11 June 2012

HITS, Inc. today announced that President & CEO Tom Struzzieri has purchased the shares of HITS held for seven years by Leonard Green & Partners, LLC (LGP). Struzzieri founded HITS in 1981 and under his guidance the company has grown into one of the leading equine event production companies in the world. In 2006, private equity firm LGP purchased two thirds of the company from Struzzieri.

©ESi Photography
Tom Struzzieri during the 2011 HITS Championship Weekend at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. 

“I am most appreciative of the involvement of LGP in HITS for the last seven years,” Struzzieri said. “With their help, HITS has been able to continue to be innovative and successful in the sport of show jumping. Many significant changes have taken place through this partnership. The construction of the new HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California and the introduction of the biggest prize money classes in the world come to mind as the biggest game changers.”

The purchase back by Struzzieri guarantees continuity and demonstrates the commitment that he has for the sport and the HITS show series, which shows no evidence of slowing down. HITS recently announced a West Coast version of their famed Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix with the Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix to be held March 17 in California.

“Planning is underway for the third-annual Pfizer Million event September 9 in Saugerties, New York, which will be paired with the second-annual Diamond Mills $500,000 Grand Prix, the all-new HITS $250,000 Hunter Prix Final, the popular Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal Final, the PHA National Medal Final and musical concert by GRAMMY award winning artist Michael McDonald. While back on the West Coast, we are already preparing the show grounds in Thermal for a special season in 2013 as we will be accommodating more clients then ever with the addition of the new class. Ocala next winter will also see some facility improvements, including the addition of a new outside course. With over 50 Grand Prix classes a year, the biggest prize money classes in the world and the coordination of the ever popular Marshall & Sterling League, I expect HITS to continue to be the industry leader,” Struzzieri concluded.

The 2012 HITS Summer Series is in full swing with 11 more weeks of shows scheduled from now until September 30. HITS Culpeper is in the middle of two weeks of back-to-back shows, which began July 4 and will be followed by three consecutive weeks at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York July 18 through August 5, which will feature the first ever HITS Children’s Hunter Pony Finals August 4-5. For a complete list of upcoming shows and schedules, including information on HITS Championship Weekend at HITS-on-the-Hudson September 7-9, please visit HitsShows.com.

Source: Hits Shows