Culpeper, VA (August 18, 2003)--Ian Silitch of Sperryville, Virginia, and Cable won Sunday's $50,000 King Shavings Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper. Silitch bested a field of twenty-seven horses to take home the top prize of $15,000. Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, Florida, came a close second with Viktor, owned by Harry Gill. Third place went to Alison Firestone of Upperville, Virginia, on Iceberg, owned by her family. Kimberly Frey of Hume, Virginia, finished in fourth place aboard Tyson, owned by Overlook Farm.

Course designer, Buddy Brown, set a challenging 13-obstacle first round course that narrowed the field to only seven horses. Michael Walton and Espadon V were first to attempt the shortened seven-fence jump-off course. The pair went clear in a time of 41.35 seconds. Next in the order was Silitch, who guided Cable clear in the winning time of 37.27 seconds. There were three more clear rounds in the jump-off--Kimberly Frey riding Tyson, Todd Minikus riding Viktor, and Alison Firestone riding Iceberg. Minikus turned in a time of 38.01 seconds, narrowly securing second place. Finishing only .04 of a second behind Silitch, Firestone had to settle for third place.

Silitch's win at Culpeper will bring horse and rider up to 2nd place in the New Marshall & Sterling League and the King Shavings U.S. Grand Prix League standings. The New Marshall & Sterling League will hold its inaugural National Indoor Finals September 17-21, at Worcester's Centrum Centre in Worcester, Massachusetts. The League is offering a $100,000 Grand Prix on Sunday, September 21st. Thirty riders will be accepted based on national standings. Those lucky qualifiers will have the exceptional opportunity to ride in two back-to-back $100,000 Grand Prix, first at the Marshall & Sterling National Indoor Finals, and a week later at the King Shavings US Grand Prix League (USGPL) invitational finals.

The King Shavings USGPL invitational finals, September 24-28, will take place at HITS Commonwealth Park during the final week of the HITS Culpeper circuit. The King Shavings USGPL will also feature a $15,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Low Invitational, $25,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner High Invitational, and $25,000 Pre-Green Hunter Invitational Classic, sponsored by Stillwell-Hansen and Four Winds Farm.

Other major award winners at HITS Culpeper/Winston National included:

HITS CULPEPER: HITS Commonwealth Park, 13256 Commonwealth Parkway, Culpeper, VA 22701. Telephone during horse shows: (540) 825-7469

MEDIA CONTACT: HITS Media & Public Relations, 319 Main Street, Saugerties, New York 12477-1330. Tel: 845-246-8833, Fax: 845-246-6371, E-Mail: info@hitsshows.com. Web: www.HitsShows.com

REMAINING HITS CULPEPER 2003 SHOW DATES ARE:
Constitution Classic - August 20-24 (Marshall & Sterling League Wild Card Classes Offered) King Shavings USGPL Invitational Finals - September 24, 28

FEATURED EVENTS:
August 24, $50,000 HITS Grand Prix
September 28, $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix

$50,000 King Shavings Grand Prix - Sunday, August 17, 2003
HITS Culpeper, Winston National - Culpeper, VA
Buddy Brown, Wellington, FL: Course Designer
Place Horse Rider Owner Prize Money Rd 1 Faults Rd 2 Faults JO Time
1st Cable Ian Silitch Ian/Jacquelyn Silitch $15,000 0 0 37.26
2nd Viktor Todd Minikus Harry Gill $11,000 0 0 38.01
3rd Iceberg Alison Firestone M/M Bertram Firestone $6,500 0 0 38.05
4th Tyson Kimberly Frey Overlook Farm $4,000 0 4 39.59
5th Espadon V Michael Walton Penlyn Farm $3,000 0 0 41.35
6th Sasha Todd Minikus Harry Gill $2,500 0 8 38.72
7th Oliver III Judy Garofalo Higher Ground Farm $2,000 0 Elim
8th Flier Todd Minikus Harry Gill $1,500 2
9th Elu De La Hardiere Michael Walton Penlyn Farm $1,500 4
10th Captain Willie Ian Silitch Page Flournoy $1,000 4
11th Cantida Alison Firestone M/M Bertram Firestone $1,000 4
12th Punisher John Anderson Zeidler Farm LLC $1,000 4