PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
February 13, 2008

Jenny Karazissis in a ' Swoon ' after her victory in the $10,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Classic at HITS Thermal

THERMAL, CA (February 13, 2008)— Jenny Karazissis rode El Campeon's Swoon to victory in the $10,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Classic to conclude DC III at HITS Thermal.

Thermal was the second venue to play host to this new hunter series, which has been generating a lot of excitement throughout the sport. A field of 27 combinations in the first round were sliced into a final round of 12 exhibitors who were asked to come back and compete for the blue ribbon. The first round was a regular classic course and the second round was a handy hunter course that included a trot jump, roll-backs and option jumps, all in the HITS' state-of-the-art Grand Prix ring. During the second round, judges were able to award bonus points for style and handiness.

"The team at HITS Thermal did a great job presenting the second class in the International Hunter Derby series," said Diane Carney of Telluride, which is located at Canterbury Farms out of Chicago. Carney is a member of the USHJA High Performance Hunter Committee and was on hand at Thermal for the event. "The riders and horses really put the sport back into hunters under the lights in Thermal. The two teams of judges obviously enjoyed the brilliance of the hunters as scores where high and handy bonus points were well deserved. The course designer and decoration teams did a beautiful course of natural jumps."

One of the goals of the competition was to bring hunter and jumper riders together at the top level. Some noteworthy jumper riders to compete were Richard Spooner, who was third aboard Guns N Roses and Jill Humphrey who was 12th aboard Craig II . 

Right from the start Karazissis was competitive, taking first and second place in the first round on Tricia Cook-Looker's Aragon  and Swoon, respectively.  In the second round, Karazissis moved into first aboard Swoon after dropping a rail during her trip aboard Aragon. When the class was complete, Karazissis outlasted some of the top hunter riders in the world, including John French, Peter Pletcher and Archie Cox, to win $3,000 in first place prize money for El Campeon Farms.  

"It was very exciting," said Karazissis. "I had been looking forward to the class for a while. It was such an exciting atmosphere to compete in. The Grand Prix ring was the perfect place; I was even more excited when I heard we were going to compete in that ring. It was great to have such accomplished riders like Richard [Spooner] stick around after the Grand Prix to compete. His participation made it even more special and I really appreciate his support for this event."

Karazissis and Spooner shared a fun moment after the class when she acknowledged that she can now proudly tout that she beat Richard Spooner. He was quick to qualify it by adding "At hunters!"

As part of her preparation for the class, Karazissis decided to not show in the hunters during the week, but rather opted for the level II and III jumpers. "It was gratifying to feel like my plan paid off," she continued.  "I also have to thank my husband, Kost, because he was a tremendous support and his help enabled me to get ready for this."

"HITS was delighted to showcase the hunter in our fabulous Grand Prix arena," said HITS' Vice President of West Coast Operations, Fred Bauer. "We are looking forward to holding the class on the weekend under the lights during the Championship Week March 11-16. It should be a magical night!" 

"It was fabulous," said trainer Karen Healey. "I was happily surprised by the amount of people who stuck around to watch the class at 5 pm after Sunday's Grand Prix was over. When the class moves to prime time it's going to be huge!"

Karazissis, who has been competing at the Desert Circuit since DC I, will return for the second half of the circuit with her eyes once again set on the $10,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Classic. 

The HITS Desert Circuit now takes a one-week hiatus. Competition at HITS Thermal returns on Tuesday, February 19 for four consecutive weeks of shows and runs until Sunday, March 16 when the new Desert Circuit Championship will close out the season with 17 different championship classes, including the R.W. Mutch Equitation Classic and the first-ever $200,000 Invitational Grand Prix of the Desert.

HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS produced its first horse show circuit in Gainesville, Florida in 1982. Since that time, HITS has grown into a nationwide company with world-class hunter/jumper circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit  www.HitsShows.com.

Media should contact Chris Mayone at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com.

$10,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Classic Overall

HITS CORPORATE OFFICE: HITS, Inc., 319 Main Street, Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
phone 845.246.8833  fax 845.246.6371   www.HitsShows.com

HITS E-NEWS
February 15, 2008

HITS Thermal Mid-Circuit Report: Warm, Sunny and Jumping! 

 
California Dreaming – Facility Improvements, Grand Prix Standings, FEI World Cup Qualifiers and New USHJA Hunter Derby Classic in Thermal, California.
 
The HITS Desert Horse Park had an incredible start to the season. Desert Premiere was the first of two new weeks added to the circuit and was the first chance for exhibitors to experience all the new facility improvements, including new rings, new landscaping, new footing, and so much more!
 
Grand Prix rider Richard Spooner, the Desert Circuit's all-time leading money winner, started off strong with two back-to-back wins, first on Gerry the Grey and then on Ezrah . Spooner is only the second rider in the United States to win 100 Grand Prix events, a very impressive achievement!
 
