Sergio Campos and Zizou capture the $25,000 Footing Authority™ Grand Prix to cap off Week 2 of show jumping at HITS Ocala
OCALA, FL (February 5, 2026) — Sergio Campos may not want the Unrated horse shows to end at HITS Ocala as he won his second consecutive $25,000 Footing Authority™ Grand Prix at HITS Post Time Farm i aboard Zizou to conclude HITS Ocala 2.
HITS Ocala is now in a one week hiatus and returns on Wednesday, February 14 with the Ocala Winter Classic that begins five consecutive weeks of A-rated horse shows. On Thursday, February 15 the first of five $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix will premier at HITS Post Time Farm and on Sunday, February 18, the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix will take centerstage.
Campos is hoping his success continues over the next five weeks. “Winning both Grand Prix classes is a start that I would not have imagined, ” said Campos. “Ocala has some very good riders competing here so to keep this winning streak going will be hard but I will do my best.”
Campos and nine other horse/rider combinations came back to challenge course designer Jamie Alder’s jump-off route. Campos was the fastest out of four riders that went double-clear. Going second in the jump-off, he set the pace early stopping the clocks at 34.486.
Next to go clean was Mark Jungherr and Olinoeska; however, his time of 40.863 was not good enough to catch the Great American Time to Beat set by Campos, leaving Jungherr in fourth place.
Beth Underhill and Magdaline navigated the course perfectly in their jump-off round. But she was nearly two seconds off Campos’ pace, leaving her in second place. The last double-clear round belonged to Tracy Magness and Tarco Van Ter Moude. Their time of 36.690 was good enough for third place and $3,250 in prize money for owners Mr. and Mrs. John Bartko.
Callan Solem and Mianta had the last to ride position but she dropped a rail on fence 4 giving Campos $7,500 in prize money to take home for Rae Marie Kennedy as he gets ready for the Ocala Winter Classic.
Aside from world-class show jumping during the Ocala Winter Classic, spectators will be treated to several special events during the week. The Morrisville State College Six-in-Hand Belgian Draft Horse Hitch is scheduled to perform Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the horse show. Exact performance times are to be determined. The Morrisville Belgian Hitch is an impressive exhibit that consists of six horses from four to nine years of age ranging from 17.2 to 18.3 hands and weighing anywhere from 1,900 to 2,300 pounds each.
Visitors to the horse show on Sunday will also be treated to chocolate tasting courtesy of the Melting Pot and relaxing chair massages courtesy of The Ranch Fitness Center from noon until 2 pm.
On HITS’ agenda for 2007 in Ocala is the unveiling of a new Grand Prix Ring and a new Main Hunter Ring with a raised berm for VIP seating that overlooks both rings. These rings are located at the east end of the current show ring area. Both rings will feature state-of-the-art footing provided by Footing Authority™, a division of International Surfaces Group, Inc. The Grand Prix Ring will feature Polyrite™, the industry’s most advanced polymer-coated synthetic footing, while the Main Hunter Ring will provide a soft ride on EuroFelt®-enhanced footing.
“The new Grand Prix Ring looks amazing,” said Campos. “We didn’t get to jump in it yet but I am looking forward to competing in it when the rated horse shows begin. The entire facility looks ten times better than it did last year.”
Since its introduction in 1982, the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit has become a fixture on the East Coast show jumping circuit. Each winter, the Ocala Circuit attracts national and international participants from the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Classes offered range from the Grand Prix show jumping classes to a selection of divisions for both the beginning and experienced rider. Located in Ocala/Marion County, the heart of Florida’s horse country, the area is home to over 600 horse farms and hundreds of supporting facilities and businesses. HITS moved the Ocala horse shows from the 100-acre Golden Hills International Show Grounds to the circuit’s new home, the 300+ acre Post Time Farm in 2002. HITS Post Time Farm is located just a few miles west of the Golden Hills International Show Grounds on Highway 27. The Post Time Training Center was originally built for thoroughbred racehorses. The facility is professionally landscaped and features gated entrances, 52 miles of four-board fencing, 26 permanent barns that house 500 stalls, numerous paddocks, bridle paths, and additional buildings for the horse show office, restaurant, and on-site school.
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 allows for new growth opportunities including the construction of the new HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California. HITS generates significant economic impact in each of its five venues in California, Arizona, Florida, Virginia and New York.
Results
1 Zizou Sergio Campos Rae Marie Kennedy $7,500 0 0 39.05
2 Magdaline Beth Underhill Beth Underhill $5,500 0 0 41.33
3 Tarco Van Ter Moude Tracy Magness Mr. and Mrs. John Bartko $3,250 0 0 40.59
4 Olinoeska Mark Jungherr Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Waters $2,000 0 0 40.44
5 Cliff 28 Derek Peterson Patrick Gruninger $1,500 0 4 41.64
6 Hojagergards Jeffrey Martin Cyndy McWilliams $1,250 0 4 42.07
Other Results
Adequan Open Hunter - Untold, ridden and owned by Jodi Czaplick, Speonk, NY
Farnam Adult Hunter 18-35 - Gold Edition , ridden and owned by Kathleen Selke, Schomberg, Ontario, Canada
Farnam Adult Hunter 36 & Over - Winchester, ridden and owned by Dorothy Ammerman, Waitsfield, VT
M&S Child/Adult Hunter Classic - C R Conde, ridden and owned by Bridgette Burke, Ocala, FL
$20,500 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Championship - Buzz Lightyear ridden and owned by Crystal Mander, Quincy, FL
Leave a Response (or trackback on your own site)
You must be logged in to post a comment.