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HITS
Announces Indio Desert Circuit 2004 |
SAUGERTIES, NY (January 27, 2004)—For the thirteenth consecutive
year, Horse Shows In The Sun presents the Indio Desert Circuit in
Indio, California. This six-week hunter/jumper circuit will run from
January 28 through March 14, 2004. Each week will feature approximately
250 classes including a Grand Prix every Friday and Sunday. Four of
the Grand Prix competitions are qualifiers for the 2004 World Cup
Finals. More than $1,000,000 in prize money will be awarded. The Grand
Finale of the circuit is the $150,000 Ford Grand Prix of the Desert,
one of the richest show jumping events in America. With 3,000 stalls
available, the HITS Desert Horse Park can comfortably accommodate
more than 2,000 horses and 6,000 horsemen each week. Exhibitors from
Canada, Mexico, Europe and all regions of the U.S. will travel to
Indio for the 2004 Indio Desert Circuit.
The
80-acre HITS Desert Horse Park features competition in 10 all-weather
rings Wednesday through Sunday from 8am until approximately 4pm.
Spectators are admitted free Wednesday through Friday. Tickets are
$5 on Saturday and Sunday with the proceeds benefiting local charities.
Children under 12 are always admitted without charge, and parking
is always free. There are three food service facilities located
on the grounds that offer an international menu of meals, snacks,
and beverages. The Desert Marketplace features more than a dozen
shops offering equine-themed merchandise from tack to 14K gold jewelry.
Bleacher seating is available at all of the rings and there are
numerous park benches and special tents on the grounds that overlook
the competition action. More than 25,000 spectators are expected
to visit HITS Desert Horse Park during the circuit.
Corporate
sponsorship of the Indio Desert Circuit has seen further growth
this year. EMO Insurance Agency is sponsoring a $50,000 Grand Prix.
Cosequin is the presenting sponsor of the $50,000 King Shavings
Grand Prix. Bayer and the United States Equestrian Team are sponsoring
a $75,000 Grand Prix. Ariat is again sponsoring a $25,000 Grand
Prix every Friday during the six-week circuit. Ford, the official
vehicle for the 2004 Indio Desert Circuit, returns for the fifth
consecutive year to sponsor their $150,000 Grand Prix of the Desert.
Not only is the $150,000 Ford Grand Prix the largest single purse
awarded at the Indio Desert Circuit, but it is also the last World
Cup qualifying event for the West Coast. The competition will decide
which three riders from the West Coast League will compete in the
FEI World Cup Finals to be held April 21-25 in Milan, Italy. With
so much at stake, the air runs electric in the Grand Prix Field
for this event, and it always lives up to the excitement level everyone
has come to expect. The $150,000 Ford Grand Prix of the Desert will
take place on Sunday, March 14th, at 2 pm.
Marshall
& Sterling returns to sponsor the Marshall & Sterling League
classes. The HBO Junior Medal and the Charles Owen Children's and
Adult Medals are an integral part of the League, and will be offered
on each week of the Indio Desert Circuit. Stillwell-Hansen and Four
Winds Farm are showing their support for the League's Pre-Green
Hunter Division, while The Equestrian Shop supports the Pony Hunter
Division. Exhibitors will compete in Marshall & Sterling League
classes to earn points towards qualifying for the National Indoor
Finals to be held September 22-26 at Worcester's Centrum Centre,
Worcester, Massachusetts. Riders may also qualify for the West Coast
Marshall & Sterling League Finals to be held November 17-21
at Los Angeles National Horse Show.
World-class
course designers with Olympic and Pan American Games experience
will be flown in each week to design the jump courses in the Grand
Prix field. This year, the course builders are: Olaf Petersen of
Germany who has been appointed as the course designer for the Athens
Olympics, making him the first individual ever to be the course
designer at two Olympic Games. Leopoldo Palacios, Caracas, Venezuela,
who was the Course Designer at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney,
Australia. Anthony D'Amrosio from Red Hook, New York, winner of
32 Grand Prixs, two-time world record holder for the indoor puissance,
and trainer of four horses that competed in the Olympic Games. Dave
Ballard of Ontario, Canada, the 1999 Pan American Games course designer
and the Assistant Course Designer at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta
and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Danny Foster, Ontario, Canada,
a former show jumper who won an individual Gold Medal and Team Silver
Medal at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba. A nd former
Grand Prix rider Javier Fernandez of Jalisco, Mexico.
