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February 2, 2007 Will Simpson and El Campeon's Tosca Take Home the $30,000 Ariat Grand Prix at HITS Thermal "He is what you call a show horse," said Henselwood. "Every day that horse shows up with his lunch box and is ready to go to work." "Each day he becomes more and more rideable," said Simpson. "It was a good first day out after some good training sessions at home. We are right on schedule." Simpson was fifth to go on course designer Leopoldo Palacios' jump-off route. He took control of the class when he set the Great American Time to Beat at 40.80 just one trip after Molly Talla and Camaron Hills Shan Roe posted the first clean jump-off round. When Simpson stopped the clock almost three full seconds ahead of Talla, his supporters in the Oasis VIP Pavilion showered him with cheers. "I guess that's my little fan club," he joked. Talla finished second for Camaron Hills Farm. Henselwood brought both of her Grand Prix horses back for the jump-off. Special Ed finished with four jumping faults, dropping fence 9B. Then, last years winner of the $150,000 Grand Prix of the Desert, Black Ice, took down fence 7 to give Henselwood third and fourth place respectively. "I would say Black Ice is on form and Special Ed is always ready," said Henselwood. "Leopoldo is a genius and today's grand prix was a good warm-up for Sunday's World Cup Class." Richard Spooner and Cristallo went first in the jump-off finishing with eight jumping faults. That was good enough for fifth place and $1,800 in prize money for Show Jumping Syndication International. Last to go in the jump-off was Rich Fellers and Gyro. He was taken out of contention early when he dropped the Equifit jump, which was the second obstacle on the jump-off course. "It was a good start to hopefully a great season," said Fellers. "I had the early rail down and then I was thinking about Jill's four faults, so I was pressing and ended up taking a second rail down."
Show Jumping at HITS Thermal continues all weekend and culminates Sunday with the $75,000 Footing Authority Grand Prix, on February 4. Sunday's Featured Class is the first of four World Cup Qualifiers at HITS Desert Horse Park this winter. For the past 15 years, HITS has produced a six-week winter horse show circuit in Indio, California. The 2007 HITS Desert Circuit is being held just five miles from its previous home at the new, state-of-the-art HITS Desert Horse Park equestrian facility on Airport Boulevard in Thermal, California. The new horse park is the largest Hunter/Jumper horse show venue in the United States and lays claim to more than $10,000,000 in improvements, including stabling for more than 3,000 horses and 12 competition rings. HITS Thermal also features the new state-of-the-art footing provided by Footing Authority. In January 2006, HITS entered into a private equity arrangement with Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. in Los Angeles. As a result, HITS, Inc. is able to develop and execute exciting operational and strategic initiatives that both solidify its well-established position as the leader in horse show management and allow for new growth opportunities including the construction of HITS Desert Horse Park. HITS generates significant economic impact in each of its five venues in California, Arizona, Florida, Virginia and New York. Placing Horse - Rider - Owner Prize Money Rd 1 Faults JO Faults JO Time
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Thermal,
CA - According to Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood, Will Simpson's
mount El Campeon's Tosca is a blue-collar horse. Today, the 10-year-old
proved just how tough he was when he vanquished a star-studded field
in the six-horse jump-off to become the blue ribbon horse in the $30,000
Ariat Grand Prix at HITS Thermal. 
It
was an especially good day for Simpson, who collected $9,000 in prize
money for El Campeon against a field of 59 horses. 
