Source:  News Release

 

 

Texas’ MTM Farm finds success during the Constitution Classic at HITS Commonwealth Park as Tracy Fenney wins the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix and Kaitlyn Arnold earns the blue in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

CULPEPER, VA  — Despite earthquake tremors and Hurricane Irene’s attempts to slow the Constitution Classic, exhibitors enjoyed a week of great competition as rings continued to run on schedule in the heart of Virginia’s horse country at HITS Commonwealth Park, in Culpeper, Virginia.
Highlighting the week was the group of riders from MTM Farm of Flower Mound, Texas with trainers Mike McCormick and Tracy Fenney. Their students swept both of the featured classes for the week. Leading the way was junior rider, Kaitlyn Arnold and her own Dylan. The pair captured Saturday’s $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix to cap a week of tough competition in the hunter rings. Arnold has set her sights on making an appearance in the inaugural Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final during Pfizer Million Weekend, scheduled for September, 10-11, 2011 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

Arnold has 120 points on Dylan and four of the five Devoucoux classes necessary to qualify for September’s Hunter Prix Final. The pair will return to Saugerties this week to pick up their fifth and final class.

After pocketing the first-prize from Saturday’s Devoucoux class, Arnold and Dylan went on to seal the weekly champion honors in the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Division with.

Not to be outdone, fellow MTM Farm rider, amateur Therese Peck, rode Cammy Turgon’s Scoop to a red ribbon in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix under the watchful eye of McCormick and Fenney.

“Both [Kaitlyn and Therese] are going to Saugerties for the $500,000 Hunter Prix Final and are really looking forward to it,” said McCormick. “We already have some horses up in Saugerties and we just love it there.”

© ESI Photography. Kaitlyn Arnold and her own Dylan on course during the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Culpeper.

© ESI Photography. Therese Peck and Kaitlyn Arnold receive their top two ribbons along with trainer Mike McCormick at the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Culpeper.

Tracy Fenney sets her sights on HITS Saugerties

Recovering well from the storm that rolled through Virginia the night before, Sunday morning greeted competitors with ideal horse show weather.

After coaching her students to a one-two finish on Saturday, Fenney and MTM Farm’s MTM Timon rode to victory in Sunday’s $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, as the Texas native is hoping for a big performance in the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix on September 11.

Fenney, who will make a return in the second-ever Pfizer Million after participating last year, was also champion in the Pre-Green Hunter High Division aboard MTM Farm’s MTM Face Time, finalizing an exciting week for the veteran rider.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better two weeks here,” said Fenney. “I was able to win the Grand Prix this week and we can’t be more proud of Kaitlyn Arnold for winning the Hunter Prix.”

© ESI Photography. Tracy Fenney and MTM Timon on course in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

Odor-No-More Grooms Award

Pepe Rodriquez of Kenya Run, Inc. in Middleburg, Virginia earned the Odor-No-More Groom's Award. Grooms were nominated all five weeks of the HITS Culpeper series for the popular award, but it was Rodriquez who emerged the winner with almost two dozen votes.

Odor-No-More Products are eco-friendly solutions, which provide animal owners the ability to save time and money maintaining their animal’s enclosures. The products consist of a proprietary blend of micro-nutrient salts that are commonly found in animal feed supplements and hoof care products, to safely eliminate odors and wetness. For more information on Odor-No-More, please visit www.odornomore.com.

© ESI Photography. Pepe Rodriquez of Kenya Run, Inc. receives his Oder-No-More Grooms Award from HITS' Ashley Frasier at HITS Culpeper.

On Tap for HITS Culpeper

Show jumping returns to HITS Commonwealth Park in September with the Culpeper Finals September 28 - October 2. The week-long final will be highlighted by the $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic, the $15,000 JR/A-O Jumper Low Classic, the $25,000 JR/A-O Jumper High Classic, the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

The HITS Culpeper Show Series will also recognize this year’s SmartPak HITS Culpeper Circuit Champions prior to Sunday’s $40,000 HITS Grand Prix which will also act as the first qualifying Grand Prix for the 2012 $1 Million Grand Prix.

HITS, Inc. produces high-quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia. In 2010, HITS took the industry to new heights when it hosted the first-ever Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. HITS will once again offer the most innovative weekend in show jumping history in 2011 when it hosts the second annual Pfizer Million and the inaugural Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, September 10-11, at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!