IAN MILLAR and AFTERSHOCK win $25,000 PETERSON & SMITH GRAND PRIX at HITS OCALA WINTER FESTIVAL

Ocala, FL (February 18, 2005)—

Eight-time Canadian Olympic rider, Ian Millar, galloped away with the blue ribbon in Thursday's $25,000 Peterson & Smith Grand Prix aboard Aftershock, a 10-year-old bay Canadian Warmblood gelding, owned by Matthews and Millar Brooke Farm Ltd. A field of twenty-five horses competed over Olaf Petersen's course at the HITS Ocala Winter Festival. Petersen, who was the course designer for the 2004 Athens Olympics, included a tall vertical as the final obstacle to his first round course, and this proved to be the biggest test with eleven horses incurring faults.

Aaron Vale and Romulus were the first to attempt the eight-obstacle jump-off course. The pair had eight faults in a time of 42.78 seconds, giving them fourth place in the competition. Callan Solem and Allison were up next with a clear round in a very fast time of 39.76 seconds for a second place finish. Brazilian rider Sergio Campos took Cowboy around the course, going clear in a time of 39.80 seconds. Four tenths of a second behind Solem, Sergio Campos finished in third place.

In the first round, Ian Millar and Aftershock had the fastest time, over a second faster than his nearest rival Aaron Vale with Romulus. It looked like Aftershock could beat the rest on time, and Ian Millar proved that the assumption was correct. The pair blazed through the course leaving all the rails up with 39.24 seconds on the clock. Aaron Vale and Artur finished out the field with an eight-fault performance for fifth place.

Ian Millar is having a very successful circuit with Aftershock. In addition to his win today, he also had a second place finish in last week's $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, followed by another second place finish in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix.
The next Grand Prix event of the circuit will take place on Sunday, February 20th at 1pm. Spectators will enjoy world-class show jumping competition as riders compete for top honors in the $50,000 TR3 Grand Prix.

$25,000 Peterson & Smith Grand Prix - Thursday, February 17, 2005
HITS Ocala Winter Festival - Ocala, FL
Course Designer: Olaf Petersen, Germany

WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY REMAINING 2005 SHOW DATES ARE:
Ocala Winter Festival II - February 16-20
Ocala Masters III - February 23-27
Ocala Tournament IV – March 2-6
Ocala Winter Finals V - March 9-13

FEATURED EVENTS:
$10,000 U-Dump Junior / Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classics, Weeks I through IV
$25,000 Peterson & Smith Grand Prix - Thursday, February 17 at 1:00pm
$50,000 TR3 Grand Prix - Sunday, February 20 at 1:00pm
$25,000 HITS Grand Prix - Thursday, February 24 at 1:00pm
$50,000 Footings Unlimited Grand Prix - Sunday, February 27 at 1:00pm
$25,000 HITS Grand Prix - Thursday, March 3at 1:00pm
$50,000 HITS Grand Prix - Sunday, March 6 at 1:00pm
$25,000 Marshall & Sterling Junior / Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic - Sunday, March 13 at 10:00am
$25,000 Marshall & Sterling Child / Adult Jumper Classic – Sunday, March 13 at 12:00 noon
$25,000 HITS Grand Prix - Thursday, March 10 at 1:00pm
$100,000 Grand Prix of Ocala presented by Great American Insurance - Sunday, March 13 at 2:00pm

SPECIAL EVENTS:
Kids Day - Sunday, February 27
Grand Finale - Sunday, March 13
Champions of the Week Presentations are held on Sundays prior to the 1:00pm Grand Prix. Circuit Champions are presented week V.

POST TIME TRAINING FARM - 13710 U.S. Hwy 27; Ocala, Florida 34482; Tel: 352-620-2275. Website: www.HitsShows.com