of 175.5 and the win.

Hasbrouck Donovan of Gainesville, Florida, a top junior rider at Don Stewart Stables, was awarded second place on Stewart’s Confidential with a total score of 174. Donovan is a consistent winner and finalist in the hunter, equitation, jumper and grand prix competition and is on track to become a contender for this year’s Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final. Third place was awarded to Texas’ Therese Peck and her own MTM Off the Cuff with a score of 171.5. Peck is an amateur rider under the guidance of grand prix legends Michael McCormick and Tracy Fenney.

Rounding out the top five in Saturday’s premier event was amateur Jane Gaston of The Plains, Virginia and her own Handsel in fourth place with a score of 171 and amateur Jessica Van Brocklin of Alexandria, Virginia aboard her own Second Hand News in fifth place with a final score of 170.5.

$1,500 HITS Hunter Prix
Chiara Parlagrecco of Warrenton, Virginia captured her second consecutive victory in the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix and her third win overall this season at HITS Culpeper. Parlagrecco, an adult rider, rode to the win on MTM Farm’s MTM Need to Know and is eager to be one of the top contenders for the inaugural HITS $250,000 Hunter Prix Final, as she and her trainer Denice Perry head north to HITS-on-the-Hudson for a chance to capture show jumping glory. She held a commanding lead throughout both rounds with a high-score of 83 in the first round combined with an 85 in the second for a total score of 168.

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©ESI Photography. Chiara Parlagrecco and MTM Need to Know on course in the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix.

Fellow Warrenton native and amateur rider Betty Oare and Mr. & Mrs. Ernest M. Oare’s Lamarni received second-place honors with a total score of 156., Junior rider Devan Graham of Chevy Chase, Maryland and Carolyn Williams’ Delorian received third with a score of 149.

Rounding out the top five was consistent winner Amy Zettler of Norfolk, Virginia and her own Glad Rags in fourth place with a score of 139. After a successful qualifying season, the duo earned one last ribbon before venturing to HITS Championship Weekend. Fifth place was awarded to 16-year-old Rowdie Jo Adams and MTM Farm’s MTM Cassi with a final score of 138. Culpeper marked the very first hunter/jumper horse show for the talented Adams, a regular eventer, who came to train under the guidance of McCormick and Fenney. Adams and the MTM Farm will also be on hand for HITS Championship Weekend as Fenney, the number one ranked rider on the Pfizer Million Rider Rankings, makes her third appearance in the annual event.

The road to HITS Championship Weekend travels home!
As the summer competition in Culpeper wrapped up a successful two weeks of incredible show jumping, the road to HITS Championship Weekend travels home to its final destination at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York for a heart-throbbing finale. The Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final and HITS $250,000 Hunter Prix Final will culminate September 9 to crown the winners of the richest show jumping weekend in America. Also, a live concert by Grammy Award Winner Michael McDonald will follow the competition and cap memorable weekend for the sport of show jumping.

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 Surely Chelsea Ireland Peg Seals $1500
2 Confidential Donald Stewart Hasbrouck Donovan $1000
3 MTM Off the Cuff Therese Peck Therese Peck $700
4 Handsel Jane Gaston Jane Gaston $500
5 Second Hand News Jessica Van Brocklin Jessica Van Brocklin $400
6 Walk the Line Donald Stewart/Meg O’Mara Meg O’Mara $350
7 Scoop Cammy Turgon Therese Peck $300
8 Gerona 92 Rolling Acres Mary Lisa Leffler $250

$1,500 HITS 3′ Hunter Prix

Place Horse Owner Rider Prize $
1 MTM Need to Know MTM Farm Chiara Parlagreco $450
2 Lamarni Mr. & Mrs. Ernest M Oare Betty Oare $300
3 Delorian Carolyn Williams Devan Graham $200
4 Glad Rags Amy Zettler Amy Zettler $150
5 MTM Cassi MTM Farm Rowdie Jo Adams $125
6 Ferragamo Devan Graham Devan Graham $100

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

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