Indio
Desert Circuit showcases the week's winning riders in special Parade
of Champions' presentations held every Sunday in the Grand Prix
field prior to the Grand Prix show jumping event. Bayer Corporation
and Legend ® , will present the Bayer Legend Leading Hunter
Rider Award and the Bayer Legend Leading Jumper Rider Award during
these presentations.
Indio's
annual day' events invite spectators to the horse show for special
festivities—Kids Day, Seniors Day, and Fiesta Day. Kids Day,
February 15, presented by KDFX Fox 11 features pony rides, face
painting, a petting zoo, games, prizes, crafts, and entertainment
for children and their parents. Seniors Day, March 7, presented
by KESQ TV3 and LaQuinta Rotary features displays and activities
geared to the health and well being of senior citizens. Golf carts
will be provided so that they may tour the show grounds. Fiesta
Day, March 14, presented by Nestel and Avis Rent A Car celebrates
the Hispanic heritage of the Coachella Valley and the horsemen on
the show grounds with food, entertainment, and educational and career
opportunities.
Charities
and charity events are also an integral part of the Indio Desert
Circuit. This year at Indio, HITS is working with Boys & Girls
Club of Coachella Valley, Boy Scouts of America, Indio Chamber of
Commerce, Indio Sunrise Rotary, LaQuinta Rotary, Indio Senior Center,
and Indio Police Cadets. Local charities pre-sell tickets to the
Grand Prix events and are the ticket-takers on Sundays—they
keep 100% of the proceeds from pre-sold tickets and receive a percentage
of the gate. The College of the Desert Foundation and Foundation
for the Retarded of the Desert will each hold a fund-raiser in the
Oasis VIP tent. Guests of each Foundation will enjoy a luncheon
while watching world-class show jumping in the Grand Prix ring.
The
Indio Desert Circuit not only benefits local charities, but also
economically impacts the entire Coachella Valley. Based on an independent
study commissioned by HITS from Sport Management Research Institute
of Weston, Florida, the total economic impact produced by the Indio
Desert Circuit to the surrounding community equates to $121,734,061
per year.
INDIO
DESERT CIRCUIT 2004 SIDEBAR INFORMATION
WEDNESDAY
THROUGH SUNDAY, 2004 SHOW DATES ARE:
Desert Circuit I - January 28-February 1
Desert Circuit II - February 4-8
Desert Circuit III - February 11-15
Rest Week-No Show - February 16-22
Desert Circuit IV - February 25-29
Desert Circuit V - March 3-7
Desert Circuit VI - March 10-14
FEATURED
EVENTS
$25,000 Ariat Grand Prix - Every Friday at 1:00pm
$50,000 EMO Grand Prix - Sunday, February 1 at 1:00pm
$50,000 King Shavings Grand Prix Presented by Cosequin ® - Sunday,
February 8 at 1:00pm
$75,000 Bayer/USET Grand Prix of Indio - Sunday, February 15 at
1:00pm
$50,000 King Shavings Grand Prix - Sunday, February 29 at 1:00pm
$50,000 King Shavings Grand Prix Presented by Adequan ® - Sunday,
March 7 at 1:00pm
$150,000 Ford Grand Prix of the Desert - Sunday, March 14 at 2:00pm
SPECIAL
EVENTS
Kids Day Presented by KDFX Fox 11 - Sunday, February 15 from 11:00am-1:00pm
Seniors Day, Presented by KESQ TV3 and LaQuinta Rotary - Sunday,
March 7 from 11:00am-1:00pm
Fiesta Day, Presented by Nextel and Avis Rent A Car - Sunday, March
14 from Noon to 2:00 pm
Circuit Awards - Sundays Prior to 1:00pm Grand Prix
Directions
to HITS Desert Horse Park: Take I-10 to the Monroe Street exit in
Indio. Go south approximately five miles to Avenue 52, and then
turn right onto Avenue 52. Horse Show entrance is ½ mile
on right. Tel: 760-775-7731; Fax: 760-775-7752. Website: www.HitsShows.com
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