HITS NY $1 Mil List Revealed

By Paula Parisi September 6, 2015

Five Olympians, international riders from Germany, Mexico, Ireland and Canada and two past HITS $1 Million title-holders are on the list of 41 riders unveiled by HITS to compete in its CP $1 Million FEI CSI 5* presented by Wells Fargo later this afternoon, making for what is sure to be an event spectacle. (Watch it live at HITS Video, starting at 2 p.m. ET. It will also be available for rebroadcast, though not immediately.)

Past-winners McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, and Andre Thieme of Plau am See, Germany, square off yet again. Ward, who in 2004 returned from Athens with Team Gold for the USA, rides his superstar Rothchild, while Thieme teams with Ramona de Flobeque, a newer mount.

They’ll be getting some serious competition from Ward’s Olympics 2004 Gold-winning teammate Beezie Madden  (Cazenovia, NY) and Simon, as well as Margie Engle (Wellington, FL), 2000 Olympics contender who will compete today aboard Royce.

Peter Leone, teamed with Wayfarer, who won Team Silver in show jumping at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, also boasts prestige podium credentials. Leone has the unenviable position of first in the ring, added pressure and tougher going.

Among the nicer surprises on the go-list is the robust representation of five  riders based in Wellington, FL,  which is HITS biggest competition zone.

No riders currently based in California are on the $1 Million Saugerties championship list, having apparently opted to stick to the West Coast and compete at Spruce Meadows, Canada (which offers its own $1 million grand prix this weekend, the only North American venue to offer such a substantial prize other than HITS, which has three annual $1 million classes.)

Riders and owners who were either born in California or lived here for a substantial amount of their professional careers and are thus associated with the state are in attendance, however; these include Candice King (riding Bugatti VDL) , Kristin Coe (Czardas 30) and owner Ilan Ferder, whose Viva Columbia is piloted by Irish rider Conor Swail.

The presence of some riders who are also competing in HITS rich hunter championships this weekend also make for an interesting mix. All in all, it adds up to what promises to be a tremendous competition and yet another global landmark event for equestrian sport.

Here the complete list of starters. (Click for larger image)

 

 

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