By HITS, inc.
When asked about HITS Chicago, Underhill stated “We came down because we had heard good things and wanted something different to throw into our schedule. We are loving it so far, the footing is some of the best I have ever jumped on and the stabling is fantastic. These are the two things we look for at good quality horse shows.” “It is really relaxing for the horses here, with plenty of land to hack around on,” Underhill continued, marking the uniqueness of the atmosphere of HITS Balmoral Park.
Exhibitors soaked up the atmosphere at HITS Balmoral Park, leading to many victories. Adeline Rohrbach kicked off the week, winning the $5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Open Welcome aboard VALLADAM in a jump-off time of 33.649. Second was David Jennings and TYSON UNO in a jump-off time of 34.302. Taylor Reid was third aboard BOUCANIER in a jump-off time of 34.519. Theo Genn rode to a fourth place finish aboard COLORA in a jump-off time of 34.732 and Alexis Trosch was fifth with CORTEX Z in a jump-off time of 35.010.
On Thursday the $10,000 KindredBio Jumper Prix took place with Douglas Boyd taking the win aboard BERKLEY III in a jump-off time of 39.208. Just half of a second behind him was Lisa Goldman and SOVEREIGN in a jump-off time of 39.770. Paige Matthies was third in a jump-off time of 40.011 aboard DIRKIE Z. Fourth was Beth Underhill and COUNT ME IN in a jump-off time of 41.959 and rounding out the top five was Nick Novak and LILLY PEZY in a jump-off time of 44.185.
In the Hunter Rings on Friday, Boyd was awarded first place in the $2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix aboard CALIDO’S SON and a combined score of 171. Tiffany Hammack was second with GT 40 and a combined score of 166 and Madeline Thatcher was third aboard CORONADO with a combined score of 162. In fourth was Clair Azar and CAPITOL HILL with a combined score of 158 while Matthies was fifth aboard CANTALETTO with a combined score of 152.
Kim Barone took the win in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby aboard CYRIL with a combined score of 181 and also took second aboard ROC-A-FELLA with a combined score of 173. Ashley Scofield was third with MAKER’S MARK and a combined score of 171. Fourth was Liz Atkins and NIRO 8 with a combined score of 169.5 and Savannah Talcott was fifth aboard EILEEN with a combined score of 166.
Photos Courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
