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HITS Adds 3’3” Hunter Derby to 2010 Show Schedule and Marshall & Sterling League

December 17, 2009

Saugerties, NY - December 17, 2009 - HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of a 3’3” Hunter Derby to their winter show schedule, as well as to the Marshall & Sterling League (M&S). The 2010 HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal will have six weeks of competition from January 26 to March 14, while the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit will run two non-rated and six rated shows from January 19 to March 21.

The M&S 3’3” Hunter Derby in Thermal is another way that HITS is working to improve the show experience for their customers. A $10,000 M&S 3’3” Hunter Derby has been added in a dedicated ring on Weeks I, II, IV, V, and VI. HITS will host the $10,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby during Week III for the third consecutive year.

Professional trainer Archie Cox of Brookway Stables in Los Angeles, CA, believes that the weekly $10,000 M&S 3’3” Hunter Derby is “outstanding.” He added, “It’s inviting for children’s and adult riders, as well as greener horses that may not be ready to do the USHJA derbies, to get the experience and participate. The opportunity to compete for $10,000 every week is amazing. I don’t think anywhere else offers it, and it’s super!”

Cox believes that the M&S 3’3” Hunter Derby is a good alternative for younger horses. “This allows Pre-Green and First Year horses to compete for more money. It’s a great boost to the hunter industry,” he remarked. “The derbies at 3’6” to 4’ are very strong, and this gives a greener horse or perhaps an older horse a chance to compete for a large amount of money. It should be very exciting, and I think they’ll be very well attended.”

The $10,000 M&S 3’3” Hunter Derby will also be offered at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. In the schedule, a $10,000 M&S 3’3” Hunter Derby has been added in a dedicated ring during Weeks I-IV, while the $10,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby will run during Week V.

Bill Ellis and partner David Connors of Four Winds Farm in Ocala, FL, are regular competitors at HITS Ocala. “I think it’s a great addition to the show schedule,” he said. “It’s nice that they’re stepping up and offering more prize money for the hunters. The M&S 3’3” Hunter Derby will be a nice way to prepare for the big derby in the fifth week too.”

Ellis agreed that the M&S 3’3” Hunter Derby classes are a good way for riders to enter derby competition. “I think this class could open up derby competition to some children’s and adult riders, and it would be a nice stepping stone for those that want try the 3’6” or for some of the Pre-Green horses that do the 3’3” division. It would be a nice way for those horses to take a shot at that prize money and keep their eligibility for the First Year division,” he mentioned. “Amateurs can get a chance to get their feet wet too and give them a way to get comfortable enough to move up and do the regular derbies.”

In addition to regular $10,000 classes in Thermal and Ocala, the Marshall & Sterling 3’3” Hunter Derby Finals will be offered at the 2010 Marshall & Sterling League National Finals on September 16-19 in Saugerties, NY.

Ellis has brought customers to the Marshall & Sterling National Finals before and feels that it is a top-notch event. “It’s nice to have that objective for some of the three-foot divisions, adults and children, in addition to doing the zone finals,” he said. “It gives them a nice goal to shoot for, and it will be great to have the M&S 3’3” Hunter Derby at the Finals.”

The Marshall & Sterling 3’3” Hunter Derby made its debut during the 2009 Marshall & Sterling League National Finals and will be an official League Division in 2010. The first round will be a Classic-type course and the second round will be a Handy Hunter course that will include trot jumps, rollbacks, and option jumps. Horses and riders will be able to cross enter from most divisions, including Children’s and Adult Hunters.

“This class has garnered so much interest and excitement from riders all over the country,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. “We offered it as an open class at the 2009 Marshall & Sterling League National Finals and it was an instant success with 51 riders taking part. This class is inherent to the goals and mission of the Marshall & Sterling League, making it a perfect fit for that audience. This could become one of the most popular divisions we’ve added to the League and is a perfect way to celebrate our 20th year of the Marshall & Sterling League.”

In addition to the $10,000 classes at HITS winter shows in Thermal and Ocala, qualifying classes for the Marshall & Sterling 3’3” Hunter Derby will also be offered at the HITS Culpeper and HITS Saugerties spring and summer show series. HITS has also invited a select number of additional shows in the Northeast to add the M&S 3’3” Hunter Derby to their show schedules in order to facilitate the growth of the class and to provide further qualifying opportunities for the Marshall & Sterling National Finals.

The complete list of shows offering the M&S 3’3” Hunter Derby for Marshall & Sterling points are:

2010 Calendar of Shows for Marshall & Sterling 3’3” Hunter Derby

Desert Circuit I January 26-31 Thermal, CA

Desert Circuit II February 2-7 Thermal, CA

Ocala Winter Classic February 9-14 Ocala, FL

Ocala Winter Festival February 16-21 Ocala, FL

Ocala Masters February 23-28 Ocala, FL

Desert Circuit IV February 23-28 Thermal, CA

Desert Circuit V March 2-7 Thermal, CA

Ocala Tournament March 2-7 Ocala, FL

Desert Circuit VI March 9-14 Thermal, CA

Commonwealth National April 21-25 Culpeper, VA

North Shore Eq. Center April 30 Brookville, NY

Garden State May 5-9 Augusta, NJ

Old Salem Farm II May 18-23 North Salem, NY

HITS on the Hudson I May 26-30 Saugerties, NY

HITS on the Hudson II June 2-6 Saugerties, NY

HITS on the Hudson III June 9-13 Saugerties, NY

Fairfield County Club June 22-26 Westport, CT

Showday National July 7-11 Culpeper, VA

Briarwood Farm July 1-13 Flemington, NJ

Cavalier Classic July 14-18 Culpeper, VA

HITS on the Hudson IV July 21-25 Saugerties, NY

HITS on the Hudson V July 28-Aug 1 Saugerties, NY

NY Horse & Pony (HITS VI)August 4-8 Saugerties, NY

Northampton Hunt/Jump August 11-15 Northampton, MA

Winston National August 18-22 Culpeper, VA

Constitution Classic August 25-29 Culpeper, VA

HITS on the Hudson VII Sept 1-5 Saugerties, NY

HITS on the Hudson VIII Sept 8-12 Saugerties, NY

Marshall & Sterling Sept 16-19 Saugerties, NY

During the year, riders from coast to coast compete at more than 1,100 Marshall & Sterling League member horse shows to earn points for a place at the National Finals. Since its inception in 1991, the Marshall & Sterling League Finals have provided the goal that has fueled the competitive spirit of child and adult riders at all levels of competition.

Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Inc., founded in 1864, is among the largest privately owned insurance agencies in the United States. For more than a quarter century, Marshall & Sterling has protected precious equine assets with unparalleled service and support, whether the family hunter, a champion racehorse or a commercial farm.

Entries for the HITS Desert Circuit must be received by January 6. Entries for the first two weeks in Ocala close on January 6, while entries for the rated shows close on January 20. Entries for HITS Arizona close on Tuesday, January 19. Prize lists and entry blanks for all three HITS Winter Circuits are available online. To keep on track with the updates or to request a copy of the winter circuit prize lists, please visit www.HitsShows.com.

Announcements on special classes, judges, course designers, prize money, and more will be made regularly for all of the HITS Horse Show circuits. To learn of the latest news, please become a fan of HITS’ page on Facebook and sign up to receive HITS’ Twitter updates.

For more information on qualifying for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, please visit http://www.hitsshows.com/nyusgpl/index.html.

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