Tag Archives: Ocala Winter Festival

Competitions, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

HITS Ocala Winter Festival Receives FEI CSIO-4* Ranking, Adds $150,000 Ocala Grand Prix

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(C) ESI Photography. The Ocala Winter Festival, February 10-15, 2015, the fifth week of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit at HITS Post Time Farm, is now a FEI CSIO-4* designated event.

Saugerties, New York (November 24, 2014): HITS, Inc., home of the Triple Crown of Show Jumping, is pleased to announce FEI CSIO-4* sanctioning of the Ocala Winter Festival, February 10-15, 2015, the fifth week of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. The recently confirmed title enhances the already notable lineup of accolades for the winter show season at HITS Post Time Farm, including the ten-week USEF rated circuit nod HITS announced earlier in 2014.

Spanning five days, the Ocala Winter Festival will host several high performance classes in the FEI Jumper Division. Highlights include the FEI Nations Cup Friday, February 13, and the $34,000 FEI Jumper Classic Saturday, February 14, all of which are qualifying events for the $150,000 Ocala Grand Prix on Sunday, February 15.

All eyes will be on the Ocala Horse Properties Grand Prix Stadium Sunday afternoon for the final class of Week V, as fifty horse and rider duos chase the clock and global fame.

High profile classes will be open to all who participate in the FEI Jog Tuesday, February 10. HITS is expecting a sizeable turnout for the week as top international talents will compete for over $400,000 in prize money, as well as worldwide qualifying opportunities.

HITS will offer an upgraded hospitality experience in the Overlook VIP Club featuring ringside seating and the culinary art of Executive Chef Giuseppe Napoli of The Tavern at Diamond Mills in Saugerties, New York. VIP tables are expected to sell out and reservations are encouraged. For Overlook VIP Club information and bookings, contact Chelsea Dwinell at Chelsea@HitsShows.com.

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

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Ocala Winter Festival Paves the Way for One of the Most Memorable Winter Circuits of All Time

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© ESI Photography. Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui on course in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

OCALA, FL (February 23, 2011) – What do you get when you mix beautiful weather, talented horsemen, first-class facilities, exciting events and fabulous prize money? The answer is simple: HITS Ocala! The Ocala Winter Festival marked the second AA rated week of show jumping in the ‘Sunshine State’.

The two Grand Prix and weekly Devoucoux Hunter Prix saw record-breaking entries this week. In Thursday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Kent Farrington  (above right) of Chicago, Illinois, emerged as the winner out of what was then a record 48 starters, aboard Up Chiqui, owned by William Dobbs, Alex Boone and Farrington. Thursday’s track proved challenging, as only five returned for the jump-off. Sunday’s $50,000 class set a new record three days later with 50 entries, as Andre Thieme of Germany and Cesar won their first Grand Prix of the season. Despite the bigger entries and challenges on Sunday’s course, 12 talented teams advanced to the jump-off for an exciting conclusion. Thieme also picked up the third place ribbon aboard his own Uvalier, while German native Matthias Hollberg, now of Apex, North Carolina, was second aboard Apex Equestrian Center’s Wadisson. Both Farrington and Thieme are aiming to qualify for the 2011 Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix on September 11 in Saugerties, New York.

© ESI Photography. Tracy Fenney and MTM La Costa on course in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

$10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
The Devoucoux Hunter Prix has been the premier hunter event each week throughout the circuit, and Sunday’s outstanding $10,000 event showed just how eager the hunter riders are to qualify for the Diamond Mills $500,000 3’3″ Hunter Prix Final on September 10-11 in Saugerties, New York, as 70 riders tracked the course. Standing tall at the end of the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix was High-Performance rider Tracey Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas. Fenney, who is one of the all-time leading Grand Prix riders at HITS Ocala, was delighted to show her skills in the hunters aboard Mr. and Mrs. Ken MacKenzie’s MTM La Costa. Second place was awarded to standout junior Meg O’Mara aboard Walk the Line, owned by Don Stewart and O’Mara. The duo had a successful week at the Ocala Winter Festival, picking up two first place ribbons in the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division, which helped earn them the Reserve Champion honors. Rounding out the top three was professional rider Kate Conover of Ocala, Florida aboard Doreen Toben’s Black Tie Affair.

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