Speaking of impressive, the new covered ring in Thermal, which is home to all four $50,000 Tourneau FEI World Cup Qualifiers, presented by Adequan, has been quite the hit! Rich Fellers and Flexible have taken blue in the first two FEI classes, helping him in the point standings as he's comfortably in the top 5 for the West Coast. 
 
Other HITS Desert Circuit Grand Prix winners include:

•    Mark Watring/ Sapphire – $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix, January 30
•    Joie Gatlin/ Camaron Hills Shan Roe – $125,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by EMO, February 3
•    Kim Farlinger/ Cordoba – $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix, February 7
•    John Pearce/ Archie Bunker – $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, February 10

 
During the first half of the HITS Desert Circuit, $375,000 of the $925,000 total Grand Prix prize money has been awarded. Since every Grand Prix at HITS Thermal is a qualifier for the season finale, the $200,000 Invitational Grand Prix on Sunday, March 16, all eyes will be on the second half of the circuit to see who will make the cut for this exciting event. The top 30 pairs will be invited to compete. Click here for the current rankings.
 
Hunters also had their chance in the Grand Prix ring when the $10,000 ASG Software Solutions/ USHJA International Hunter Style Derby Classic closed out DC III. It was Jenny Karazissis and Swoon who bested 26 other exhibitors to take home the blue and $3,000 for owners El Campeon Farms. The $10,000 Hunter Derby Classic will be offered again as part of the Desert Championship week on Sunday, March 16.

Here's to you! HITS Thermal Salutes Its First Half Heroes.
 
The pony ring at HITS Thermal has been dominated by Tara Spencer so far in 2008. Spencer is just 11 and has owned the competition so far by grabbing 24 blue ribbons and earning 19 red ribbons. Her list of impressive accolades include two Mid-Circuit Championships aboard Brookway Stables' Tuscany in the Medium Pony Hunter Division and Keep Dreamin' in the Large Pony Hunter Division. To cap off an exciting first half of the circuit for Spencer, she was also named the Best Child Rider in the Pony division for all three weeks. Spencer is now off to HITS Ocala and will be riding for Bibby Hill and Don Stewart. Good Luck in Ocala, Tara!
 
Also shining at HITS Thermal was John French, who was named Mid-Circuit Champion on his mount Obelix in the Adequan Hunter Division, and Alison Baileys, who was awarded the Jennifer Marlborough Freeman Memorial Trophy.  The Jennifer Marlborough Freeman Memorial Trophy is awarded to the High Point Mid-Circuit A-O Hunter 18-35. Baileys, who rides under the watchful eye of French, won thanks in part to her mount Tache Rouge.
 
Click here to see all of the Mid-Circuit Award winners from HITS Thermal.

Party time! HITS Thermal features fun out-of-ring activities

The special events calendar at HITS Thermal is in full swing and has already featured several entertaining events for all exhibitors to enjoy in 2008. So far at HITS Thermal, there was a dog costume contest, the ever-popular Kids Day and a hilarious HITS Thermal Equine Idol competition judged by Huntover Farm's Mark Bone, Showbiz Magazine's Kathy Hobstetter and Waldenbrook's John French.
 
The second half features much more out-of-ring excitement, including a fashion show, presented by  Horse Connection Magazine , an exhibitor golf tournament at Indian Palms and the annual WCAR Party at La Quinta Resort & Club .
 
What's On Tap!

The second half of competition at HITS Thermal is right around the corner as show jumping returns to HITS' state-of-the-art equestrian facility on Tuesday, February 19 for four consecutive weeks.

Plenty more Grand Prix prize money is up for grabs as nine Grand Prix classes remain on the schedule for 2008, including  two more $50,000 Tourneau FEI World Cup Qualifiers, presented by Adequan and the first-ever $200,000 Invitational Grand Prix on Sunday, March 16.

The Invitational is one of several special classes that will take place during the all-new Desert Championship (March 11-16) at HITS Thermal.  The second installment of the $10,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Classic returns to HITS Thermal  and the R.W. “Ronnie” Mutch Equitation Classic makes its inaugural appearance on the West Coast on Sunday, March 16.

Desert Championship will also feature the presentation of the Second-Half Circuit Awards and the Overall-Circuit Awards during the Parade of Champions on Sunday, March 16.
 
The Parade of Champions will  showcase several perpetual trophy award winners. The Hillcrest Pot O' Gold High-Point Pony Award, SHALANNO Style of Riding, Jimmy Kohn Style of Riding, Michael Patrick Perpetual Trophy and the Potcreek Meadow Junior Sportsmanship Award will all be awarded in the HITS Grand Prix ring prior to the $200,000 Invitational Grand Prix.
 
HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS produced its first horse show circuit in Gainesville, Florida in 1982. Since that time, HITS has grown into a nationwide company with world-class hunter/jumper circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com.

Media should contact Chris Mayone at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com

HITS CORPORATE OFFICE: HITS, Inc., 319 Main Street, Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
phone 845.246.8833  fax 845.246.6371   www.HitsShows.com