Saugerties, N.Y. – May 30, 2018 – Riders and horses turned out for a beautiful first week of horse showing at HITS-on-the-Hudson where Week One offered a range of classes throughout the week, as well as a number of special classes for hunters and jumpers.
The special jumper classics kicked off in the Grand Prix Ring on Wednesday with the Johnson Horse Transportation Open Welcome. Taking home the first, second, and fifth place ribbons was Jonathan McCrea. McCrea led Fantasy BB to a first place finish in a time of 43.689, followed by his ride on Fernando-H in a time of 44.651. McCrea’s fifth place mount was Pewit Nono, claiming the fifth position in a time of 43.164 and eight-faults in the Jump-Off. Laura Chapot would take home both the third and fourth place ribbons aboard Chandon Blue and Calafornia, respectively. Chapot crossed the finish line in a four-fault time of 40.072 for the third place, and a four-fault time of 43.741.
Featured classes continued on Thursday with the $10,000 KindredBio Jumper Classic. Michael Hutchinson would take home top honors aboard Ronaldo De La Pomme in a time of 44.938. Taking home the red ribbon was Chapot aboard Cybel II in a time of 45.139. McCrea would find himself in the top five once again, taking home both the third and fourth place ribbons, aboard Fantasy BB in a time of 48.096 and Fernando-H in a time of 49.186. Rounding out the top five was Kevin Mealiff and Goldbreaker in a four-fault time of 48.809.
On Friday, Chapot would claim top honors in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix aboard Cybel II in a time 34.245. Winning second place in Friday’s Grand Prix was Christine McCrea aboard Jarcobond Van Den Oude Eik in a time of 35.941 followed by Hutchinson and Catango in third place after crossing the finish line in 37.161. Chapot would return to the winner’s circle to claim the fourth and fifth place ribbons aboard Thornhill Kate and Chandon Blue, respectively, in four-fault times of 35.528 and 35.666.
Chapot would return to the winner’s circle on Saturday afternoon aboard Shooting Star to take top honors in the $10,000 Saugerties Steamboat Co. Jumper Classic in a time of 39.850. Ronan McGuigan and his partner, Elvis, would take home the red ribbon in a time of 40.062. Hutchinson would make an appearance in the winner’s circle to claim the third place ribbon aboard Ronaldo De La Pomme in a time of 40.184. David Raposa and S & L Sage would take home fourth place honors in a time of 42.245, followed by Cassandra Kahle and Wallstreet in a time of 42.298.
Sunday afternoon horses and riders turned out for the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix. Riding home with the blue ribbon was Matt Metell and Donchalant in a time of 35.467. Hutchinson would follow less than a second behind the leader aboard Catango in a time of 36.186. Mealiff would take home third and fourth place aboard Audi’s Dimple And Goldbreaker, respectively, in times of 37.629 and 42.188. Rounding out the top five in the Grand Prix was Raposa and S & L Sage in a four-fault time of 35.561.
Junior and Amateur riders had their chance to shine in the Grand Prix Ring for the Sunday morning Classics. In the $2,500 Pyranha 1.20m Junior/Amateur-Owner/Amateur Jumper Classic Dylan Laiken and OHLALA Z would take home top honors in a time of 36.591.
Taking home the blue ribbon in the $5,000 Summit Joint Performance 1.30m Junior/Amateur-Owner/Amateur Jumper Classic was Jenny Kocher aboard Elion V in a time of 30.591.
Tamara Morse claimed top honors in the $7,500 Horseflight 1.45m Junior/Amateur-Owner/Amateur Jumper Classic aboard Ravenna Adelheid Z in a time of 34.353.
It was also an exciting week in the hunter rings, where the $5,000 Devoucoux and the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix took place as riders competed to earn qualifying points for the Diamond Mills and Platinum Performance Finals that take place at the HITS Championship, right here at HITS-on-the-Hudson, September 5-9.
In the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, Shachine Belle and Tignanello would take home the blue ribbon with a combined score of 165.5. The second place ribbon was awarded to Raposa and Ivy Too, riding to a two round total of 164. Rounding out the top three in the class was David Wilbur and his partner Serafino with a combined score of 160.
Bonnie McCabe and Cote D’or took home the top honors in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix with a combined score of 167. Michelle Whitman and C’van De Helle would score a 162 to secure the second place position. Riding home with the third place ribbon was Erin Brody aboard Monarch with an overall score of 155.