HITS
Opts For Perfection By Postponing The Premiere Of Its Saugerties Horse
Shoe Facility
SAUGERTIES, NY (April 4, 2003)—Horse Shows In The Sun (HITS),
producer of five hunter/jumper horse show circuits nationwide, announced
today that the projected completion of its world-class horse show
facility in Saugerties, New York, will be extended to May of 2004.
The much anticipated premiere of the facility was originally scheduled
for early summer 2003, however, a number of uncontrollable factors
have resulted in the postponement. The severe winter weather and record
snowfall experienced by the Northeast region was perhaps the deciding
factor in the delay of the construction project.
The
postponed completion of the new site is a definite disappointment
to HITS. The announcement of the new horse show facility captured
the interest of those equestrians from California to Florida who
participated at HITS winter horse show circuits. The Saugerties
community and commercial businesses have also shown their support
and their positive feedback was instrumental in the approval of
the project.
"We
regret having to disappoint our horse show exhibitors and our community
partners," said Tom Struzzieri, president and owner of HITS.
"With the onset of the winter we began to experience some difficulties
that necessitated a revised timeline. Our goal is to create one
of the finest horse show facilities in the country and we cannot
lose sight of that goal to satisfy an earlier opening. Anything
less than perfect is not an option for us and we will continue with
our plans to premiere the facility in May 2004."
HITS
is leasing a portion of the site for its new horse show facility
from Family of Woodstock, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that
provides crisis intervention services throughout Ulster County.
The horse show site is just under 200 acres and is located less
than a mile from downtown Saugerties, at the intersection of Washington
Avenue and Mike Kraut Road.
The
approved plans for the site include an amphitheatre containing a
Grand Prix Ring and a feature Hunter Ring encompassed by a 10-foot
earthen berm, plus 8 additional competition rings. Initially the
site will have six permanent barn facilities with 500 stalls. A
natural three-board fence will encircle the site, finishing at each
entrance with a wrought-iron gate flanked by native stone pillars.
The site will be further enhanced by a beautiful riding/walking
trail that will meander around the circumference. Other features
include permanent offices, permanent restrooms, and a food court
positioned around a landscaped courtyard. The new facility will
be designed to meet the highest standards of equestrian competition
and it is expected that it will attract equestrians of all levels
and abilities, from the grass roots to the sport's Olympic caliber
riders.
The
economic impact created by the horse show circuit on the area will
be in excess of $30 million.
HITS
produced its first series of horse shows—a three-week circuit
in Gainesville, Florida—in 1982. Today, HITS produces five
horse show circuits, a total of 31 shows, in New York, California,
Florida, Arizona, and Virginia. Individually, each is a first rate
horse show series; collectively, they represent the largest group
of equestrian events under a single management group in the United
States
Website:
www.HitsShows.com
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