HITS is pleased to announce that its 2018 FEI Tour will include a third CSI5* event, to be held during the End Of Summer Series at HITS Chicago, August 15-19. Coupled with an FEI3* event the week prior, August 8-12, and followed just two weeks later by the fourth-annual FEI CSI5* at HITS Saugerties, September 5-9, this makes for an ideal FEI event schedule leading up to the FEI World Equestrian Games.
“The importance of these upper-level FEI events, especially the 5* events, for our riders in the US is paramount to keeping our riders competitive in team competitions, and at the top of the World Ranking List,” said Tom Struzzieri, President and CEO of HITS. “We had a great response to our FEI Events at HITS Chicago last year, and think that upgrading to a CSI3* and CSI5*, respectively, is just what the riders are looking for.
Photo by ESI Photography
The CSI5* events at HITS Chicago and HITS Saugerties will each offer a $500,000 Grand Prix, plus three more FEI ranking classes held throughout the week. “Other than our Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala our AIG $1 Million Grand Prix in Coachella, these will be two of the biggest show jumping weeks of the year in terms of prize money,” stated Struzzieri. “We also plan to keep the height at 1.50m, which has been popular for our AIG Million on the west coast,” he continued. “For those prepping a championship horse for the WEG, or for those hoping to compete at that level someday, the 1.50m height seems appropriate for these classes this year.”
“With the WEG right after the HITS Saugerties CSI5*, this tour is great preparation for the riders competing there, and gives people from around the country and around the globe the chance to compete at two great facilities and to see two great cities in the US.”
HITS will host eight FEI events in 2018, including the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup CSIO5* at HITS Ocala, two Longines FEI Word Cup Jumping CSI3* Qualifiers at HITS Coachella, the new CSI5* at HITS Chicago, and the fourth annual CSI5* at HITS Saugerties.
Photo by ESI Photography
The Prize List for HITS Chicago is available now, and the HITS Saugerties prize list will be published shortly.
For more information on these and other HITS shows around the country, visit HITSShows.com and see how HITS continues to lead the way at all levels of equestrian sport, from the Marshall & Sterling League, to the HITS Championship, to the highest rated FEI events in the country.