Culpeper, VA (July 18, 2004)Three-time Olympic medallist Joe Fargis of Middleburg, Virginia, captured the top two spots in Sundays $50,000 Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper. Fargis triumphed over a field of twenty-five horses to place first on Diams III and second on Edgar 12, both owned by Mary B. Schwab & OEJI Farms. Derek Peterson of Archer, Florida, rode his own Promised Land to third place. Fourth place went to Marilyn Little of Frederick, Maryland, on Olinda, owned by Rayln Farms.

Grand Prix course designer Jerry Dougherty of Geneva, Illinois, set a challenging 13-obstacle course that included one triple combination at fence # 12 and one double combination at fence # 8. The time allowed was set at 97 seconds. The triple combination proved to be a heartbreaker for six horses who rode clean until they reached the B element. Only four horses managed to leave every jump up.

The final four riders competed over a shortened seven-fence course with time allowed set at 54 seconds. Fargis was the first to face the clock on Edgar 12. The pair posted a fault-free ride in 45.706 seconds. Returning to the ring for a back-to-back ride, Fargis blazed around the course aboard Diams III and laid down the gauntlet for the last two riders by finishing clean in 41.632 seconds.

Peterson and Promised Land accepted the challenge and set off at a blistering pace. But try as they might, an unlucky rail left them with four faults in a time of 42.753 seconds. Little and Olinda were the last to tackle the course. They finished with a four-fault performance in a time of 46.187 seconds.

Other major award winners at Culpeper Circuit included:

Bayer Legend Leading Hunter Rider: Olin Armstrong, Middleburg, Virginia

Bayer Legend Leading Jumper Rider: Kimberly Frey, Hume, Virginia

HBO Junior Medal Winner: Kathryn Rebekah Kepes, Brandon, Florida

Charles Owen Childrens Medal Winner: Michael Danner, Tampa, Florida

Charles Owen Adult Medal Winner: Ben Garner, Lynchburg, Virginia

Place Horse Rider Owner Rd 1 Faults JO Faults JO Time Purse
1st Diams III Joe Fargis Mary B. Schwab & OEJI Farms, LLC 0 0 41.632 $15,000
2nd Edgar 12 Joe Fargis Mary B. Schwab & OEJI Farms, LLC 0 0 45.706 $11,000
3rd Promised Land Derek Petersen Derek & Anita Petersen 0 4 42.753 $6,500
4th Olinda Marilyn Little Ralyn Farms 0 4 46.187 $4,000
5th Caletta 54 Alexa Lowe Windsor Farm Sales 1 $3,000
6th Brave Ally Ian Silitch November Hill Farm 4 $2,500
7th Mirage Laurie Jakubauskas LRJ Enterprises, inc. 4 $2,000
8th Going Bananas Ragan Roberts Jennifer Hoctor 4 $1,500
9th Gannon Sulu Rose The Galloping Field 4 $1,500
10th Cable Ian Silitch Ian & Jacquelyn Silitch 4 $1,000
11th Enterprise Mark Jungherr RA Francoeur 4 $1,000
12th Escapade Ian Silitch November Hill Farm 4 $1,000

Remaining 2004 HITS Culpeper Show Dates
Winston National August 18 22

Constitution Classic August 25 29

King Shavings Finals September 29 October 3

HITS-ON-THE-HUDSON - 454 Washington Avenue Extension, Saugerties, New York 12477; Tel: 845-246-8833; Website: www.HitsShows.com

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